One of the biggest problems with training i think is....

[*MissFit*]

fighting against your shape or natural build..

I would like to know other ppls opinions..

I personally feel this is the biggest obsticle for manytrying to get into shape. They try to attain physiques that are not possible due to thier bone structure, genetic make up etc...

 

[treilin]

I used to be like that.... Now I realize how I am built and try to look for fitness models with similar builds. That way I can look at their fitness program and similuate it for awhile. I like to switch things up. I am now aware that how somebody looks I may never look like and I am fine with that, but overall that doesn't mean I can't look as good as them. It's how you present yourself and if you are confident that you look good then it radiates. It's how far you want to challenge your own body and mind to obtain 'your' ultimate physical look and appeal and screw what everybody else thinks is perfect.

 

[The_Monster]

I agree. If people understood these things they could use them to their advantage... for instance, a "fat" person with a naturally slow metabolism is better to increase cardio than to drastically decrease calories whereas a "fat" person with a fast metabolism will spin their wheels with more and more cardio to lose a little abdominal fat instead of adjusting their diet according to their own make up.

Genetically I think very few people ever come even close to their potential, so no one really has the right to blame genetics for the shape theyre in. How many people sit at McDonalds at lunch and later complain about how theyre "genetically" fat?
But the reason for that could be more toward societies love of blaming someone else. No one takes responsibility for themselves, their kids, their actions... you name it.

 

[Sassy69]

I agree. If people understood these things they could use them to their advantage... for instance, a "fat" person with a naturally slow metabolism is better to increase cardio than to drastically decrease calories whereas a "fat" person with a fast metabolism will spin their wheels with more and more cardio to lose a little abdominal fat instead of adjusting their diet according to their own make up.

Genetically I think very few people ever come even close to their potential, so no one really has the right to blame genetics for the shape theyre in. How many people sit at McDonalds at lunch and later complain about how theyre "genetically" fat?
But the reason for that could be more toward societies love of blaming someone else. No one takes responsibility for themselves, their kids, their actions... you name it.

LOL Word. I always had the extra 10 lbs on me & my mom would always tell me its OK cuz I"m a "big girl". Thx mom. So I finally get my shit in order & do a BB show. For a few months I was FINALLY proportional. I have a small head & a big body and finally got lean enough to balance it all out. Gain a few lbs & I look like a brick shit house again. (Will illustrate with pix in a few days.)

Ask me why I'm posting a committed diet & training regimen at this point.

 

[the-short-one]

LOL Word. I always had the extra 10 lbs on me & my mom would always tell me its OK cuz I"m a "big girl". Thx mom. So I finally get my shit in order & do a BB show. For a few months I was FINALLY proportional. I have a small head & a big body and finally got lean enough to balance it all out. Gain a few lbs & I look like a brick shit house again. (Will illustrate with pix in a few days.)

Ask me why I'm posting a committed diet & training regimen at this point.

I, too - am a brick shit house. I've finally accepted that I have a very low & wide wheel base - kind of like a Hummer. My New Years resolution is to enhance my body style rather than fight it.

 

[The Shadow]

^^tired Pilates?

 

[the-short-one]

yes. I just can't get into it. I LOVE weights, though - they're addictive.

 

[Griz1]

Actual genetics aside (i.e. pelvic width, where you store your fat, bone structure, etc.) I 'm starting to believe the body has a type of "memory". The longer you have been "fat" the more your body will want to stay that way and bounce back to that shape. The longer you are fit, the more your body will want to bounce back to that state too.

For example, 6 years of couch potato-ness and the fat takes F O R E V E R to come off. Get fit, stay fit for 2 years, start to put on weight from inactivity (10 + pounds), go back to gym and weight comes off in a month and you're fit again.

I figure the longer we stay fit, the easier it will be to drop the weight after we fatten up during a break/injury/lazy-fest/etc.

If it isn't the actual case, it sure seems that way!

 

[alycat]

that is so true!
I was 170lb in 2002 now I'm 135 and pretty hard.... I put on 15 lb though summer of 2004 and now I've been back at the gym for a month and WOW it's coming off quick...mind you, I have to give most of the credit to diet...
regarding Pilates...ahhhh it's so slow and I feel like nothing is happening. I need the iron! cold hard steel. not little bands. beside I don't want a lil dancers body anyway, I'm not built like that, I've excepted that and learned to love my body. I know what I have to do to 'proportion' my body. getting it is another thing. looks good on paper. however I'm working hard at it. I believe that once I get to that point it will be all maintenance, I can't wait until I get to that point.

