Building Killer Traps

 

Building bigger trapezius (trap) muscles is a common goal for those looking to enhance their upper body strength and aesthetics. The traps are a key part of the upper back, running from the base of your skull to the middle of your spine, and extending outward to your shoulders. Well-developed traps can contribute to a more powerful physique, improving posture, and increasing overall strength. Here's a detailed guide on how to build bigger traps, focusing on anatomy, exercises, and training strategies.

Understanding Trap Anatomy

Before diving into the training, it’s essential to understand the trapezius muscle’s structure and function. The traps consist of three main parts:

1. Upper Traps: These are the most visible part of the muscle, located near the neck and running down to the shoulder blades. They’re heavily involved in shrugging and lifting motions.

2. Middle Traps: Located across the upper back, these muscles retract the shoulder blades. They play a significant role in posture and stabilization.

3. Lower Traps: Situated along the middle spine, the lower traps help with the depression of the shoulder blades and are crucial for stabilizing the shoulder girdle.

Each part of the traps plays a different role in upper body movement, so a well-rounded approach to training is necessary for complete development.

Best Exercises for Building Traps

A combination of compound movements and isolation exercises is ideal for maximizing trap growth. Below are some of the best exercises to target each section of the trapezius muscle.

Workout #1

1. Barbell Shrugs (Upper Traps)

Barbell shrugs are a staple for upper trap development. The exercise primarily focuses on elevating the shoulders, which directly stimulates the upper traps. Here's how to perform them correctly:

Hold a barbell with an overhand grip at shoulder width.

Keep your arms straight and your core engaged.

Lift your shoulders straight up toward your ears, pause, then slowly lower them back down.

Avoid rolling your shoulders, as this can cause strain and reduce the effectiveness of the exercise.

Reps and Sets: 1 set of 10–12 reps, using a weight that causes failure at the end of the set.

2. Rack Pulls (Upper and Middle Traps)

Rack pulls are a variation of the deadlift, where the barbell is set on safety pins or blocks, typically just below the knee. This movement targets both the upper and middle traps by involving heavy pulling from a partial range of motion.

Set the barbell on a rack at knee height.

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, grip the barbell, and maintain a neutral spine.

Pull the barbell up by extending your hips and knees, focusing on keeping your shoulders retracted.

Lower the barbell back to the starting position.

Reps and Sets: 1 set of 8-10 reps, with heavy weight to failure.

Workout #2

1. Face Pulls (Middle and Lower Traps)

Face pulls are great for targeting the middle and lower traps. They also strengthen the rear deltoids and rotator cuff muscles, contributing to better shoulder stability and posture.

Attach a rope to a cable pulley at eye level.

Grip the rope with both hands, palms facing down.

Pull the rope toward your face, keeping your elbows high and focusing on squeezing your shoulder blades together.

Slowly return to the starting position.

Reps and Sets: 1 set of 8–10 reps.

2. Y-Raises (Lower Traps)

Y-raises are an effective isolation exercise for the lower traps, often overlooked in many trap workouts. This exercise helps balance out trap development and improves shoulder function.

Lie face down on an incline bench or perform the exercise standing using light dumbbells.

With your arms straight, raise them upward in a Y-shaped motion.

Focus on using your lower traps to lift the weights and avoid using your shoulders or upper traps.

Reps and Sets: 1 set of 12–15 reps with light weights to failure.

Training Frequency and Progression

For optimal growth, you should train your traps once every 7-10 days, depending on your overall workout split and recovery ability. Because the traps are used in many compound movements like deadlifts and rows, they often receive indirect work during your regular upper-body training sessions.

Progressive Overload: To build bigger traps, it’s essential to progressively overload them. This means increasing the weight and or intensity over time. Start with weights you can manage with good form, and gradually add more as your strength improves.

Rest and Recovery: Allow sufficient recovery time between trap-focused workouts. The traps are involved in many upper-body movements, so overtraining can lead to fatigue and hinder growth. Rest days are crucial for muscle repair and growth.

Nutrition for Trap Growth

Building muscle, including your traps, requires adequate nutrition. Ensure you consume enough protein (1.6–2.2 grams per kg of body weight), healthy fats, and carbohydrates to fuel your workouts and recovery. Post-workout nutrition, rich in protein and carbs, is essential to kickstart muscle repair and growth.

Conclusion

Building bigger traps takes time, dedication, and a well-structured approach. Incorporate a variety of exercises targeting all parts of the trapezius muscle and focus on progressive overload. Combined with proper nutrition and recovery, this will help you achieve impressive trap development and a more powerful-looking physique.

**Maximizing Abdominal Strength with High-Intensity Training**

 

High-Intensity Training (HIT) has revolutionized fitness training routines, and its benefits extend to abdominal training, where it can significantly enhance results. Unlike traditional methods, which often involve longer, moderate-intensity sessions, HIT focuses on brief, intense bursts of effort followed by longer recovery periods than traditional training. This approach not only increases calorie burn but also enhances muscle development and strength.

