Part 1 - The Ideal Body MeasurementsBy Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS
BurnTheFat.com
I’m often asked what my body measurements are and/or what
are the ideal measurements for a bodybuilder or a classical
muscular male physique.
Believe it or not, there are actually many formulas for
determining the “ideal body proportions.” On the other hand,
you might want to take them with a grain of salt…
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QUESTION: Tom, there is one thing that I really would like to know – your measurements. You have a physique that (in my opinion) is ideal and your photos are a real inspiration to me.
I am able to move up in weight gradually with my workouts, so I know I am building muscle, but I never have a measurement to shoot for – e.g. biceps, chest, waist, hips, etc. Also, it seems like certain ratios (for example, chest to waist ratio, and maybe there are others?), would be helpful also. My thinking is that if my waist and hips are “growing” faster than my chest, then that might be an indicator that I am gaining fat where it likes to show up first (hips and waist).
The measurements I have of myself are: chest, waist, hips, biceps, forearms, thighs, calves.
ANSWER: Personally, I no longer take my measurements, although I did regularly when I was a teenager. I do, however think it’s a great way to chart progress. Circumference measurements give you feedback about how well your training (and nutrition) regimen are working and let’s you catch yourself if certain body parts are lagging behind others, or in the case of waist and hips, if you’re gaining body fat.
The waist measurement is an important one, because when your waist circumference is going down, you know your overall body fat is going down.
Also, when your waist shrinks even a little bit, it tends to
completely change the way you look – even if you don’t gain
any muscle, a narrow waist creates an illusion of broader shoulders.
Abdominal fat and a large waist measurement is also a health risk.
There have been all kinds of different formulas proposed over the years for the “ideal proportions”, but I never aimed for a certain measurement myself. Bodybuilding is a very visual sport. The judges don’t come up on stage and measure your arms in a bodybuilding contest – you are judged on appearance.
I’ve always gone after a certain “look” as opposed to a certain measurement.
I cut out photos of bodybuilders whose physiques I admire and want to emulate and rather than having a measurement in mind, I always have a picture of my ideal in mind.
About the Author:
Tom Venuto is a natural bodybuilder, certified personal trainer and freelance fitness writer. Tom is the author of "Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle,” which teaches you how to get lean without drugs or supplements using secrets of the world's best bodybuilders and fitness models. Learn how to get rid of stubborn fat and increase your metabolism by visiting: burnthefat.com
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