Building "round" muscle.

**TractionIssues** · 07-16-2009, 04:15 PM

What are people's opinions on techniques to build round proportional muscles? Stretching is an important factor, and negatives imo. But what is everyone's opinion on this?

**collar** · 07-16-2009, 04:21 PM

what excatly do you mean round??
when you mention round, im thinking like cut to see good shape and nice tight round shoulders.

Big bellied muscles all that, thats what i think when you say round muscles.

if so big bellied muscles go over time and with genetics.

as for round and cut also some genes comes into it, but a lot to do with food in my opnion.

i will always go back to food and diet for everything and then cardio.
it all plays hand in hand, not one dominates the other.

I place the food aspect very highly though.

range of movement and technique you always want to aim to do good technique and nice stretch.

**TractionIssues** · 07-16-2009, 04:33 PM

Okay well here is my example, my goals is to shape my body like this guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMpxBRzvCTU

I find he has a nice round shape of muscles, and it is well proportioned, and not too big. This is in comparison to say this kind of body shape, which I find is about the same size, but not as attractive asthetically because of his more "pointy" features.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyoe-...eature=related

**TractionIssues** · 07-16-2009, 04:33 PM

Food will affect size, and does not have control on shape, I believe it's entirely up to technique.

**eatrainrest** · 07-16-2009, 05:25 PM

genetics

**xavier_888888** · 07-16-2009, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by eatrainrest

genetics

Agreed!

**TractionIssues** · 07-16-2009, 06:06 PM

Genetics play a big role yes, but depending on technique and execution you will target different muscle fibers. So there is definitely a way to build muscle through technique that will cover a wider array of muscle fibers, which will give that round proportioned look.

**eatrainrest** · 07-16-2009, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by TractionIssues

Genetics play a big role yes, but depending on technique and execution you will target different muscle fibers. So there is definitely a way to build muscle through technique that will cover a wider array of muscle fibers, which will give that round proportioned look.

you cant change the pre-disposed shape of your muscles

**TractionIssues** · 07-16-2009, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by eatrainrest

you cant change the pre-disposed shape of your muscles

Are you trying to say no matter what you do your muscle will always grow in the same way? Obviously this is misinformed.

**illwillogical** · 07-16-2009, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by TractionIssues

Are you trying to say no matter what you do your muscle will always grow in the same way? Obviously this is misinformed.

How long have you been working out? I have been for over 10 years, and my muscle shape has basically stayed the same, the muscles just got bigger.

**TractionIssues** · 07-16-2009, 06:40 PM

Then explain how come if you are working your chest and your arms are spread large you are working the outer region of the pec, but if you bring them in your working the interior, same goes for angles when doing and overhead bench press to work the top or lowered bench to work the bottom of the pecs. Same goes for every muscle group.

**TractionIssues** · 07-16-2009, 06:42 PM

A simple Arnold Curl targets different fibers than a basic Bicep Curl, and will work the muscle for a little more width where as a basic bicep curl is mainly depth.

**TractionIssues** · 07-16-2009, 06:43 PM

Same thing for shoulders, working the different groups front middle back, depending on how much you work these could change the shape and proportion of the muscle.

**TractionIssues** · 07-16-2009, 06:46 PM

Now also think about how stretching affects the shape of muscles, and think about why it is important to do full motion excersizes, and depending on the angle of the excersize, different muscle fibers are targetted.

**eatrainrest** · 07-16-2009, 07:01 PM

your missing the point.. yea your stating that different exercises target differnt parts of the delt-anterior/medial/posterior... and????? nothing changes the fact that the muscles themselves CAN GROW, but will not change the shape that has already been determined by your GENETICS... you CAN NOT isolate parts of your biceps, abs. the "lower ab exercises" are a myth.

**TractionIssues** · 07-16-2009, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by eatrainrest

your missing the point.. yea your stating that different exercises target differnt parts of the delt-anterior/medial/posterior... and????? nothing changes the fact that the muscles themselves CAN GROW, but will not change the shape that has already been determined by your GENETICS... you CAN NOT isolate parts of your biceps, abs. the "lower ab exercises" are a myth.

I'm not one to believe lower ab excersizes are a myth because I can definitely force only the bottom abs and only the top abs, not to mention how my top abs are much more developed as I had always done only situps younger, and now that I do leg raises I definitely see a big difference. Now as for shape, I am not talking about if your pec is square or curved, I'm talking about how to develop the muscle proportionally to hit all muscle fibers equally, to obtain that "round" look.

