What is stockiness determined by?

[Adone]

My friends have recently started to tell me I'm looking stockier and stockier everyday. They say that my muscles look really good but when I have my clothes on, I look like a "buff midget".
I mainly work out to look good, so it quite bothers me.

I'm not short (5'9, but I've had some people telling me I look more 5'7-8) nor really heavy (155 lbs, with a really small frame [my wrist is 6"]), so I don't know what may be the cause of my stockiness, but I actually look larger and shorter than most folks.


Any ideas?

 

[MrS]

You mediterranean?
its in the genes.

 

[Adone]

Originally posted by MrS
You mediterranean?
its in the genes.

I am, but I don't look such (blue eyes, fair skin, high cheekbones. People often mistake me for English, Austrian or, really often, French), probably because I have a vast heritage.

So, I have to choose between being skinny or being stocky?

 

[brucevangeorge]

Wait, so you would rather be short and like a twig instead of short and buff? Hmm....

Your "stockyness" is because you are short. It's in the genes.

And at 5'9 you are above the average height. Maybe its because you've been hanging around with tall people.

 

[Adone]

Originally posted by brucevangeorge
Wait, so you would rather be short and like a twig instead of short and buff? Hmm....

Your "stockyness" is because you are short. It's in the genes.

And at 5'9 you are above the average height. Maybe its because you've been hanging around with tall people.

You say that I'm stocky because I'm short, but then you say that I'm above average height

Anyway, I'm not referring to that kind of stockiness, I know some 6'0+ guys who are muscular and look stocky, not necessarily short, but shorter than they are, because they are large, so it takes away their height. It's not a problem to them because they are already tall, but since I'm borderline short, I wouldn't want to look even shorter.

Well, who cares, I'll keep bulking and I'll beat the shìt out of everyone who dares to call me stocky

 

[Warboss Alex]

Originally posted by Adone
Well, who cares, I'll keep bulking and I'll beat the shìt out of everyone who dares to call me stocky

And what's so wrong about being stocky? You're built to powerlift, take advantage of it. Not everyone's got the symmetry/balance to be a pro bodybuilder (I know I don't) - do the absolute best with the hand you're dealt.

 

[Adone]

Originally posted by Warboss Alex
And what's so wrong about being stocky? You're built to powerlift, take advantage of it. Not everyone's got the symmetry/balance to be a pro bodybuilder (I know I don't) - do the absolute best with the hand you're dealt.

The fact is I workout mainly to look good and I don't really like the stocky appearance... I know lots of chicks dig it, but they're not the reason I workout for.

Do you think that a lower bodyfat would help? Right now, I can see my abs just on an empty stomach, otherwise I have a bit of gut (I tend to store all my fat in the waist area). What do you think?

 

[Warboss Alex]

If you can see your abs then your bodyfat is already too low for any further trimming down to drastically change the shape of you.

If it's your shape it's your shape man .. don't sweat it, do the best you can with what you've got and you'll be fine, I promise you.

Although by way of encouragement, wait 'til you've worked out a couple of years and got into your 'muscular' shape and then see what happens.. I changed shape drastically when I started putting muscle on.

Not everyone is a born herculean!

 

[Adone]

Originally posted by Warboss Alex
If you can see your abs then your bodyfat is already too low for any further trimming down to drastically change the shape of you.

If it's your shape it's your shape man .. don't sweat it, do the best you can with what you've got and you'll be fine, I promise you.

Although by way of encouragement, wait 'til you've worked out a couple of years and got into your 'muscular' shape and then see what happens.. I changed shape drastically when I started putting muscle on.

Not everyone is a born herculean!

That's the problem, Alex, I've changed shape drastically since I started putting muscle on. I used to have a natural V-Tape, but since I started doing squats and bulking, my waist has grown a lot and now the V-Shape is gone. Do you think that something can be done to have it again?

I can see my abs just when I flex them and my stomach is empty, so I don't think my bodyfat is low enough yet. What do you think?

 

[Warboss Alex]

EDIT - check your journal Adone.

 

[Adone]

Originally posted by Warboss Alex
EDIT - check your journal Adone.

I read it I agree with you, I'll probably have to cut some fat away