So if like me you’ve achieved your weight loss goals you’re probably wondering what comes next? You’ve moved all that fat but now you’re feeling…I don’t know….just a bit out of sorts. I’m certainly feeling a bit wasted away, lacking in energy, weak, skinny, whatever the right word is. Now it’s time to start building that body up again, but this time how you want it.
For all the billions of people on the earth there aren’t actually that many “healthy” body types. Some people will say that people have a natural “type” and that is what you’re stuck with but I don’t go along with that. Genetics plays a part, but it’s much more than that. Whilst watching the Olympics recently it really stood out to me that in each event the vast majority of the had the same body types. Sure there were the odd exceptions (Usain Bolt in the sprint being the most noticeable) but in general they looked similar in terms of muscle build, definition etc I don’t think that’s chance, it all comes from practising and participating in whatever event they specialise in.
Sprinting, it’s all about power and movement whilst carrying little weight. They aren’t burning the same calories as an endurance event so can carry the muscle, short stubby, very well defined muscle is the norm. Long distance runners on the other hand train for endurance. Body weight has to be kept to a minimum so you’re looking at some real skinnies, very little body fat but very little muscle as well. Remember these people were not all born this way. It’s conditioning through training. Weight lifters, it’s all about very heavy weight, low rep work. In short raw power. That doesn’t build toning or burn calories particularly well so expect to see these gals and guys carrying a fair lump of weight and a little bit of fat as well. Gymnasts on the other hand work almost entirely on supporting their own weight (not lifting 250 kilo weights!). This requires obvious strength and cardio fitness as well as them to be carrying as little weight as possible. Of all the athletes I’d say that these probably have the lowest body fat. If you were looking for the picture of a perfect muscle/tone for a human then I think you’d be hard pushed to beat a gymnast. It goes on and on, swimmers long muscular bodies, rowers with their big arms and lungs (chest). If you’re looking for somebody who looks a little more like somebody of the street then check out the multi-eventers. I imagine that their training program most resembles normal life, and it shows.
So what body do I want? Well starting of, I am broad and quite heavy set. There is no denying that, no matter how much weight I lose. Combat sports were always my thing so I guess what would look most natural for me would be to train for a MMA/middle weight boxers type of shape. And that’s exactly what I’ll be doing, from now on my gym routine instead of being about all around fitness will be targeted towards helping me build up the areas I want. No more very long runs and rows, I’ll be sticking to endurance based resistance work mixed with some good quality medium-heavy weight sets. Any cardio will be of the medium distance variety. Of course the best way to help ensure that you get the body type you want is to participate in a sport that is conducive to that body type. With that in mind I’ll be signing up for a contact MMA class in the very near future and will probably find a second gym so that I can do some pad work again.
I would never kid myself that this is going to happen over night but long term training will produce results. Now all it need is for me to stick to it. What about you, do you have a body shape you’d like and what are you doing to work towards it?
