Building a strong and muscular chest means working the pectoral muscles. However, it is important to understand that while pecs are the largest muscles in the chest, they are supported by multiple other smaller muscles, including lats on the sides and trapezius around the shoulders. To get a really defined chest, you need exercises that target all these muscles. Scroll down to take a look at some of the best chest-building exercises that will build strength and help you achieve your fitness goals.

1.    Chest Press

The chest press is a classic exercise to gain upper body strength. It targets the pecs in the chest, triceps in the arms, and deltoid muscles in the shoulders. There are various variations of chest press that you can do with or without a machine. Once you get the hang of it, you can also incorporate this exercise into your home workout for chest. Here’s how to do a basic chest press.

1. Lie on a flat bench, shoulders pressing into the bench. Your feet must be pressed into the ground.
2. Hold a dumbbell in each hand and wrap your thumbs around the handle.
3. As you inhale, slowly lower the weights slightly wider than your chest width.
4. Touch the dumbbells to your chest.
5. As you exhale, push your arms upwards. Make sure your elbows bend slightly.
6. Make sure the dumbbells are positioned just below the eye level.

2.    Barbell Bench Press  

This exercise will build strength in the upper body. Barbell bench press allows you to lift the heaviest weights you can manage. It is an excellent exercise to build size and grow your muscles. Here’s how to do a barbell bench press.

1. Lie on a flat bench and hold a barbell. With arms fully extended, hold the barbell above your chest. Place your hands just a little wider than shoulder-width apart. This is the starting position.
2. Now, lower the bar slowly. In this position, your arms should form a 45° angle to your body.
3. Hold the position for around 1 – 2 seconds.     
4. Now, move your arms upward, pressing the bar to the starting position. Make sure you move the barbell in a controlled manner and don’t arch your back!

3.    Pushups

Did you know that good old pushups are an excellent exercise to work your chest? If you can’t find the time to hit the gym, simply include pushups in your home workout for chest.A pushup is not going to be as effective as a bench press, but it is more convenient. Here’s how you can do pushups like a pro.

1. Get down on all fours, placing your hands slightly wider than your shoulders .
2. Tighten your abdominals and keep your elbows close to your side. Your hands should be directly under your shoulder.
3. Now, lower yourself slowly until your body almost touches the ground.
4. Pause for a few seconds.
5. Push yourself up to the starting position.
6.  Repeat.

Try these 3 chest-building exercises to get a perfectly defined and sculpted chest. Don’t forget to support your workout with a healthy diet to see amazing results in no time!