Obtaining a more masculine figure

[DarkWolf_7]

I've always been a fairly thin person to begin with and I was glad to gain a few pounds over the summer but somehow with the mix of school, stress, and being sick I've lost those few pounds (though at least my hips look thinner). I've been doing some simple daily exercises trying to build a bit of muscle (lifting small weights and situps though wondering if switching to pushups would be better yet harder). But I don't know if there are some better exercises and other ways to gain healthy weight I can do to gain a more masculine figure. I just hate being so thin accentuates my small ribcage (though maybe this is a permanent problem) and having scrawny arms. 

[Shandril]

I would check out some mens body building websites, youd be surprised hpw detailed and informative they are.

Id give you advice but tbh as a man i never really had much interest in bulking up so i stuck to cardio type exercises to be slimmer but fit.

Pick the areas of your body you want to build up research it online and do a healthy rotation never working the same part of your body two days in a row to allow the muscles time to heal.

Theres a plethora of mass enhancing shakes and supplements out there all woth varied effects and ingredients. Stop in at a GNC or Popeyes and explain to them what you want to achieve and Theyll point you in the right direction, id stay away from "dirty bulking" if possible.

~Shan~

[FTMax]

bodybuilding.com

Read up on nutrition as well as workouts. You're not going to gain mass unless you're eating at a surplus, which is slightly more difficult to do if you're working out consistently.

[Deborah]

You need to be lifting heavy barbells to get what you are looking for.  The small weights will never get you there.


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[dentistsandthedark]

Lift heavy and eat at a surplus, that's all that goes into building muscle. Look up the stronglifts 5x5 program, it has good compound lifts and sets a good progress rate.

[FtMitch]

If you are really weak right now, though, don't try and lift too heavy!  Not without the guidance of a trainer.  Get some free weights in the 10-15-20 pound range.  If you have little upper body strength, this will be plenty of weight to get you started.  Look for exercises that built up the delts and biceps online.  Do sets of 10-12 reps with a one minute break in between. By the last rep you should barely be able to finish it--however it should NOT be all that hard when you first start.  If you start with a weight you can barely lift for the first rep then you won't make it through your sets.  When you are first starting out and are super weak, it's better to build up with semi-heavy weights and higher reps than super heavy weights and fewer reps--as long as you are still feeling the strain.  This will allow you to get the form down with less risk of injury as well.  So when people say lift heavy, this doesn't necessarily mean to go nuts!  Just that 5 pound hand weights won't do crap for you.

You definitely need to eat a surplus of calories.  MyFitnessPal is an awesome free app for regulating that.  Also, sit-ups aren't going to do a thing for your shoulders and arms.  Definitely go with push ups.  You mentioned that they are harder--everything you do to bulk up should be really hard.  If it's not really hard then it's not going to gain you muscle.  Lose you some calories, maybe, but not bulk you up.  In other words you are putting in a lot of effort for nothing when you do a bunch of sit-ups (especially since you don't want to lose any weight and want bigger arms and shoulders). 

[Deborah]

.  So when people say lift heavy, this doesn't necessarily mean to go nuts!  Just that 5 pound hand weights won't do crap for you.

Yes.  Heavy means what you find hard but not impossible regardless of the weight.  If you are trying to build strength then you should be able to do 5 repetitions before failing.  When you can do 3 sets of 5 reps then increase the weight.  In the early stages you should be able to increase the weight at nearly every session.  If you can't then you're doing something wrong.

You will get the biggest and fastest gains by doing the biggest lifts.  These are Barbell Squats, Deadlifts, Overhead Press, Bench Press, and Bent Over Rows or Clean and Jerk.

I highly recommend you get and read the book Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe as it explains all of this in excruciating detail.


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[Belial]

I'd like more masculine body too but my problem is different. Too much in bust (G cup). Loosing several kg would be good for me too, especially around waist. Any suggestions?

[dentistsandthedark]

I'd like more masculine body too but my problem is different. Too much in bust (G cup). Loosing several kg would be good for me too, especially around waist. Any suggestions?

