Magnificent Moobies - AKA Man Boobies

My chest is large and in charge - and for a while, it was the bane of my existence...(don't ask me why: I honestly have no idea)... but in recent years, I have come to embrace 'the girls'...if you got 'em, flaunt 'em, sorta thing. So now, when friends call me Tittie McTitterton or Tits McGee or just plain ol' Tits, I smile and look down fondly upon Pamela and Jenna. In one way, I had genetics on my side - (THANKS, MOM!) - but I also had to work hard on strengthening and toning my pecs - otherwise, I would be victim to supporting my moobies with a man bra! For, gloriously, they do exist: www.likecool.com/Man_Bra--Accessories--Style.html

Here are some suggestions that will help my gentlemen readers to curb their brassiere spending, all of which make use of a Swiss-ball. A Swiss-ball is a great tool to use because when you balance on it, every muscle is engaged -  well, almost every muslce. If you don't use your legs and core, you fall; likewise, if don't contract your shoulders and upper back to hold the ball in place.

1. TWO-ANGLED PRESS

Sitting on a Swiss-ball with a dumbbell in each hand, resting on your thighs, walk your feet away from you as your torso lowers onto the ball, with your upper back, shoulders and head coming to rest on top of the ball (ie imagine your body positioned on a bench, but without the bench!). Your feet will be flat, your knees at a 90-degree angle and your abs/lower back will engage to help you stabilize. With weights now at your shoulders, press them up and together to starting position and call it POSITION A. Now, slowly lower your hips toward the floor such that your torso creates a 45-degree angle with the floor and lower the weights back to your shoulders, calling it POSITION B. From here, roll back into position A and perform your next rep. The goal of the exercise is to press the weights in the  stronger position 'A' and lower them in the weaker position 'B'.

2. ALTERNATING DUMBBELL PRESS

Laying in POSITION A from above, press both dumbbells up and together. Keeping one dumbbell in the pressed position, lower the other and return it to top position before lowering the other one. Because you are performing the reps unilaterally (ie one side at a time) your core is forced to engage that much more - keeping that in mind, this exercise is harder than it appears, so don't be dismayed if you have to lower your weight a smidgen. 

3. SWISS-BALL PUSH-UP

With your chest atop the ball, create a straight line from your shoulders to your heels: your hands should be braced on the ball, on either side of your pecs, your abs positioned just off the ball, and your legs are straight out behind you, shoulder-width apart. Now, perform a push-up...warning: it's really HARD! Lower yourself to almost a full resting position and continue...holding, squeezing, exhausting your abs is vital to perform this exercise successfully.

Alternating, you can nail your lower pecs by reversing your position (ie hands on the floor, feet on the ball). A graduation process for this exercise could be to start with your thighs on the ball, eventually moving down to your shins and finally just your feet.

I wish you the breast of luck with these exercises - TITS AHOY, MATEY!