kinda frustrated. . .

Hey Guys, Just a quick question, not sure if it goes here, but not sure where to put it.lol
 
Would you all Classify Brendan Fraser, as he was in "george of the jungle" as george, just lean and skinny?  Or is there alot more gym work and diet in his body at that time then what I think?
 
Becasue, allbeit this is a bodybuilding site, it is also fitness.  and I want a lean look, with some definition.  But not anything at all to be a bodybuilder.  know what I mean?  Lean and Abs is all I really want, and the rest is just extra.  I know it all puuls together for the bigger picture, but if a person just wants to be lean and "skinny" to bodybuilders,  then just negative calorie balance, plus cardio  (and weight training to avoid a boney look), should do it right?  Even if a person has some endomorph in them?  Or is that look something that ectomorphs hold patent on?  Just wondering.
 
I was born a predominant endomorph. . . getting kinda frustrated at my plateau. . . more-so when I think I genetically CANT get my goal and vision. . .  any light shed on this would be of help. 
thanks, TTFN

He's obviously been in the gym. And he didn't just do cardio, situps and a cutting diet. In order to get 'lean and toned', you first have to build something to cut down to. So in actual fact, you do need to work on building those muscles, otherwise you're just going to look like...well...

V,
    You're the Clipart Photoshop GOD!

 

HAHAHAHA! ! ! !  THat second picture is so freaky! ! !. lol

And thanks for the post.  It makes sense.   That pic (obviously the top one lol), is what I would like to become my maintenance, or "mostly-year-round" look.     I just hope it is not my Genetics that will stop me.    So Am I right in saying that the "V" taper is mostly due to an increase of the shoulders, deltoids etc, ?    Cause I am kinda wondering If I am just cursed with a big bone structure due to the endomorph in me. . .

Shoulder to waist ratio is a large part of it, but I would say equally as important are the lats (latissimus dorsi), they are basically your torsos outline.

V,
    You're the Clipart Photoshop GOD!

 

Ok, makes sense. . .the lats being the "wings" right?    So as far as my waist goes, the thinnest I got was comfortabley fitting into 32 inch jeans.  Is that still pretty big?  Or would you say that my waist is under control and I need to focus on the upper part of the V?

well what are your stats? Height, weight, bf%?


If you posted a pic over in the critique section you'd probably get a lot of advice on what you might want to do next.

V,
    You're the Clipart Photoshop GOD!

 

Well, I kinda never got any relevant advice for what I was wnating.  I posted last year when I was at my thinnest, and again about a month back when I was hitting the nutrition side hard again.  But I guess I never got it through that I am NOT wanting a bodybuilder look with big arms, triceps, etc. 

I mean, I really dont want to focus on "building muscle".  But like you said in your first post, i need to have some muscle before I cut and get lean and tone.  I dont have much definition or size, I am smack in the middle.  I dont have bulk to show off or get critique about, or leanness to get critique about.  lol.  I guess just overall, I need to just hit the nutrition side hard like I did when I went from overweight to average.   and also hit the Weight side of things even when I cant get meals in every three hours etc.   But anyways, F here is a link to get to my stats and a pic of a bout a month ago.  http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/Dreamer7/more.php?section=progress

the BF was an estimate that I got from a website, . . .but I dont remember which one.  IT used the stats to give an estimate.  .

NOTE:  The before pic was not intended to show "amazing resutls". . . .I just had taken a pic, and then wanted some advice, so I took a recent one.  and hence, the "before and after pics".  I feel pretty good about the "after" pic, as it shows a hint of ab definition, which for me is great, as it is abotu 30 to 40 pounds less than what I was most of my adolescent years. 

You didn't look bad at all in your after pic, getting to that point again would be good, I don't know if you're heavier now? But it looks like you were heading in the right direction.

V,
    You're the Clipart Photoshop GOD!

 

Thanks Mon Ami. . .  Like really, a little encouragement can go a long way.  I am about 4 - 5 pounds heavier now, and plenty of muscle is gone.  due to my nutrition crash and training slump.  I kinda gave up thinking I was getting nowhere.  I thoguht that it was just stagnant.  But to hear positive feedback from someone who doesnt know me is really. . .motivating.    THanks, and thanks for the run of posts tonight.  Got me fired up again and looking for the bright sunrise.  lol    I will hit it again like I was, but keeping the weights in focus to build enought muscle to tone-out later.   I shall post again in maybe two to three months to post a pic and get some critique and advice on where I am lacking etc.  Thanks again. 

It's a little hard to tell with the bodyfat, but I don't think you have a terribly long way to go to catch Fraser in lean mass.  He's obviously spent some time in the gym, but that is a very accessible look.  

A lot of people around here say "bulk first, ask questions later."  But if your goal is just a lean, somewhat athletic physique, you might consider getting the BF down.  With a slow cut, you should manage to put on some lean mass in addition to the fat loss.  And it looks like you have a fairly reasonable amount of lean mass to me as it is.  (That doesn't mean that you shouldn't be lifting.  You definitely should be.)

That's just me.  If I were in your shoes, I'd go on a slow cut and then decide what to do from there.  But, admittedly, I've sacrificed some muscle gains in order to maintain lower BF percentages, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Thanks Snatchula,

Thats exactly what I am wanting, with a bit more ab work.  And that really hits the nail on the head.  I had thougth as much but thoguth I was wrong.  Btu i will doa cut while lifting heavy to maintain and maybe put on a bit more muscle, and go for BF reduction.  Even If I lost lean muscle in the process like you say you have, I woudl rather be lean and kinda skinny, than have muscle mass but kinda pudgy. 

Thanks to you and virtuoso.  So far, its been the best advice I have gotten, thought previosly, it might have been my own fault for not getting the point across that I was looking for a Fraser look. 

THanks!!

I think you definitely should not count on losing lean mass.  You can lose most of the pudge without losing any muscle.  Don't try to drop the fat too fast.  With slow(ish), steady fat reduction, you can continue to gain muscle.  But if you drop the cals too low, chances are good that you'll regret it later on.

Also, ab work is fine, but putting a lot of focus into it, especially early on, is pretty much a waste of time.  You'll strengthen your core with basic compound exercises, such as squats, deads, and standing overhead press.  I'm not saying don't do ab work.  But after a certain point, you're better off putting your time and effort into other exercises/activities.  

Good luck!