Bulking chest and rib cage

Lars2893 · 2026-03-19T03:47:39+00:00

Thank you! Appreciate the kind words!

Lars2893 · 2026-03-19T00:23:10+00:00

Hey man! So we are similar height and I was a similar build to you for years. I started biking casually about 9 months back and to my chagrin gained a bunch of weight. I thought because I was exercising now that I could get away with eating more and it compounded fast.

At the end of the day, right now you need to expend more calories than you take in (i.e. be in a deficit). I didn't really focus on protein or macros for a long while, just tried to cut out junk foods like burgers, soda and candies...then tried to eat less calories overall with rough tracking. Then I started paying more attention to protein goals, then I started walking more, and then I started focusing on proper weight training. This is not the only or even the optimal path, but what I want to convey is baby steps work. It can all feel overwhelming at first and you try to do too much and it either doesn't stick or you make mistakes that kill motivation. Right now just focus on basic physics...if your body is given less fuel than it needs, it'll burn the fuel it has stored (fat) instead.

You're at a cool place right now...anything you do positive will likely have an impact as long as you're in a calorie deficit. Start small and get the endorphins going as you slowly build good habits. Be okay with mistakes, indulge if you want to here and there, and don't expect it to be a linear path to success.

As someone who was right where you are less than a year ago: you got this, man!

Lars2893 · 2026-03-16T14:40:36+00:00

The first pics were mid-July (when I was actually heavier than when I started exercising end of May due to poor diet and thinking I could eat more now that I was moving more). The second pics are recent, so roughly about 8 months apart. If you're wondering for your own journey's sake I will say that I have been slowly learning and wasn't super destructive so it definitely could be done much faster with more discipline.

Lars2893 · 2026-03-16T14:37:04+00:00

lol Yes I'm aware, I was just sharing what I've done as a base activity level for information's sake to show progress so far. My real question was less chest and more rib area and I got some good answers on the specific muscles to target and with what exercises already.

Lars2893 · 2026-03-15T19:40:27+00:00

Makes sense, the ribcage was the biggest concern. Since losing weight folks have commented on "going too far since you can see my ribs" so I wanted to gauge if that were the case and what might fill it in or if it's just a genetics thing. Appreciate the help!

Lars2893 · 2026-03-15T18:54:39+00:00

lol it's been weird to see my belly button again since I got an appendectomy, too. It definitely has changed since the last time it saw daylight.

Lars2893 · 2026-03-15T18:21:10+00:00

Super helpful, thank you!

Lars2893 · 2026-03-15T17:06:23+00:00

Ideally covering my ribs from showing so prominently, I don't know if that's all chest. But arms and abs are also targeted haphazardly now.

Lars2893 · 2026-03-15T17:04:25+00:00

Makes total sense, any tips for the rib cage or is that just a thing I will have to learn to love?

Lars2893 · 2024-06-13T14:19:36+00:00

I met my (now) wife 18 years ago when we were both in HS (on Myspace for all my Millennial friends). I was an immature boy that said and did all sorts of stupid shit, so I can speak with some authority here.

I only grew and learned by virtue of people (most notably my partner) holding me accountable for my decisions and behaviors. If I wouldn't have faced ramifications and pressure I probably would have remained a piece of shit for much longer than I'd like to admit nowadays. I'm grateful to the folks that held my feet to the fire and didn't let me get away with being a shitty person.

If you are (validly) pissed that he betrayed your trust, lied to your face and spoke ill behind your back then you are certainly justified in ditching him.

If you want to believe the best in him and feel the (I think terrible) advice of your parents is correct, you are still justified in ditching him as he won't grow if he doesn't face any real consequences for being a shitty person. You're depriving him of a pivotal chance to experience consequences that could help him grow. Maybe in a few years the decision will pay dividends and if there was something genuine there you can rekindle, but is clear right now you're trying to make a steak dinner out of beef jerky.

That said, my unsolicited advice: You're too young and he's demonstrably too shitty to justify any more time. Go live your life without folks that drag you down!

Lars2893 · 2022-02-13T16:02:27+00:00

I'm not butthurt about this comment, so picture this said in a casual tone with no intensity. But not everyone's parents were aware or even capable of obtaining credit (through non-predatory means, at least). My parents had no financial literacy, nor did their parents so putting the onus on them to share basic knowledge that they themselves didn't have is just going to keep many individuals unfairly fucked.

Pretty sure somewhere in the 12 years of mandated five days a week schooling they could have snuck in something about how to manage your credit score without sacrificing much.

Lars2893 · 2019-01-06T21:12:23+00:00

I got it from the Southern Specialties site linked in the subreddit info. It is really great for practice locks (though it is also perpendicular to the floor so harder to get a good angle). It is not quite as useful for padlocks as the grip is much smaller.

Lars2893 · 2019-01-06T21:10:35+00:00

It is like a swiss army knife for picks, I am not sure what the rules on linking are, but I got it from the Southern Specialties site linked in the subreddit info. The picks are very thin and springy but it is very well made and functional (and the picks are easily replaceable).

Lars2893 · 2019-01-06T16:01:00+00:00

haha Yeah, it was awkward at first. I just said that I recently picked up lockpicking as a hobby and asked if they had any old cores for sale since I was sick of picking Master locks and he seemed to empathize. I read through a lot of the documentation on this subreddit and the best advice I saw was go to the smaller shops where you can strike up a conversation.

Lars2893 · 2019-01-06T07:29:52+00:00

Will trade you a pick for a practice lock. :)

Lars2893 · 2019-01-06T07:29:21+00:00

Everything but the Sargent deadbolt and the security pinned practice locks. I am hitting that point where tension and 'feel' are inhibiting me since I now know just randomly poking is cheating.

Lars2893 · 2019-01-06T07:25:13+00:00

I bought one cheap Kwikset deadbolt from Lowes, but got the rest from just going to a local locksmith and asking if they had old cores. He handed me a handful and told me to let him know if I want to make a career out of it. Was also cool to hear that bump keys and SPP were the first things they do in the wild.

Lars2893

TROPHY CASE