Training Don’ts
Maximize your shoulder training by avoiding these common shoulder-training mistakes.
- DON’T SHRUG. When performing shoulder presses or raises, it’s easy to tense your traps and neck. Doing so takes the tension out of the deltoid and can strain the neck in the process.
- DON’T GO THUMBS UP. Think about keeping your pinkies, rather than your thumbs, high in your shoulder presses to increase tension in the deltoids.
- DON’T GET OUT OF LINE. When performing lateral raises, don’t lead with your elbows or hands. Rather, keep them in line for maximum deltoid engagement.
- DON’T LOCK IT OUT. When performing shoulder presses, don’t lock out the elbow at the top of the exercise, as it transfers the work to the triceps.
- DON’T SWING. Avoid swinging the weight when performing raises. Instead, move the weights in a strong, but controlled movement.
- DON’T SQUAT. Save the squats for leg day. When training shoulders, eliminate the squatting, bending and rocking to help you move the weight. If you are struggling to complete your reps, consider decreasing the weight or asking for a spot.
Jaime’s Favorite Sexy Body Supplement
My favorite supplement for sculpting sexy shoulders, or any other muscle for that matter, is branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and, when taken in proper dosage, are clinically proven to help muscular endurance, delay fatigue and speed up recovery. Said another way, BCAAs allow you to train harder for longer, which affords you more fat-burning… more muscle-building… more results. That’s what we all want, right?
While there are numerous BCAA products on the market, my favorite is Aminolast by Gaspari Nutrition. In addition to providing a potent dose (10 g) of high quality BCAAs, Aminolast is loaded with electrolytes to keep you hydrated, features Ammoject technology to expel fatigue-causing waste from your muscles, is stimulant-free and tastes great. (I highly recommend the watermelon flavor.) Try drinking it while you train— you’ll notice the difference.
Show it Off
The next time you slip into that sexy tank or strapless dress, make those shoulders pop with gorgeous, glowing skin!
- EXFOLIATE. Rid your skin of dry skin cells and reveal smooth glowing skin by exfoliating regularly. You can purchase a scrub just about anywhere, but beware of scrubs with harsh chemicals that can dry out your skin. You can make your own scrub at home with ½ cup of sugar mixed with enough cold-pressed olive oil to dampen the mixture.
- SELF-TAN. Get sun-kissed without sunburns or tanning beds by using self-tanners. Try Pro Tan’s Sunny Day for a natural-looking overnight solution or St. Tropez’s Bronzing Mousse for an immediate, streak-free glow.
- MOISTURIZE. Moisturizers with natural oils will soften your skin and give it a sexy sheen. Try The Body Shop’s Mango Body Butter or Bella Lucce Tahitian Body Glaze. Or keep it simple by mixing a few drops of natural oil with your favorite body lotion.
- HIGHLIGHT. For those special nights out on the town, draw attention to your shoulders and décollete by adding luminosity and shimmer. Try Studio Cara’s Skinshimmer product in Inca for that perfect bronze glimmer or Atlantis for a pearlescent glow.