Exercise and eat at a deficit. That's literally all there is to losing fat. You can't spot reduce, so there's no telling if it'll come off your chest or waist, but lowering your body fat ℅ will help with a more neutral shape.

[WatchMeRise]

I'd like more masculine body too but my problem is different. Too much in bust (G cup). Loosing several kg would be good for me too, especially around waist. Any suggestions?

I'd focus more on cardio than strength training. Once you shed some of the fat, you may be pleasantly surprised to discover you already have some muscletone underneath.

[Belial]

Thanx for info

Eat at a deficit is impossible. I can't eat too little and can't not eat every 3-4 hours or I get migrains.

Cardio, noted.

[cheryl reeves]

I'm mtf and I want to know about this myth of a masculine body. I gained weight and now look like a bbw, when I was younger I looked like a skinny girl instead of a skinny guy,I did the weights didn't help,I wound up a strong skinny girl. The only thing that helped me at the time was dry shaving and growing facial hair,still looked fem with facial hair. I never could figure out what masculine was about for guys come in all shapes and sizes.

[j.d79]

For working out and seeing visable results, you want density not intensity so your doing the right thing .. sit ups,push ups and weights - perfect! But font forget about leg day!! Pintrest has some great ideas

[dentistsandthedark]

Thanx for info

Eat at a deficit is impossible. I can't eat too little and can't not eat every 3-4 hours or I get migrains.

Cardio, noted.

Eating at a deficit doesn't mean eating too little or less frequently, it means taking in less calories than you burn. It's impossible to lose fat otherwise.

[FTMax]

Eating at a deficit doesn't mean eating too little or less frequently, it means taking in less calories than you burn. It's impossible to lose fat otherwise.

Yes. Basically look at what you're eating and really dig into the caloric value of it. For the most part, that's going to mean making the shift from packaged snacks to prepared food.

As an example, there are 230 calories in a 4 pack of breakfast cookies that I like. Despite the high calorie content, they do not fill me up ever. I am usually hungry again in about 2 hours after eating them.

Or I could eat a single bag of frozen vegetables. A 14oz bag of broccoli has 134 calories. They make a microwavable bag of broccoli with cheese sauce that's only 180 calories for the entire bag. I feel full, and I don't get hungry again for another 4-5 hours.

[Deborah]

The general rule is to mostly stick to higher fiber unprocessed fruits and vegetables, lean meat, beans and some grains.  That will fill you up at a lower calorie count.

Avoid things like candy and potato chips.  They leave you as hungry as before and are high in calories.


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[WatchMeRise]

They make a microwavable bag of broccoli with cheese sauce that's only 180 calories for the entire bag. I feel full, and I don't get hungry again for another 4-5 hours.

Holy crap, that actually sounds freakin' delicious to me, and that is really low calorie— if you remember the brand name, could you please let me know? Do you find them with the frozen bags of veggies at the supermarket?

[MichaelTolliverLives]

I think the key isn't just working out, it's working out particular *areas* - especially shoulders - to give you the right sillhouette.

This is a great site, and it's for gents wanting to work towards a more masc appearance. Also, the site's author is lovely if you write to him - very smart and kind.

(Edit to remove link! I'm sorry, I only just re-read the forum rules. The site is called The FTM's Illustrated Guide to Looking like a Hot Dude, if people would like to google for it)

[FTMax]

Holy crap, that actually sounds freakin' delicious to me, and that is really low calorie— if you remember the brand name, could you please let me know? Do you find them with the frozen bags of veggies at the supermarket?

Yes! It is delicious. I believe it's by Bird's Eye. It's a light blue bag, I think it says "Steamables" or "Steamfresh" or something like that. Frozen food section around with the other bags of frozen vegetables.

There are other brands too, I think Green Giant makes one but I haven't tried it.

[Deborah]

These are the steamables I get.
http://www.pictsweet.com/our-products/category/steamables

They are really good, filling, and inexpensive.

The only ones that were not good were the soybeans in their pods.  I think only a cow could actually chew those.


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