The physical fitness culture began to emerge back in the 1940’s. Venice Beach California was the birth place of the physical culture. Muscle beach was the place to find fantastic looking physiques. The focus on developing adonis-like bodies was the main theme. Steve Reeves propelled the idea of building the body with weights into a new dimension. Go online and google Steve Reeves and you will see one of the best symmetrically built bodies of all time. He had great proportions and was a classic example of how the human body should look like. There are many great body builders of that era that helped instill in our consciousness what a healthy body looks like. As the years passed the physical culture exploded. The idea of having a great looking physique has been the cornerstone of both men and women for decades. Having a good looking body enhances self esteem, self confidence, and sexuality. Let’s face it everyone feels better when they look good. Now my question to you is how do you want to look like?
I enjoy bodybuilding because I like the effects I get from isolating each muscle. I like the idea of having good symmetry and developing the muscles to be defined and balanced. The human body, in my opinion, should look like a Greek Mythological God. All the muscles should show and be presented in a balanced way. The shoulders should be built with a sweeping over hang off the arms. The chest should be well defined and chiseled, with a distinct separation from the abdominals. The back should be wider up top and taper down into a smaller segment. This is known as the V-Taper. The V-Taper is what gives the physique an athletic look. The abdominals need to be well defined. The rectus abdominus, serratus interior, external obliques should all be showing in a relaxed state. The abdominals should be tapered in to match the V-Taper of the back. The abdominals should remain small at the hip connection. The Quadriceps/Hamstrings need to be muscular and defined with a sweeping effect starting from the hip/abdominal connection proceeding down to the knee. The calves need to match the proportional sweep of the upper part of the legs. The calves should have a diamond shape to them. The arms should be well balanced. The triceps and biceps need to be well defined and proportionate to each other. The forearms should resemble a bowling pin.
Not many people really care about how symmetrical their body is. Most of the people I deal with on a daily basis only care about one thing– WEIGHT LOSS! Anyone can lose weight, but not everyone can look great.
To have a great looking physique of adonis-like proportions takes a great deal of discipline and proper training methodology. You will never develop a great looking, symmetrical physique from doing BEACH BOOTCAMPS, FUNCTIONAL TRAINING, AEROBIC TRAINING, KETTLEBELL TRAINING, CYCLING, RUNNING MARATHONS. Those programs are good for developing non-specific strength, endurance and neurological adaptation patterns, and perhaps “weight loss”. But the only way to really have a great looking physique that makes other men jealous and women take notice is to perform the correct sequence of isolated exercises for each muscle. And to have someone who knows how to work the weaknesses of your physique to create the illusion of having perfect symmetry. Everyone notices a great looking physique no matter if they are male of female. There is just something that makes people covet that specific look. A well built body personifies health, sexuality and vitality.
The bottom line is how do you want to look. Do you want to look middle aged with a beer gut? Do you want to look sickly skinny with no muscle development? Do you want to look thick and bloated? Do you want to look just average? Do you want to look like a yuppie just trying to lose a little weight? Do you want a non-tapered back? Do you want a big abdomin and big chest like a bull frog? or do want to have good symmetry and look the way the human body should look? I prefer the last choice.
Daryl Conant, M.Ed