Advice on broadening my shoulders

dartsfan

Hi,

I'm looking for some good exercises to broaden my shoulders. I had a session with a fitness trainer and I was given some exercises to work my chest muscles. At the end of it all though he suggested me doing a 6 session program costing a fortune. So for the time being I was hoping to get some advice on exercises I can do myself in the gym. I have a preference for free weights or using the machines, I'm not interested in weight lifting. Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks

baaaa

Weightlifting-or get your eyes narrowed.

digme

Military press.

TommyKnocker

dartsfan wrote: »

Hi,
I have a preference for free weights or using the machines, I'm not interested in weight lifting.

How is lifting free weights or using weight machines not weight lifting???

Wide grip pull-ups and over head press should help you broaden your shoulders. But you should consider your whole body and aim to develop it as a unit. Not just pick certain parts, as this can lead to you looking weird and having muscle imbalances.

Have a look at either the Starting Strength or Strong Lifts 5x5 programs.


Best Regards & Happy New Year,

M

unreggd

Yoga

Most people have tight/imbalanced shoulders from poor flexibilty

Work your delts, but as said above, overall building is best

dartsfan

B-Builder wrote: »

How is lifting free weights or using weight machines not weight lifting???

Sorry I meant bench pressing like this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Bench_press.gif

dartsfan

baaaa wrote: »

Weightlifting-or get your eyes narrowed.

No idea what you're on about

itsallaboutheL

Listen Man you need to go do some research, then come back and we'll help you out.

You don't want to do one of the best upper body builders>> i mean FFS?

The25thHour

I also want to try and broaden my shoulders if possible and I have been doing some press ups in various positions as well as some free weights. I am only 5.8" so I have a pretty small frame. I seem to be building muscle from the exercises but I dont think it is possible for me to look broader around the shoulders. I mean my shoulders are always gonna be the same distance apart just like my arms will always be the same length right? Isn't it just genetics? I know I can make myself have more body muscle with proper diet and training but won't my torso just be the same size only more built up? Of course a lot of body building over the years could make me a lot wider but I am not interested in becoming very muscle bound or anything, just toned and healthy. So, is it actually possible to make my shoulers wider without intense bodybuilding or are you just stuck with the size torso you have at fully grown adult height?

dartsfan

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

You don't want to do one of the best upper body builders>> i mean FFS?

No, I don't actually because I find that part of the gym intimidating as I wouldn't be lifting much. Bit like this forum actually.
Was only looking for some general pointers as I know very little about it. I'll look elsewhere so first.

unreggd

dartsfan wrote: »

No, I don't actually because I find that part of the gym intimidating as I wouldn't be lifting much. Bit like this forum actually.
Was only looking for some general pointers as I know very little about it. I'll look elsewhere so first.

Everyone starts lifting nothin
Any huge BB's you see will have all started where you are

Get over it

Cowering away from things that intimidate you isnt a great habit to start, in general

Shop around for personal trainers, and ask for half-hour sessions
Most do hour sessions, but you can do your warm up / cool down and stretches yourself

Dutchie

Dartsfan, had the same problem as you. I am 6'2" and was very skinny. i tried various sports to try and bulk up my torso. I found kayaking the most beneficial sport. After 6 months training I started to notice bigger shoulders, traps, biceps, triceps, lats and pecs with firmer abs.
give it a go. You will find advice on where to start kayaking at canoe.ie

DamienH

I'm with unreggd, running away cause you feel intimidated isn't the best idea. Everyone starts off somewhere, even though they might forget it. When I went to the gym first I was 23stone, and sweat like a priest in a playground. I can remember getting stuck trying to military press 30 overhead, now I can do 42.5 one-armed. Get a bar and start having fun with it. For upper-body in general I'd go for military press, but bench is as good... I just prefer the mp's. Bite the bullet!

Dutchie

Stay away from heavy weights gyms- they're full of insecure, arrogant tossers. Get into a sport where you get a good cardio and muscular workout every time you train.

DamienH

Dutchie wrote: »

Stay away from heavy weights gyms- they're full of insecure, arrogant tossers. Get into a sport where you get a good cardio and muscular workout every time you train.

Don't do what Dutchie Don't does!

Mickk

dartsfan wrote: »

Hi,

I'm looking for some good exercises to broaden my shoulders. I had a session with a fitness trainer and I was given some exercises to work my chest muscles. At the end of it all though he suggested me doing a 6 session program costing a fortune. So for the time being I was hoping to get some advice on exercises I can do myself in the gym. I have a preference for free weights or using the machines, I'm not interested in weight lifting. Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks

The term wide shoulders is a bit misleading, a wide torso is a better description. Imagine you got a half inch thick steak and slapped it over each shoulder it would take a massive amount of shoulder development to get your shoulders that big but you would only be an inch wider. Torso width is all about lat development, the lats are the muscles under your armpit on your back. This pic sort of gives you an idea how big lats help give you wider torso width.



For lats imo the best exercises are overhand wide grip pullups and pullovers. (http://www.exrx.net/Lists/ExList/BackWt.html#anchor125439)

BumbleB

dartsfan wrote: »

No, I don't actually because I find that part of the gym intimidating as I wouldn't be lifting much. Bit like this forum actually.
Was only looking for some general pointers as I know very little about it. I'll look elsewhere so first.

youre best off doing a full body workout ,some people are telling you to do research simply because body building is a lot more complicated than you probably percieve it .You see if you go to a gym and primarily do only delt exercises, you run the risk of getting muscle imbalances and injuries . Also the look you are going 4, involves not only the shoulders you have the trapezius and the frontal ,middle an anterior delts those 3 which compose the shoulder which is called the deltoids , you see what I mean ,its a lot more than meets the eye.

Its more than actually going to the gym its a complete lifestyle change.