Shrugs? (SHRUG!)

DUMB BELLE · 03-28-2006, 02:15 PM

I've noticed that quite a few females include shrugs in their training. (I posted this question on another thread and didn't get any repsonse and would love to hear any opinions on this.)
Why shrugs?!? The answer to this depends entirely on what your goal is, I suppose. I might get a lot of opposing responses to this but in my OPINION women really shouldn’t bother with shrugs. As I said this would depend on what your goal is but if you want to maintain a fairly FEMININE shape, then I would stay away from shrugs completely. Don't shrugs build your traps which can create a stocky, masculine, triangular shape to the neck? If you want to maintain a feminine, elongated neck-line surely you do not need to build your traps? Of course, this is purely my subjective opinion. Anyone else agree with me on this?

Rachel_n_SD · 03-28-2006, 02:21 PM

personally i dont do them, and the reason is that i dont care to develop my traps, i would like my neckline to stay just as it is.

many girls do want developed traps though, so they shrug.

terracotta · 03-28-2006, 02:54 PM

Your traps aren't suddenly going to get huge just because you shrug.. I personally do them because I don't think one should allow a muscle imbalance, in addition to having upper back/shoulder issues from a previous injury which it helps. If I think my traps have grown too much, I'll just stop the shrugs, simple as that.

Lots of ppl do upright rows, which also hit the traps, but are bad for your rotator cuff, no one ever asks them if they want huge traps.

Feleshia · 03-28-2006, 03:34 PM

upright rows are bad for your rotator cuff? yikes, i should've guessed! I am going to add shrugs to my routine only because, like you said, you don't want a muscle imbalance. I am not going to do huge weights or anything, just work them a tad more.

imperfectly_lou · 03-28-2006, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terracotta

Your traps aren't suddenly going to get huge just because you shrug.. I personally do them because I don't think one should allow a muscle imbalance, in addition to having upper back/shoulder issues from a previous injury which it helps. If I think my traps have grown too much, I'll just stop the shrugs, simple as that.

Lots of ppl do upright rows, which also hit the traps, but are bad for your rotator cuff, no one ever asks them if they want huge traps.

Bump... I wish it was as easy as "pick up a weight, shrug and get huge traps" anyway! Besides, what is considered attractive and feminine is a matter of opinion.

sherdi · 03-28-2006, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imperfectlylou

Besides, what is considered attractive and feminine is a matter of opinion

Big bump to this!!! I don't think mainstream culture's understanding of 'feminine' is a good indicator of how one should be!!!!!

MsFit · 03-28-2006, 04:17 PM

I use to shrug regularly and my traps grew huge in a matter of months. It looked odd and I didn't like it. I limit my shugging to once a month now.

J.Bo · 03-28-2006, 06:03 PM

I personally like the look of some well defined traps but of course not over done. Though I do train nat. so I don't think that will just happen by mistake. Anyways some people just have the genetics to grow in some areas bigger than others. There is a girl at my gym that never does them and hers are jacked but she's got that basically from her back workouts she claims. Which is her strong point. Though she struggles w/ her shoulders (deltoids) being too narrow and not responding as well. I have pretty decent shoulders w/ nice seperation in my traps but not over powering to the rest of me and I usually do shrugs w/ 45 to 50 lbs dumbells every week?

skiezik · 03-28-2006, 08:27 PM

I don't do shrugs at all. They are getting worked when you are doing pull ups and when you do many of your delt excercises... I do not feel the need to worry about isolating them. I really doubt the chances of looking imbalanced as well.

terracotta · 03-28-2006, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skiezik

I don't do shrugs at all. They are getting worked when you are doing pull ups and when you do many of your delt excercises... I do not feel the need to worry about isolating them. I really doubt the chances of looking imbalanced as well.

well that is routine dependent. I work out at home, and can't do pullups or pulldowns.

sixzebra · 03-28-2006, 10:53 PM

i love muscular traps. i work mine like crazy but i guess because of genetics, i just can't grow them.

Mango · 03-29-2006, 11:10 AM

"is cake a good carb" Hahah!!

I never shrug. I know you can't grow huge because of it, but when I do them, I can't help but feel like I'm going to morph into a cardassian. Those are those guys from star trek that have those big weird cartilidgy skin things attaching their shoulders to their necks.

They are still worked as stabilizers through delt work and back work, right?? I hate feeling like I'm gonna hulk out of my tank top.

bravo03 · 03-29-2006, 11:13 AM

dont be hateful man, ladies can be in the gym also do the same stuff as us guys, a toned women to a certain degree is sexy in a way, just not over muscular.

Rachel_n_SD · 03-29-2006, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsFit

I use to shrug regularly and my traps grew huge in a matter of months. It looked odd and I didn't like it. I limit my shugging to once a month now.

thats what happened to me.

terracotta · 03-29-2006, 12:02 PM

I don't like huge traps on men either, and I am not aiming for huge traps.. like I said, if mine get big, I will take out the shrugs.

skiezik · 03-29-2006, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terracotta

well that is routine dependent. I work out at home, and can't do pullups or pulldowns.

What is your back routine like if you are working out at home? I am just wondering what type of equipment you have to get an effective workout. I love the pull ups... nothing works my back and gives me the v-taper better!

mellangston · 03-29-2006, 01:12 PM

I work out at home a lot, I just recently joined a gym. I still do my weights at home on Saturdays. I only have a bench at home and dumbells. I do one arm dumbbell rows, and back extensions.

