My butt looks flat from behind

You're sparking a tiny bit of hope in me lol :laugh: I'm a banana shape but yeah i do see my figure changing and becoming more hourglass but not with bulking, with weightloss. i wonder if I'd be a real hourglass if I do bulking after i lose the excess fats... hmmm

If you reduce fat mass enough about the waist, and increase muscle mass about the legs and glutes, then you can certainly develop more of an hourglass shape.

I wasn't trying to take away hope! I was just pointing out that although hard work will make a change, you can only change within certain parameters that have been decided by genetics.

Check out this photo from a figure contest. They've all clearly worked hard to get these results, but you can still see they all have different shapes as a result of that work.

EDIT - Image is cropped - right click and choose 'view image' for full picture.

Wait, when you say "squats" do you mean with or without weights?

I wasn't trying to take away hope! I was just pointing out that although hard work will make a change, you can only change within certain parameters that have been decided by genetics.

Check out this photo from a figure contest. They've all clearly worked hard to get these results, but you can still see they all have different shapes as a result of that work.

EDIT - Image is cropped - right click and choose 'view image' for full picture.

I understand in a way what you're saying but I wouldn't use competition photos for a few reasons.

1) Having cut fat mass and water weight, with reduced measurements, they don't appear as "shapely" compared to when they are not in competition shape. Thus, using non-competition photos would be preferred to observe their natural appearance.

2) We don't have any before and after photos of each lady for reference to see how much training has changed their shape.

3) You have competitors with varying total training experience - some women may have trained and competed for several years whereas others may have limited training and in their first show.

4) Some competitors lack symmetry because they neglected to work specific body parts and focused too much on others.

5) Some competitors restrict calories so severely, with excessive cardio, that they end up losing a lot of the muscle mass they initially gained.

I understand in a way what you're saying but I wouldn't use competition photos for a few reasons....

For sure, and there are a million and one other variables which will affect the figure competitors and the OP. My point was even among people who are vying for the same "ideal" there is variation.

Just like in sport, it's nice to think we could all be world champions, if we put in the work, and had the right environment, but it's not true, some people were more blessed genetically than others.

Now, outside of elite athletes and competitors, most people get nowhere near their genetic limit, so they have a lot of room to improve, but it will still ultimately limit them.

As a silly example, you could take Beyonce, J-Lo, Paris Hilton and Kim kardashian, and even given infinite time, nutrition and training, they would change, but they would still all end up with different butt shapes and sizes, because that's the hand nature dealt them.

How is this thread getting more play than my cal question one? Especially since my butt does decidedly NOT look flat from behind. Doesn't that give me any kind of advantage?

\http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1142550-trampoline-sky-high-sky-zone-sky-jump-etc?page=1#posts-17776371

http://youtu.be/cBrHdatPj9g

I've been doing squats most of the time, my legs and thighs look amazing compared to before and my booty looked rounder and cute from the side BUT when I look it from the back it still looks flat :grumble:

I'm trying to lose my last 8.5lbs to hopefully lose my belly fat as of the moment.

I feel your pain and im also told to do more squats....flat as a freaking pancake!!