A typical HIT abdominal workout includes exercises performed at maximum effort with minimal rest. For instance, performing exercises like crunches, and leg raises to failure with no rest in between, is highly effective. This method keeps your heart rate elevated, and tones and strengthens the entire ab area.

The key to success with HIT lies in its intensity and variety. Incorporating exercises that engage multiple parts of the abdominal region—such as the rectus abdominis, obliques, and transversus abdominis—ensures a comprehensive workout. Alternating between different exercises prevents boredom and reduces the risk of overuse injuries.

Additionally, all HIT training boosts metabolic rate long after the workout, a phenomenon known as excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC). This means you continue to burn calories at an elevated rate, aiding in overall fat loss and muscle definition.

Incorporating HIT into your abdominal routine will lead to faster, more noticeable results. However, combining it with a balanced diet and overall scientific training regimen is essential for optimal outcomes. Start gradually to gauge your fitness and recuperative levels and progressively increase the intensity with good form to avoid injury.

An example of an abdominal routine is:

Machine ab crunches 1x-12 reps to failure using a steady, moderate speed tempo

Weighted leg raises 1x 12 reps to failure using a speed similar to the crunches

To increase intensity after becoming more advanced, add three 10-second holds on each negative repetition. These should be evenly spaced, one hold at the top, one in the middle, and one just before the end of the negative. All holds should last for 10 seconds. Reduce your session to just one of these exercises due to the increased intensity.

The effects of aerobic exercise intensity on memory in older adults

Ana Kovacevic 1, Barbara Fenesi 1, Emily Paolucci 1, Jennifer J Heisz 1 1

Abstract

Aerobic exercise may enhance memory in older adults. However, the optimal intensity and underlying mechanism are unclear. This community-based study examined the effect of aerobic exercise intensity on memory and general cognitive abilities. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was examined as a potential mechanism. Sixty-four sedentary older adults participated in 1 of 3 groups: (i) high-intensity interval training (HIIT); (ii) moderate continuous training (MCT); or (iii) stretching control (CON). Prior to and following the intervention, high-interference memory was assessed using a Mnemonic Similarity task and executive functions were assessed using Go Nogo and Flanker tasks. HIIT led to the greatest memory performance compared with MCT and CON (F[2,55] = 6.04, p = 0.004) and greater improvements in memory correlated with greater increases in fitness (rs (46) = 0.27, p = 0.03). Exercise intensity seemed to matter less for executive functioning, as positive trends were observed for both HIIT and MCT. No significant differences in BDNF were found between groups. Overall, these results suggest that aerobic exercise may enhance memory in older adults, with the potential for higher intensity exercise to yield the greatest benefit. While our findings suggest that BDNF does not regulate these adaptations, the mechanisms remain to be determined.  High-intensity interval training results in the greatest memory performance in inactive older adults compared with moderate continuous training or stretching. Improvement in fitness correlates with improvement in memory performance. 

  

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Complete Nutrition for Muscle Growth by Flow High Performance

 Is it possible to both grow muscle and lose fat at the same time? This video explores that and gives diet advice to do just that.

YOU CAN GET BIG WITHOUT STEROIDS!

 

In this video Jerry talks about the benefits of High Intensity Training.

How long does it take for my muscles to fully recuperate?

This is a great question. If your rest is inadequate your muscles will be unable to generate enough effort for maximum training effect but if you rest too long you risk strength and muscle size loss and general deconditioning.

Many high volume bodybuilders train 4-5 days per week, hitting each muscle group 2-3 times. Unfortunately, this doesn't allow the individual muscles enough time to properly regenerate nor the body's overall system to fully recharge.

As training intensity increases, it becomes even more important to properly rest between workouts. The HIT protocol, which I utilize, functions best when maximal intensity is used while training and the proper amount of rest is had.

It is also very important to realize that even though there is a general guideline of  this, each individual will need a different  amount of rest depending on genetics, age, diet and supplementation. Certain supplements such as Creatine, L-Glutamine and the like all effect recuperation in a positive way. 

I suggest initially resting each muscle 7-10 days between sessions and not training more than 3 days per week. Keep a close eye on the amount of weight you're using in each exercise, reps, etc. If you aren't progressing or at least equaling the amount of weight and reps in each session increase the amount of rest days. If muscles are still sore at the beginning of the next time you train add three additional rest days and see what the effect of that is. Remember, train hard, brief and allow the proper amount of rest for optimal gains.      

 DR HIT

                                                     

                                             

Ginkgo Biloba increased athletic performance capacity

Increased oxygen capacity and stimulating growth of neurons with ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba leaves contain flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds that may enhance physical and cognitive performance. In this study, 18 healthy, physically active young men took a placebo or 160 mg of ginkgo biloba per day for six weeks.

Before and after the supplement period, the men performed a graduated cycling test that measured maximum oxygen capacity. Both groups saw an increase in oxygen capacity between the two test periods, but the ginkgo biloba group increased 6 percent compared to 1 percent for placebo.

The ginkgo group also saw an increase in antioxidant capacity, and an increase in a protein that influences a number of brain functions, including stimulating growth of new neurons and synapses—nerves and nerve-signaling pathways.

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