**eatrainrest** · 07-16-2009, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by TractionIssues

I'm not one to believe lower ab excersizes are a myth because I can definitely force only the bottom abs and only the top abs, not to mention how my top abs are much more developed as I had always done only situps younger, and now that I do leg raises I definitely see a big difference. Now as for shape, I am not talking about if your pec is square or curved, I'm talking about how to develop the muscle proportionally to hit all muscle fibers equally, to obtain that "round" look.

sorry to burst your bubble but that is false. the abs are one (1) muscle and cannot isolate regions. your "lower abs" may be more visible due to diet and cardio.

you-0
science-1

**ninesecz** · 07-16-2009, 08:37 PM

whatever muscle shape you have thats it! Some have thick deep muscle bellies some dont! Some have larger muscle density and therefore build muscle easier, Some people for instance have biceps that will when flexed have a great rounded peak and others are not so lucky! I have more of a thicker lower style muscle belly. I will never have those high peaking biceps which sucks but thats the way love goes

**TractionIssues** · 07-16-2009, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by eatrainrest

sorry to burst your bubble but that is false. the abs are one (1) muscle and cannot isolate regions. your "lower abs" may be more visible due to diet and cardio.

you-0
science-1

I know when I concentrate I can flex either mainly the bottom or mainly the top, if people want to believe this will make a difference in growth when training is another subject, but I'm guessing you also think the pecs are a single muscle too right? But anyway this is not the topic. The topic was to ask people's opinions on how to keep proportional round muscle.

**eatrainrest** · 07-16-2009, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by TractionIssues

I know when I concentrate I can flex either mainly the bottom or mainly the top, if people want to believe this will make a difference in growth when training is another subject, but I'm guessing you also think the pecs are a single muscle too right? But anyway this is not the topic. The topic was to ask people's opinions on how to keep proportional round muscle.

the pecs are actually 2 muscles.. but not here to argue

**TractionIssues** · 07-16-2009, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by eatrainrest

the pecs are actually 2 muscles.. but not here to argue

So if the pecs are broken into 2 groups, then how come the abs are not broken into 6 or 8 in some cases? And how come if they were all 1 muscle how come each ab doesnt grow equally in alot of the time?

**collar** · 07-16-2009, 10:20 PM

you obvouisly have not looked at the body anatomically.
if you seriously have looked at the abdominal muscle it is a one muscle.

then you have your transverse and obliques.
but abdominal sorry its one muscle man.

also the links you put up, its very hard to compare the two, one is oiled up, one has colour and one is on stage..

the other is still got days before he competes and no colour or oiled up.

but back on the subject, like i said you can get cut and shape from the diet.

but you cannot manipulate the shape or cut, whatever your genetics alows you, you have...

**TractionIssues** · 07-16-2009, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by collar

you obvouisly have not looked at the body anatomically.
if you seriously have looked at the abdominal muscle it is a one muscle.

then you have your transverse and obliques.
but abdominal sorry its one muscle man.

also the links you put up, its very hard to compare the two, one is oiled up, one has colour and one is on stage..

the other is still got days before he competes and no colour or oiled up.

but back on the subject, like i said you can get cut and shape from the diet.

but you cannot manipulate the shape or cut, whatever your genetics alows you, you have...

I'm not saying it isn't a single muscle, but what eat is saying is that you can't Isolate different part of the muscle. If that was true how come people can do this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvxEs39omSc

I believe that this "lower abs is a myth" thing is just a fad that will be proven wrong in a few years.

I also did not say you could change the cut, I am simply talking about proportions, your not listening.

**eatrainrest** · 07-16-2009, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by TractionIssues

I'm not saying it isn't a single muscle, but what eat is saying is that you can't Isolate different part of the muscle. If that was true how come people can do this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvxEs39omSc

I believe that this "lower abs is a myth" thing is just a fad that will be proven wrong in a few years.

I also did not say you could change the cut, I am simplytalking about proportions, your not listening.

just to be clear here.. its impossible to isolate one single muscle group. secondly, the delt is comprised of 3 parts as opposed to the abdominals which is 1 so, you cant isolate lower abs same applies to biceps. i mean, its just the way the muscles are, thers really nothing to prove or disprove here. what do you mean by proportions? do you mean size?

