should women do shrugs ?

[buffchic69]

Does anyone here do shrugs ? if so, what weight do you use ?

I don't want to look like I have a manly back & neck !

Any suggestions ?

 

[MsBeverlyHills]

never do them. if you look @ my avatar- you can see I already have small shoulders so big traps would make them look smaller. Most the girls I know that hit shrugs are bigger overall- like PLr big so it works depending on your physique.

jm2c

 

[CanadianLady]

I don't know if you'd like advice from me or not but the new way that I am training with my boyfriend who is training with Scott Abel, who is a very noted PT, is that we don't do specific exercises for shrugs, even him and he's a huge dude. SO..... what we've been doing is on shoulder day, when you do your laterals, at the very top of your rep, lift your weight above your shoulder to around eye level, and then shrug with your traps. This gives a cood contraction to your shoulder muscles, and I think that so far this has created an even size between my traps and shoulders. Even if you have normal shoulders and no traps, you still look not proportional I find or like there's something missing. But that is just my opinion. Every good bodybuilder is always looking to be symmetrical and proportionate. Let me know what you think of my post.

 

[Kroliczek]

I do shrugs. I do not have enormous traps, just proportional. Part of this is genetic. For example, I have to be careful not to train my back too much or else it looks like I have a "Arnold back" lol.

 

[jenscats5]

I do shrugs & use 35lb DBs to do them.......

 

[dirty~d~]

I use the shrug rack with 60-70 on each side... depending on how my shoulders feel that day. Typically I'll do three sets of 10-12... again depending on how they feel. My traps are strong, but not thick by any means. It all depends on the woman (genetics and what type of look you're going for).

 

[Seashell]

I do shrugs with 45 dbs, 3 sets of 10 and you can definately see some traps. I don't think it looks bad though. What DOES look bad is my face at the top of the shrug.

 

[Sassy69]

Me too. I do shrugs on the Smith machine w/ 45-55 per side 8-12 reps x 3. I have big shoulders & upper back anyway, but I don't seem to have ended up w/ "Arnold Back".

 

[Kroliczek]

Me too. I do shrugs on the Smith machine w/ 45-55 per side 8-12 reps x 3. I have big shoulders & upper back anyway, but I don't seem to have ended up w/ "Arnold Back".

Lol. A gentleman once told me that my back looks like an Arnold back. I did not know whether to take that as a compliment or an injury. I took it for the negative, of course...but I should realize (REALIZE DAMNIT) that I am not a large person at all.

Yep. He was complimenting me.

 

[Sassy69]

Lol. A gentleman once told me that my back looks like an Arnold back. I did not know whether to take that as a compliment or an injury. I took it for the negative, of course...but I should realize (REALIZE DAMNIT) that I am not a large person at all.

Yep. He was complimenting me.

Hey, we all have our natural gifts! It seems that if you already have a tendency towards a certain build or a part of your body is a certain way, it will be that way regardless of lifting. But I'm gonna just reiterate for anyone who may be perpetuating the myth, if you just started doing a particular exercise, women dont' need to be worried about looking like a guy. It takes hella bunch of shrugs to get a "manly back" if you don't already have that shape naturally.