proportions: dependent more on bone or muscle structure?

Hey everyone,
I've been thinking about starting to work out. I'm currently 6'1", 145-150 lbs. I don't mind being skinny or lacking a "hard" body. The one thing that does irk me a bit about my physique is that I don't have a very substantial shoulder-to-hip drop. I was wondering if this is due mostly to my bone structure (and thus unchangeable) or if working out could help me narrow out the hips and broaden the shoulders. I know my shoulder muscles could get bigger/more toned, but would this actually create the appearance of a tapered line, or simply add bulk up top?

Thanks,
wmmk

Why the hell would you want to narrow your hips from where they are at your weight? In any case, you won't end up narrowing them, thank God.

Yes, bulking up will broaden your shoulders and create a bigger drop. The possible extent of the change is determined by your bone structure.

Usually if you're not born with those natural broad shoulders, it's really difficult to mimic it (otherwise you just turn out stocky, which is my case). Anyway like the above poster, narrowing your hips wouldn't be healthy (or viable) at your weight. So your best bet if you want a bit more of at tapered body is to bulk up more overall and put focus on your shoulder/chest/delts. This will give you a bit more of V-style body.

Otherwise the rest is up to your genetics.

i don't think your body (or anyone's body for that matter) can possibly look worse after working out if you do it right. If you're worried about becoming too "bottom heavy" from leg exercises, that shouldn't discourage you from doing things like squats and deadlifts because they'll also put meat on the rest of your body.

Broad shoulders are pretty much determined by the clavicles lenght so working out can only go so far as to add some inches here and there but it also helps improve overall stance; so you cannot really broaden significantly you shoulders but you can make them sit in a more flattering way (if that makes sense).
Being myself tall with a narrow bone structure, I'd say by experience that shoulders workout only, will get the deltoids more toned but the general width gain will be minimal. Best thing you can do I think is starting by working out your back (pull-ups etc...), a wider back (even if a little) will do more for a V-style body (and thus bigger shoulder-hip drop, see swimmer's body) than working out separately the others muscle groups (better way to achieve a wierdly bulky a disproportionate body imo). You can/should do it too but it should be secondary. See the back as the muscle that "organises" all the other upper muscles and that pulls aside/spreads the shoulders (by acting on the shoulder blades), if it's not developped enough the rest won't follow.

The big + is that you just need something horizontal you can supend yourself from (tree branch, park playground...) and start pulling up. You're working with your own weight so no risk of overcharging as when you deals with dumbbells (and screwing up your shoulders)*, but you're still working the majority of the upper body muscles during the exercise. Of course it's hard as hell at the beginning when you can't do more than one rep but if you hang in there it should be ok after a while.

I'm in no way an expert on the matter nor a fitness buff so those are only observations based on my experience dealing with the same situation. Assuming you're not looking for a complete workout and diet program (which is "ideally" the way to go unfortunately) this could work as a low demanding introduction without many of the risks associated with weight lifting*.

* only if you warm up, exercise carefully

Hope this helps


wow, first constructive contribution and it's in the body consciousness forum...who knew ?!

Why would you want to broaden your shoulders? Every young kid wants to get bigger. Enjoy your body type -- you've been blessed. If you want to start working out that's fine, but don't worry so much about specifics.

I'm also 6', 145-150#. I look skinny if I don't have a slim fit shirt on. I wouldn't say I'm super buff but I'm in shape. It's been hard for me to broaden my shoulders by working out. As long as I wear clothes that slim around my waist then I look good - if I wear boxy clothes then I look skinny. Main thing I focus on is getting clothes that show how narrow my hips (29W) are so people can compare with my shoulders and notice I'm in shape.

If you come across any advice plz do PM me, thx.

I share your angst. My proportions are screwed up from sports focusing on heavy lower leg lifting, with moderate upper body work.

Originally Posted by wmmk

Click to expand...

Hey everyone,
I've been thinking about starting to work out. I'm currently 6'1", 145-150 lbs. I don't mind being skinny or lacking a "hard" body. The one thing that does irk me a bit about my physique is that I don't have a very substantial shoulder-to-hip drop. I was wondering if this is due mostly to my bone structure (and thus unchangeable) or if working out could help me narrow out the hips and broaden the shoulders. I know my shoulder muscles could get bigger/more toned, but would this actually create the appearance of a tapered line, or simply add bulk up top?

Thanks,
wmmk

At your weight I don't think you need to worry about getting too thick of legs. But yes, shoulders and back excercises will be your best bet towards getting that taper.