**TractionIssues** · 07-17-2009, 01:06 AM

Well no I'm not saying you can work your bottom Abs solo either, just saying there is a way to put most of the contraction power into the lower abdomen or the upper just as well. Both will end up being worked, but you can focus an area. A bicep can't really be done if you look at how it can be manipulated, but the abs have many different angles of effect.

And as by proportion, lets say for the delt, if the middle of the delt is big but the front and back are under developed, it will give the image of a pointed delt which would resemble the shape of an oval as opposed to if they were all proportioned it would be round. Same goes for proportioned chest, lats, quads hams, etc etc.

**biodiversity** · 07-17-2009, 07:56 AM

its all about diet when you are 7% bf the muscles will look sharper bigger and more round, but also genetics play a big role from what I see in the gyms is that black people have rounder and more defined muscles than others, forgive me if I am talking about race but I am into anthropology and bio diversity and we cant eliminate this factor from the equation when it come to bodybuilding.

**xnotoriousx** · 07-17-2009, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by TractionIssues

Okay well here is my example, my goals is to shape my body like this guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMpxBRzvCTU

I find he has a nice round shape of muscles, and it is well proportioned, and not too big. This is in comparison to say this kind of body shape, which I find is about the same size, but not as attractive asthetically because of his more "pointy" features.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyoe-...eature=related

I really like the physique of the guy in the first video. I think that I may be able to obtain it in about 5 years if I stay at it. I'd love that.

Also the roundness of your muscles is like everyone said all genetics. Only way to change that is going under the knife.

**cubnlynx** · 07-17-2009, 11:00 PM

I think it's genetics I have seen guys like the guy in the first video perfect proportion small waist and then there are guys who's bodys look kina off could be the training also but I feel like you kinda gotta win the genetic lottery.

Maybe it was just me but that guy kinda looked like he was made of chocolate lol

**DEE151** · 07-17-2009, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by eatrainrest

genetics

thats nots always true. look at jay cutler befor he (Started Lifting) he did not have no muscle shape at all he was a srunny person befor he started lifting. steroids got him to were he is at now. but he looks fvcken awsome.

**eatrainrest** · 07-18-2009, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by DEE151

thats nots always true. look at jay cutler befor he (Started Lifting) he did not have no muscle shape at all he was a srunny person befor he started lifting. steroids got him to were he is at now. but he looks fvcken awsome.

everyone before they started lifting does not look how they currently do. jay cutler has extremely good genetics or he wouldnt be mr. olympia. otherwise, everbody would be a runner up for it if they took steroids . your example=genetics.. it just didnt show until he started working out. but im done with this thread.

**biodiversity** · 07-18-2009, 07:12 AM

just be happy with what you have , life is too short, train to be healthy and look good and realize that human differs some are smarter some are healthier some are stronger...also money , health and girls make you happy not round muscles

**BBronco** · 08-03-2009, 04:47 AM

I agree with TractionIssues. As for the genetics argument yes i agree it its PART of the reason but i think the reason that some become Mr Olympia is that they have programs that can change to cater for changing (or stagnating) muscle sizes and shapes as they grow. Ultimately giving themselves perfect proportion.also think about the physics behind it, if you exert forces in different ways and at different points (with the help of gravity) you should be able to acheive different results.

**ScotchGuard** · 08-04-2009, 01:10 PM

I'm 50yo and i've been training for over 35yrs. I've been down to 3% bf (calipers) and been up as high as 18% (hydrostatic). I've taken every imaginable supplements and was at point where my wife was going to leave me because I was thinking about training, eating, supplementing, everything else but the kids and family. LOL Good thing I'm more balanced now. But I've NEVER looked like the guys in those videos. I attribute that to genetics. I was able the culminate the best my body had to give but I was not genetically disposed to win Mr. Olympia. I think there is a lot to be said for diet, exercise, supplements, and desire. But a mule will never beat a Thoroughbred in a race. I'm damn fit but genetically, I'm a mule. My life sucks! LOL LOL LOL I discovered this forum last year and I'm finally going to give AAS a try. I'm going to be the fastest damn mule in the world!!! LOL Seriously, whether success is nurture or nature it really doesn't matter at 50. I'm totally enjoying the journey and I've learned a TON of stuff over the year. The quality of my life due to BB has been fantastic.