My back appears to be getting broader

So you've been working out your back and shoulder muscles, they responded to the training and got bigger, and now you are complaining that they did what you told them to do?

I don't get it.

So you've been working out your back and shoulder muscles, they responded to the training and got bigger, and now you are complaining that they did what you told them to do?

I don't get it.

Solution = stop training them if they are getting too big for you. Simples.

Train an area you'd like to develop more often instead...

Yes, and yes.

Do you have before/after pictures? Is clothing fitting tighter? Measurements?

My shoulders have broadened from lifting (my shirts are much tighter in the shoulder area now) but I like the affect. I think a muscular back is sexy on a lady :-)

The constant message on here is that women should lift heavy, we won't get bulky, etc. She is clearly asking for advice since that apparently wasn't correct information (at least not for her.) I've been lifting heavy for about a month, so I'd like to see some useful replies too. I can't wrap my brain around how anybody has the time to putz around message boards leaving rude comments. Or why anyone would want to. Mind boggling... :noway:

This comment wasn't very constructive either, pot.

The constant message on here is that women should lift heavy, we won't get bulky, etc. She is clearly asking for advice since that apparently wasn't correct information (at least not for her.) I've been lifting heavy for about a month, so I'd like to see some useful replies too. I can't wrap my brain around how anybody has the time to putz around message boards leaving rude comments. Or why anyone would want to. Mind boggling... :noway:

Lol both individuals gave her very straight-forward, clear answers. No one was seeking her out to troll. You seem like the type who wants to complain, particularly since you immediately went, "Oh, heavy lifting won't bulk is apparently not correct information." Jesus, we have yet to get a clear answer on her clothes fitting, measurements, etc., PLUS anecdotal = everyone.

Do you have before/after pictures? Is clothing fitting tighter? Measurements?

My shoulders have broadened from lifting (my shirts are much tighter in the shoulder area now) but I like the affect. I think a muscular back is sexy on a lady :-)

I love my lats showing a bit when I do my hair in the morning. It's that daily reminder that I'm one strong SOB.

As others have said, if you don't like the development, stop training that area. I don't do direct calf or oblique exercises because I do not want any more development of those areas.

I'm sorry that people are being rude to you. A muscle doesn't have to be huge for it to be bigger than you want for your frame. Also, if you're a former swimmer or water polo player, you might already have huge shoulders and not wish to grow them any more. I think that is a personal choice you should be free to make. I'm stoked to get down to goal weight and look for muscle imbalances/proportions/symmetry to perfect the body that is EXACTLY what I want.

My guess though is that it is probably more a combination of losing inches in other areas and better skeletal posture more than additional muscles. I know my posture has improved dramatically and makes me look wider in the shoulders.

Agreed. you are too far out from your goal to abandon back & shoulders. this is a process and not always seamless along the way. Keep working hard, i wouldn't jump down to light weights so soon.

Are your shoulders & back *actually* getting wider (by measurements), or do they just look wider to you relative to your shrinking waist?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Forget it

You still didn't answer the question about whether you've taken measurements, and lots of people gave you advice that if you don't like your shoulder muscles to be any wider, you should stop working them, or work them with lighter weight.

I stand by my gut instinct that your shoulders probably aren't any wider, they just seem that way because your waist is getting smaller, but if you're unhappy about it, nothing anyone can say will change that.

You are making the assumption I wanted them to get bigger that is not the case I wanted them to be toned not bigger. Not sure how many women actually want their backs and shoulders to get bigger. I am sure there are some but I guarantee you they are in the minority

For that "toned" look just concentrate on fat loss. :flowerforyou:

It's very unlikely for a woman to bulk up muscle that fast. I said unlikely because there are some unusual specimens out there. It's most likely that other areas of your body are slimming down, pulling in and making other areas look even bigger. That happened with me and my pecs. Already had pretty large pecs but looked even bigger once the weight started dropping off.