Does swimming "inform" muscle growth? A dryland/weights q.

Show me, with resultant pics, a routine that increases one's upper back, shoulders, and chest without simultaneously building oversized tris, bis, neck, and traps. That is the goal. pwolf, you want measurable action? 2-4" more on the chest, similar amount on shoulders (circumference), without serious gain to arm or neck measurements Kind of a curious thread. My :2cents:: Don't want to be discouraging, but if you don't have the genetics to achieve the "shape" you're after, you're probably not going to achieve it, no matter what type of routine you do or what muscles you focus on or neglect. Peoples body types will respond to stimulus, but outside of increasing the size of the muscle (and sometimes this doesn't even occur), you will not change the shape of that muscle. Some bodybuilders have quads that are connected very low on the upper leg, it looks like their thighs hang over their knees, some have really peaked biceps that are the envy of others, and some have super-thick traps that almost look like a second pair of shoulders. Whether you're blessed (or cursed) with these genes, you get what you get, and you can possibly modify the size, but not the shape. I spent roughly 20yrs trying to get the ideal bodybuilder look but found that I did not have all the right genetic cards in my favor. I had/have very large upper/lower legs, fairly wide lats, and decent pec/shoulders. The main thing I felt I was missing was overall thickness in the back, very little trap and forearm development, and a frustrating lack of bicep peak. I'd train my traps with shrugs (750lbs for reps at my peak) and could get my upper arms to almost 19", but never had the sizable traps I wanted or the bicep peak. This was good enough for many 2nd place trophies, but I'd always get beat in competitions by the person who had more of the "right genes." The thing about elite swimmers is that most of these people started out with the right genetics, and though years of focused training their bodies have responded to adapt in a particular way. I'm pretty sure that even if I could follow the same swimming/weight/diet routine that these elite swimmers follow, I would still not wind up looking like them because my genetics are not the same (not tall enough, slender enough, proportions are different, etc…) You will probably find that you can achieve part of the look you're going for, but maybe not all of it. Regardless, good luck in your quest. :banana:

Wow are you a hypocrite. First you blast me for going about my goals the wrong way, claiming you know the way, because you were able to get some guy from X to Y using your own advice. When I ask you to show me the guy who supposedly went from X to Y using your system, I'm yet again an idiot and going about things wrong, and your example is "merely an anecdote". So which is it? You know the way, or your way only produces anecdotes? Let me put this out there for all to hear (though at this point it seems like there are maybe 4 people total in this conversation). Show me, with resultant pics, a routine that increases one's upper back, shoulders, and chest without simultaneously building oversized tris, bis, neck, and traps. That is the goal. pwolf, you want measurable action? 2-4" more on the chest, similar amount on shoulders (circumference), without serious gain to arm or neck measurements. The pics I've provided were the target goal, which show exactly this. Give me a routine, I don't care if the only water it involves is the sweat produced. But give me something with evidence. Pics. Maybe something you did, maybe something you recommended to someone else. Don't dismiss your experience as "anecdotal" when it's inconvenient and you're pressed for proof. To date, the only consistently built people I've seen along these lines have been swimmers. That's why I'm here. If I'm 100% wrong and this is not the way, show me the right way and back it up with something for me to see.

Give me a routine Why? There is so much information on the internet about how to gain muscle. You could be using that information right now to reach your goal, whatever the hell it actually is. Afraid deadlifts are going to make your neck too big? Start wearing turtlenecks.

Why? There is so much information on the internet about how to gain muscle. You could be using that information right now to reach you goal, whatever the hell it actually is. Afraid deadlifts are going to make your neck too big? Start wearing turtlenecks. Is he always like this? Any of you know his parents?

pwolf, you want measurable action? 2-4" more on the chest, similar amount on shoulders (circumference), without serious gain to arm or neck measurements. Wait, you want to increase your shoulder and chest measurements by several inches without increasing your arms or neck at all? YouTube - ‪I'm sorry, Dave‬‏

Wow, that's crazy. I cannot conceive of a 750lb deadlift, let alone shrugs. On a side note, what are trapezius muscles good for, functionally speaking? I know they help with a deadlift, but what else? Shrugging your way out of a rear naked choke? Cracking coconuts between shoulder and head? Carrying suitcases from one airport terminal to another Carrying Jugs for the water cooler from one side of the office building to the other Transporting lazy children up the hill to your house when they sit down in the street

On a side note, what are trapezius muscles good for, functionally speaking? I know they help with a deadlift, but what else? Shrugging your way out of a rear naked choke? Cracking coconuts between shoulder and head? Carrying suitcases from one airport terminal to another Carrying Jugs for the water cooler from one side of the office building to the other Transporting lazy children up the hill to your house when they sit down in the street :D My guess is all of the above, plus being able to pull the cord to get Atlas's lawn mower started.

Alright all, think I got, for better or worse, everything I need out of this thread. Thanks to everyone, except of course the man-child who's probably still longing for father's love (or trying to forget getting too much of it, beats me). Good luck and stay fast people!

www.tierraunica.com/.../6a00e551962103883300e55419aa128834-800wi Compare that though to today's champions: 4.bp.blogspot.com/.../ryanlochte.jpg www.popstarsplus.com/.../MichaelPhelpsPicture.jpg Thanks, Bro, you have just made my day ! :D

I was more of a stick in High school but when I swam in college I look pretty close to Phelps. I took wieght lifting much more seriously in college than I did when I swam in high school. I started swimming again about a year ago and about a week before spring nationals one of my co-workers said that I didn't look like a swimmer and another correct him saying that I didn't 6 months ago but I do now. Honestly I don't think I'm anywhere close to what I looked like in college, but my upper body is much more defined than my lower body. My wieght program is the basic wieght training although lately I've been working in new dry land stuff I've read in a book that I recently gotten off of Amazon. Since I've got no desire to swim long course, I've been using this time as off-season and doing more running and cycling than swimming lately. I know this doesn't answer your question. My guess would be genitics since my son (teenager now) has the exact same build I had in High School.