Trying to build a physique like someone elses

bloodguilt

Just a random thought based on some conversations I've been having via email...

There are some people genetically inclined to look certain ways. Their training has nothing to do with it. But other people assume that since training must yield results, the training the genetically gifted do must be the source of their appearance.

It's a false conclusion. The reality of the situation is that you're not going to make your body look like anything other than what it 'wants' to look like.

Can you improve?

Heck yeah.

But that has nothing to do with how you're genetically hardwired to look, plus or minus any fluctuations in fat or muscle mass.

Totally agree with you Steve.
In my opinion, the best inspiration is not to outdo others, but to outdo ourselves for our toughest opposite is the one looking back from the mirror.

chuisle

I didn't realize there was such a large faction of women around here hoping to develop a "thigh gap." I train a ton of women each week at my gym and I have to say, I've not encountered a single one asking about a thigh gap. I take it it's when you can see daylight between thighs?

If so, I just don't get our culture's incessant need for extreme skinniness. Call me old fashioned, but I personally like my women with feminine fat and curvy hips and thighs. To each his own... I know. Beauty's always going to lie in the eye of the beholder. It just sucks that I bet a lot of women are trying to attain a particular look based on very misguided and shallow metrics that are being set by a very shortsighted culture.

Oh, the ever popular "gap." I have to admit that aesthetically I like the thin look. But I am just not built like that! Neither are 90% of women. Yet, for a long time I was banging my head against a wall working against what was natural trying to achieve it through low calorie diets and endless cardio. Ironically, heavy lifting has me closer to a thigh gap than any low calorie/high cardio diet ever did.

StatutoryGrape

So true. I could work my *kitten* off every single day and still never have "thigh gap" or a hip measurement smaller than the high 30s because that's how my body carries its weight. Once you stop fighting your natural build, it gets a LOT easier to respect yourself and set realistic goals.

AZackery

I'm glad that my shape is very unique. I wouldn't want anyone else's physique. I'm glad with the one that I have, even if it's larger now.

stroutman81

So true. I could work my *kitten* off every single day and still never have "thigh gap" or a hip measurement smaller than the high 30s because that's how my body carries its weight. Once you stop fighting your natural build, it gets a LOT easier to respect yourself and set realistic goals.

Couldn't agree more! I wish more people would realize and accept this. Too many people are working against their bodies opposed to with their bodies.

fionarama

that is so true. Currently doing Live Fit but I know when I finish I still won't look anything like Jamie Eason! That said I think its imp;ortant to aspire to the p;erfect look - otherwise its oh too easy to make excuses for laziness/poor results.

militarydreams

Tired of this too. If you're strong then you'll look strong, fit you'll look fit. Also tired of seeing photoshopped images in magazines, people need a dose of reality.

stroutman81

that is so true. Currently doing Live Fit but I know when I finish I still won't look anything like Jamie Eason! That said I think its imp;ortant to aspire to the p;erfect look - otherwise its oh too easy to make excuses for laziness/poor results.

As long as you realize that perfect is a very relative thing. Relative to "your" given set of beliefs and desires.

I think understanding that even with your idea of perfect, it also has to fit inside your set of genetic limitations. I can't tell you how many women I've had in my gym wanting "long, lean muscles" who have, in reality, short and thick bone structures. It simply ain't happening.

stroutman81

Tired of this too. If you're strong then you'll look strong, fit you'll look fit. Also tired of seeing photoshopped images in magazines, people need a dose of reality.

Yup, definitely fueling a lot of unrealistic expectations.

Matt_Wild

I wrote this for my Gaspari blogs, I think the same applies.


“There is always someone better than we are...thats part of life... yet no-one is better at being yourself than you are” Kai Greene

The best way about thinking about your own body is not to worry about how you think your genetics may be, but realise you are unique and that your body and its make up will make your bodily response different to just about every other person on the planet. You ARE unique.

This doesn’t apply just to training – it applies to training, diet, rest and supplementation etc - everything. This means you need to find the best route for YOU. Of course, read magazines, watch videos and learn. The key aspect is to experiment and find that which works best for you. You are your own person.

A helping hand in the form of coach or the like can help you find out a little earlier on but you can get there yourself. You need to learn to be organised, keep notes of your training sessions, measurements and learn from what worked and what did not. As Einstein said, or words to the effect “Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.”

Don’t look at what you cannot do or do not have, look at what you can and make the best of what you have!

mickipedia

This isn't fair, I'd quite fancy a little thigh gap.. Just because your genetics says one thing doesn't mean you can't work to prove it wrong.. I was always told that I'll always be a big girl because its in my genes and theres nothing I can do.. If I just accepted that and carried on I'd be very unhealthy by now but instead I decided to dream a little and I wanna make it a reality.

My point is, that surely if you work hard enough at something then you'll get results.. Even if it does take a very long time

Sidesteal

Yup, there are a lot of athletes and such who are successful in spite of what they're doing in the gym... but since the vast majority of folks are desperate for that edge or that secret, they're naturally going to gravitate to those people who look the best. The boring basics aren't sexy enough to consistently focus on, which is why everyone you see is program hopping like it's their jobs. It's unfortunate.