 

[Sassy69]

yes. I just can't get into it. I LOVE weights, though - they're addictive.

I fully agree. I grew up w/ all brothers & work with all guys. I was all about the sweat, the ripped out lifting gloves & the amazing set of callouses I was sporting on my hands, knee wraps, poundage in the gym. Easily starting to fall into the "Yea, well my dick is bigger than yours" thing. (not literally ... its a testosterone comment ok...)

So then I start training with this guy for a show. I train my ass off. I train so hard that I overtrain, develop all sorts of tendonitis problems, metabolism shuts down, burnt out. Jump forward 4 years. After 6 weeks w/ a chiropractor for lower back problems (ahem trainer of 4 yrs ago...) I am now told I should not be doing leg presses, deadlifts, etc. All my 'impressive' heavy lifts. So what do I do now? First I need to cut some of the mass (muscle & fat) but I also need to learn how to focus on core strength, flexibility and other aspects of "fitness". Yoga & Pilates are definitely a viable route here, and they will do great things going forward. Mass is not always the greatest goal and I'm now a strong proponent of a very balanced training regimen of yoga/pilates, cardio & resistance training.

I imagine a pilates DVD is probably cheaper than several visits to the chiropractor.

 

[The Shadow]

that is so true!
I was 170lb in 2002 now I'm 135 and pretty hard.... I put on 15 lb though summer of 2004 and now I've been back at the gym for a month and WOW it's coming off quick...

MOST of that is simply knowing how to get it off........




just a hint - if you want to maximize your body in terms of flow and proportion stick with the pilates

 

[alycat]

do you do pilates shadow??

 

[the-short-one]

... First I need to cut some of the mass (muscle & fat) but I also need to learn how to focus on core strength, flexibility and other aspects of "fitness". Yoga & Pilates are definitely a viable route here, and they will do great things going forward. Mass is not always the greatest goal and I'm now a strong proponent of a very balanced training regimen of yoga/pilates, cardio & resistance training.

I imagine a pilates DVD is probably cheaper than several visits to the chiropractor.

If I have to choose - I'll take Yoga. I have a couple of tapes and have taken a few classes. I always feel really good after Yoga - mentally and physically. Only problem is that you need ALONE time for it - no phones ringing or kids wanting something or TV blaring in other room.

 

[velvett]

do you do pilates shadow??

Pretty sure he taught it.

 

[*MissFit*]

I can totally see him in tights

Pretty sure he taught it.

 

[jenscats5]

I want muscle to take up all the space from the loose skin I have from loosing weight so I don't have to have an "ectomy..."

 

[the-short-one]

I want muscle to take up all the space from the loose skin I have from loosing weight so I don't have to have an "ectomy..."

I am having that problem in the chest - I used to have breasts when I was heavier, and they wer quite nice before i had a baby. Now they're just...empty. I wish they would fill in with muscle - but it doesn't quite work that way. Surgery, I'm afraid, is my only hope.

 

[courtneybcca]

I agree I am at a constant battle with my lower body. When I lean out for shows etc. I can never get my bottom end lean enough with out looking like a skeleton on my top half. It is really gross you can see every bone, spine and everything but the legs still don’t look as toned as they should. I HATE IT.... One day I will concur it I will not give up...

 

[anthrax]

I think the main obstacle to "get into a new shape", whether it be add a lot more LBM or lose a lot of fat is in your head rather than in your genes or bone structure

 

[ashley2212]

I can never get my bottom end lean enough with out looking like a skeleton on my top half. It is really gross you can see every bone, spine and everything but the legs still don’t look as toned as they should.

My mom has exactly the same problem... she is VERY pear shaped. She wears a small on the top and a large on the bottom. She is 5'11" and at one point got down to 136lbs. She was very "skeletal" up top. Now she's a bit heavier and looks much healthier but she still doesn't like the fact that she can't lose fat evenly.

I am 6' tall and I always feel like I look like a string bean. I'm not extremely lean - I have a decent shape - but in relation to my body, my muscles look smaller than they really are. It's also very true what they say that you can easily see a 5lb gain (fat or muscle) on a short person and it's harder to notice it on a tall person. Perhaps this is why the majority of bodybuilders are short

 

[Daisy_Girl]

I think the main obstacle to "get into a new shape", whether it be add a lot more LBM or lose a lot of fat is in your head rather than in your genes or bone structure

EXACTLY