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MCT’s versus LCTs: Which are best for boosting performance and burning fat?

Not all fats are created equal. Put simply, there are good fats and bad fats: the so called unsaturated and ...

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Protein Rotation …why?

One of the best strategies you can apply with success to a bodybuilders diet is protein rotation. In essence, eating ...

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Acetylcholine: Stimulating Mind and Body

Of the major neurotransmitters, acetylcholine just might be the most important from a muscle building standpoint. As a major neurotransmitter ...

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The Effects of Carbohydrates on Your Workout – Part 2: Intra-Workout

Carbohydrates always seem to be a hot topic when it comes to losing fat or building muscle – or both. ...

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What 10 foods should I avoid if I want to get shredded?

1. Margarine Not because it’s a fat. Real butter from grass fed cows is high in fats (good fats) like ...

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Glutamine: Super Supplement? Or Overhyped and Worthless? Cutting through the Bull

One of several so called, “super-supplements”, to have hit shelves over recent decades is glutamine, the most abundant amino acid ...

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Tricep Pushdowns / Pressdowns

Want horseshoe triceps? Execution is key. Here's everything you need to know...

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Quad Isolation Exercises

Leg extension's - love them or hate them, they're great for quad development... if done right! Here's how to ...

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Pullups & Pulldowns

BPak's best execution tips for getting the most out of pull-up and pulldown movements!

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Bent-Knee Calf Movements

It may be the smaller of the 2 main calf muscles, but it's important you work the soleus if you ...

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The Essentials of Bodypart Specialization: Quad Training

It is important to keep in mind that these 10 key suggestions for Quad training will fly in the face ...

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The Essentials of Bodypart Specialization: Delt Training

There is no need to go into detail about how important shoulder development (specifically deltoids) is to a complete physique. ...

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Shrugs


General guidelines for all shrugging movements
(unless specifically stated otherwise)

  • use lifting straps if desired, particularly for working sets
  • take a shoulder-width-grip ideally
  • chest up, head / neck neutral, elbows / triceps locked-out (unless stated otherwise)
  • if standing, lock out quads and contract glutes and abs (don’t let hips come back and forth)
  • pull everything back / retract scapula (not to an extreme, but to avoid any roll forward)
  • begin by retracting from around the mid-back
  • shrug right to the top of the neck and really squeeze
  • push / protract on the way downward to lower the weight (don’t let it drop).

Standing Shrugs – Dumbbell or Barbell

‘Beside body’ variation depicted

    Exercise Specific:

  • Be sure to keep everything pulled-back throughout with the weight(s) held (constantly) just slightly in front.
  • Dumbbell Optional Variations:
       > Hold DB’s Behind body: this is the position in which you will be weakest
       > Hold DB’s Beside body: hold with a neutral grip (palms facing) and pay extra attention not to rest during this variation in order to maintain constant tension.

 

Prone Incline Shrugs – Dumbbell or Barbell

Note how the shoulders are correctly down and back, not raised and forward

    Exercise Specific:

  • Actively resist the urge to let the shoulders rise up and sag forward during the movement.

 

Shrug + Upright Row Combination

    Exercise Specific:

  • once at the top, bend elbows and pull / row them upwards about 3 inches further.