swimmers shoulders on a girl!!!

i'm 15 and i swam for about 10 years - since i was 5. i've quit (bit after my 15th bday - about half a year ago) and now am going to the gym 4 times a week.

BUT coz of all the swimming i have really big shoulders and wide chest...not as bad as those professionals though. i realllllly don't want to look like this! i'm currently doin shoulder presses, chest presses and seated row at the gym - should i cut those out?

how can i get back in proportion!?

you have to do the excercises for strenth balance in your body, just watch the volume on thise excercise and just try to maintain what you got. up the cardio and volume on the other bodyparts and you will start to even out a bit. the cardio will help the muscles lean doen a bit.

I don't have any suggestions, but I do feel your pain, I've got them too. I swam from about 10-18 competitivly. What did you swim??? I did fly (hence the shoulders), IM and distance. I hated sprints with a passion!

I did hte fly and IM too! I have broad shoulders too but haven't been able to swim much the past few years because towards the end of high school I was developing tendonitis in my shoulders from teh fly I think.  And swimming was what made me lose all the weight before!

i wasn't like state level or fantastically good, just pretty good.
i did well in school swimming carnivals and competed a bit in the school rep teams. my best strokes were good ol' fly and backstroke.....i prefer sprints to long distance!!

The beauty of strong shoulders on a woman is it makes your waist look smaller!  Other people may not even notice the shoulders, they may just see that you have a great proportional, curvy figure.  Follow bodyscience's advice, and try to view the whole you when you look in the mirror, not just a part.  :)

Yup, I figured when I saw the post you did fly. I wasn't too bothered by the shoulders because I had broad shoulders to begin with it least now I have an excuse! Fly is an awesome workout, and most people see it as the hardest and most impressive stroke. I've been teaching swimming for many many years, a whole lot people are probably are jealous of your abilty to do this stoke at all. I agree with pandajenn and bodyscience on what to do, but until then look at those shoulders as a sign of accomplishment. Don't believe me??? Jump in the pool at your local gym, and do 100 fly, people will notice, follow with a good kick set to work your legs just for good measure.

I feel your pain. I have runner's thighs and broad shoulders (from genes, not sports).  I quit doing sports after college three years ago and I haven't been able to get rid of my thighs. Let me know if you figure a way to reduce the broad shoulders!

Appreciate your shoulders, when you're 90 you'll wish you had anything up there!

I swam for about 10 years, 5 of them pretty competitevly.  I am 18 now, and have quit, but I have big shoulders too.  My arms are also really muscular and big.  It drives me crazy!  I just hope that if I keep working out, everything will get back to normal!

I did fly also...The shoulders to prove it!!