Sunshineslynn · 03-29-2006, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imperfectly_lou

Bump... I wish it was as easy as "pick up a weight, shrug and get huge traps" anyway! Besides, what is considered attractive and feminine is a matter of opinion.

Bump bump...
smiles
s

Mango · 03-29-2006, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bravo03

dont be hateful man, ladies can be in the gym also do the same stuff as us guys, a toned women to a certain degree is sexy in a way, just not over muscular.

Who was being "hateful"??

tranceaddict · 03-29-2006, 05:20 PM

cool

terracotta · 03-29-2006, 05:32 PM

I love pullups too.. but I find if I try to go to the gym, I would just stop working out.. so I chose to work out at home.

I have an incline bench, adjustable squat rack, olympic bar, and olympic dumbbell bars (plus lots of plates of course). For my back I do bent-over rows, shrugs, deadlifts, straight arm pullovers, and partial chinups (I sit on my bench, set the bar high, and do the upper 1/2 to 1/3 of a chinup.

cazmcm · 03-30-2006, 12:22 AM

I do shrugs but mostly because I need strong neck muscles for boxing, so if I get hit my neck won't go bouncing backwards and cause some serious damage. Plus boxing tends to just naturally build up the traps/shoulders. I do one day with rear delt/trap work only and shoulders and back on other days.
But like I said I need them

mickapoo · 03-18-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bravo03

dont be hateful man, ladies can be in the gym also do the same stuff as us guys, a toned women to a certain degree is sexy in a way, just not over muscular.

That's your opinion. Lots of guys like muscular gals. Ever heard of Jamie Eason?

Beefcupcake · 03-18-2009, 10:03 PM

Wow! A 3 year bump?

SexyChic · 03-19-2009, 11:39 PM

I tried to do shrugs this week and I noticed I make a funny face when I do them.....I started laughing so hard I had to stop

Anyone else notice that? Something with my lips/mouth and I can't seem to help it. Maybe the weight was too heavy?

freebirdmac · 03-20-2009, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SexyChic

I tried to do shrugs this week and I noticed I make a funny face when I do them.....I started laughing so hard I had to stop

Anyone else notice that? Something with my lips/mouth and I can't seem to help it. Maybe the weight was too heavy?

You mean it causes your nose and upper lip to twitch up?

I like shrugs. And upright rows holding a plate. Fun stuff. I'm doing 115# BB front shrugs. 3x12. Don't think I look anything like an amazon freak.

norinicole · 03-20-2009, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beefcupcake

Wow! A 3 year bump?

Lol, that's what I thought!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SexyChic

I tried to do shrugs this week and I noticed I make a funny face when I do them.....I started laughing so hard I had to stop

Anyone else notice that? Something with my lips/mouth and I can't seem to help it. Maybe the weight was too heavy?

When I first did them, every time I shrugged I felt like I was saying "I don't know". "I don't know".

I thought I shouldn't do shrugs either because I didn't want to 'lose' my neck, but I don't think a lot of women realize that the traps don't just sit at the top of the neck, they go down the back a bit as well. And seeing as how I want to continue competing in fitness, I need to have a nice overall balance

SexyChic · 03-20-2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebirdmac

You mean it causes your nose and upper lip to twitch up?

I like shrugs. And upright rows holding a plate. Fun stuff. I'm doing 115# BB front shrugs. 3x12. Don't think I look anything like an amazon freak.

So it happens to you? My upper lip just does this funny little pucker up....I tried consciously not to do it while shrugging but the result was uncontrollable laughter, and everyone around me was probably like wth...

Quote:

Originally Posted by norinicole

Lol, that's what I thought!

When I first did them, every time I shrugged I felt like I was saying "I don't know". "I don't know".

I thought I shouldn't do shrugs either because I didn't want to 'lose' my neck, but I don't think a lot of women realize that the traps don't just sit at the top of the neck, they go down the back a bit as well. And seeing as how I want to continue competing in fitness, I need to have a nice overall balance

I would rather say "I don't know" while doing them tbh

Beefcupcake · 03-20-2009, 11:18 PM

Thanks ladies! Now I won't be able to stop laughing next time I do shrugs and I'll be thinking of the "I don't know, I don't know" thing

I also make funny things with my mouth when I do shrugs. I currently do them with two 50# DBs and they're helping my body look more balanced. I'll put muscles where ever I can

mprior · 03-21-2009, 12:12 AM

Quote:

if you want to maintain a fairly FEMININE shape, then I would stay away from shrugs completely. Don't shrugs build your traps which can create a stocky, masculine, triangular shape to the neck? If you want to maintain a feminine, elongated neck-line surely you do not need to build your traps?

Your goal is quite obvious from your post... you want to look like Vogue magazine's definition of feminine.

There are however those of us whose definition of "feminine" varies. I wouldn't leave my traps in the dust because that will create a huge lack of development in my upper back and shoulders which, among other things, will leave me prone to injury while working the surrounding muscles.

I have pretty built traps.... I can shrug over 250lbs (more than twice my body weight) and I have never received anything but compliments on my back from males and females. So maybe real life people's perception of feminine and athletic figures differs from that of a photoshopped magazine models?? Just my opinion...