i have a set of handheld dumbell things at home, i forget the weight of them, and often put them to use. i was just wondering if anyone has any advise on an exercse or maybe even a set of exercises suitable for developing my pectoral muscles. please note that i do not have time to visit my gym regularly enough, so that option isnt availible to me
thanks in advance
John.Push-ups are great for working the pectorals. If you want to make the exercise more challenging you could elevated your feet. Be sure to keep your back straight.
If you have a bench, you could lie on your back and lift the weights as if you were trying to hug a tree trunk.
There’s nothing like the bench press for working your pecs. Make sure to balance it out with [url=“http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/BackGeneral/DBLyingRow.html”]bent-over rows[/ur], or you could place yourself at risk for shoulder problems.
Fixed that sucker.
Agree on pushups. There are perhaps a dozen different techniques, some difficult, but all will do a great job and no equipment is needed. I still like to work in 500-700 after each workout, but agree with Ultrafilter about the rows.
Note that some people have a hard time developing their pectoral muscles. I saw Tom Cruise a few weeks ago in Vanilla Sky.
Poor pec development.
You won’t ever get great bodybuilder quality pectoral muscles from push ups. (unless you are genetically gifted, extremely so)
Read the OP and my post carefully.
Anyone interested in simple home exercises probably isn’t aspiring to become a “great bodybuilder.” Anyone who develops “great bodybuilder quality pectoral muscles” without similarly building the rest of his physique would look rather silly.
I’ve got 20 years of weightlifting experience. Proper isolation and varied advanced pushup techniques will do wonders.
End of story.
So will simple compound exercises from home. Some dumbells, some weights and a powerrack at home and anybody can aspire to greatness. 
In fact I did read the OP carefully. He wishes to develop his pectoral muscles but doesn’t have alot of time to go to the Gym often. Develop is a strange useage of word if all he wants to do is be able to do more pushups. Help me make my chest muscles stronger, or I want to do more pushups, but wanting to develp muscles makes me think of wanting to put on some muscle mass. Like a bodybuilder.
I don’t have 20 years of weightlifting experience, just about 1 year. One year I spent reading bodybuilders posts on message boards, buying and reading books on the subject. And the one thing I have noticed is that there are alot of views of what works and what doesn’t. Somebody that says “I have 20 years experience… End of story”. Sounds like somebody trying to sell something. I also went through marine corps boot camp and did my share of pushups. None of them made my chest bigger. Benchpressing with barbells and dumbells did. So my experience varies. However, It is not the end of my story. Somebody else may have had better luck with pushups than I. My experience in bodybuilding has proven to me that nothing is so cut and dry. Try pushups if you like, just don’t think that if they dont work dumbells wont either.
I used to have access to a gym with a pec machine, but now without it, I’ve pretty much been able to replicate the exercise and results with dumbells. Lay on your back with DB’s extended out from your sides and lift to overhead and back down, s-l-o-w-l-y. Increase weight when you can do 20 comfortably. Repeat with arms extended above your head. I’ve also got one of those big spring dealies (like Mr. T used to use).
thanks guys, i didnt mean to start a debate. cheers for the ideas, i’ll give them all a try with my usual workout.
keep the ideas coming, im willing to try anything thrown at me.
Girlie man
Just writing to re-emphasize the rows. Supposedly one of the aggravating conditions of my shoulder/neck pain was doing presses & flys without doing enough of the corresponding back work.