The basics applied consistently are always going to provide the most mileage though.

^ Quoting this reply so people read it a few times, this is gold, all of it.

stroutman81

This isn't fair, I'd quite fancy a little thigh gap.. Just because your genetics says one thing doesn't mean you can't work to prove it wrong.. I was always told that I'll always be a big girl because its in my genes and theres nothing I can do.. If I just accepted that and carried on I'd be very unhealthy by now but instead I decided to dream a little and I wanna make it a reality.

My point is, that surely if you work hard enough at something then you'll get results.. Even if it does take a very long time

Genetics aren't about being fair or unfair. They just are. You can't prove them wrong. Whatever is attainable is within your genetic limits... so even awesome accomplishments aren't about proving your genetics wrong. It's more about pushing your genetics to their limits.

Trust me when I say that I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade. I'm not trying to discount anyone's goals. It's just that, for me, I'm dealing with a ton of people in my gym, during web consulting, etc and there's a common theme among the majority... and that's unrealistic expectations.

Who am I to judge what's realistic and unrealistic?

Well, nobody, really. I can't tell if someone is going to have some "thigh gap" or the like. I can judge, however, if you're going to have long, lean muscles when you have very short skeletal structures. I can tell if you're going to excel in power based vs. endurance based competition.

But with many variables, you're not going to know until you dive and try. But this must be in accordance with managed expectations I believe.

EbbySoo

Yes, my genetics have treated me very well and often times when I look for a physique to try and attain I look for similar attributes as mine in bone structure/musculature build as inspiration. I realize when I go to the gym and see all the different female physiques around me, that I will never look like some of the women who have "figure" builds or the likes. I'm lanky/long and I've done the best I can to build up around that but I will never have some of what they have. (Some of it of course is artificial and done through yes hard work but also doping and I think each to their own but I like my facial features/hormones the way they are). It's funny because I'm one of 3 girls in my family and I actually ended up with a complete hybrid build of both my parents, while my other two sisters look nothing like me and have completely opposite structure. I win! LOL.

StatutoryGrape

So true. I could work my *kitten* off every single day and still never have "thigh gap" or a hip measurement smaller than the high 30s because that's how my body carries its weight. Once you stop fighting your natural build, it gets a LOT easier to respect yourself and set realistic goals.

Couldn't agree more! I wish more people would realize and accept this. Too many people are working against their bodies opposed to with their bodies.

It's kind of sad when people say you're lazy/don't want it enough when your goals are different. I like having "feminine fat." I like my curvy hips and my breasts, and I would not trade them for anything--not even fitting into a size 4/6/whatever. Different strokes for different folks!

nutandbutter

Love this! I'm finally at a point where I no longer want someone else's body; I just want my best body. What helped me to get to this realization? Lifting heavy and watching my body change.

stroutman81

bumpers

stroutman81

bump

amysj303

so, would you say dancers look like dancers because they dance, or because the ones who aren't genetically predetermined for that body type are selected against or drop out?

BullDozier

So, are you telling me I have to tell my wife that her dream of me looking like William Levy is dead?

ninerbuff

so, would you say dancers look like dancers because they dance, or because the ones who aren't genetically predetermined for that body type are selected against or drop out?

A little of both I think. Let's face it, professional dancers (like models, gymnasts, etc.) have to have a certain "look" to be employed. There are many dancers out there regardless of skill that aren't employed by professional dance companies because they don't have the physical look that's preferred.
But many dancers do physically stay in shape too and work hard at it.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

stroutman81

so, would you say dancers look like dancers because they dance, or because the ones who aren't genetically predetermined for that body type are selected against or drop out?

As niner mentioned above, definitely a little of both. Your bodies is adaptive to the challenges it faces. It wants to remain stable, and anything that stresses said stability will initiate a change. Therefore, form will follow function in that, the demands of any given sport or activity will trigger changes that are specific to it.

That said, we're still confined by our genetics. A short guy isn't going to grow tall just because basketball requires him to jump high and reach.

missym357

This is a conclusion I have come to- and it's taken time to get there. I've always felt like my body doesn't change that drasctically from exercise- I can't see it anyway. I do lean out, and my natural form takes shape and I become a fitter, improved version of myself, but I will never have a JLo booty or a similarly curvy figure no matter how many isolation/building exercises I do- it will be my little butt, but perhaps better/stronger. On the flip side, I do have some coveted features and I don't have to kill myself for them- so I feel like I'm in no position to advise people on how to get what I have.

For me it is all about being my own personal best, feeling good, and doing the things I love.

Sharonks

Well geez, just burst my bubble. I thought if I worked out enough I might grow taller than my 4'11".

I am what I am. I want a little more muscle def in my arms. I want to keep my boobs from sagging (genetics blessed me with small ones that seem to be a little more resistant to gravity) and I want the bit of tummy I have to go away. I do see people trying to sculpt their bodies into something that just can't happen. People need to learn what they can change and what they can't rather than striving for something that is not possible then feeling discouraged they can't attain it.

I will only have a thigh gap if I become very emaciated so I don't fixate on it. Yet my thighs are almost solid muscle now, so what more can I ask for.