Do you look leanest first thing in the morning?

[Special K]

Do you notice that you look leaner when you first wake up, compared to later in the day? I notice that I look thinner but more defined in the morning, but then later in the day I look fuller but also with less definition. I think it's because of subcutaneous water retention or something. Does anyone else notice this?

 

[brikis98]

Yup. Water retention, bloated stomach and all that can affect your appearance and weight. Whenever I go for a long time without food & water, my body looks noticeably leaner, and as night time is probably the longest period between meals, it makes perfect sense.

 

[Special K]

So when I see the pics of these ultra-ripped guys on the covers of magazines, do they always look like that, or did they have to take the pics at a certain time and under certain conditions to look like that?

 

[brikis98]

Although we all do it, comparing yourself to guys on magazines is a bad idea. Here are just a few of the many reasons you'll probably never look like those guys:

1. The pictures are usually taken by professionals in ideal conditions. With the proper overhead lighting & shadows, even I can pull of a bit of a six pack, and that ain't saying much...
2. Along with lighting, oil/water can further enhance muscle appearance. That's why bodybuilders are always shiny with the stuff.
3. Pictures on magazines are almost always digitally edited. Bicep size is increased, waist size is reduced, lighting is edited, imperfections are airbrushed, etc. You can find MANY examples of this online.
4. The "pump": many of these guys workout right before the photo shoot (or the body building competition) so their muscles fill with blood and have a larger appearance. You can look way more jacked right after a workout than, for example, right after dinner.
5. Extreme diets: most body builders will do extreme diets right before competition that include all sorts of laxatives, drinking no water, eating next to nothing, and possibly many other drugs. It's the "lean" look you get in the morning times 1000. I suspect guys on magazine covers do this as well.
6. Drugs/chemicals can really enhance muscular appearance and I don't just mean steroids. There are many perfectly legal substances that increase blood flow, make veins come out, tighten the skin, etc.
7. Let's face it: these guys are on magazine covers for a reason. Because of all the above, they won't look as ripped in day to day life as they do on a cover, but they will still look pretty goddamn ripped.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: brikis98
7. Let's face it: these guys are on magazine covers for a reason. Because of all the above, they won't look as ripped in day to day life as they do on a cover, but they will still look pretty goddamn ripped.

Is this genetics or what? I've seen pics of people on other boards who are extremely ripped, yet their routine sucks by strength/bodybuilding standards, and their diet isn't anything special either. One of them had never tracked a calorie in his life.

How do you explain these people?

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: brikis98
7. Let's face it: these guys are on magazine covers for a reason. Because of all the above, they won't look as ripped in day to day life as they do on a cover, but they will still look pretty goddamn ripped.

Is this genetics or what? I've seen pics of people on other boards who are extremely ripped, yet their routine sucks by strength/bodybuilding standards, and their diet isn't anything special either. One of them had never tracked a calorie in his life.

How do you explain these people?

genes can definitely play a roll. some people just have great metabolism.

but w/out seeing this guy you are talking about, i'm guessing he was a tiny guy, probably like 150lbs or so.

also what works for some may not work for others.

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: brikis98
7. Let's face it: these guys are on magazine covers for a reason. Because of all the above, they won't look as ripped in day to day life as they do on a cover, but they will still look pretty goddamn ripped.

Is this genetics or what? I've seen pics of people on other boards who are extremely ripped, yet their routine sucks by strength/bodybuilding standards, and their diet isn't anything special either. One of them had never tracked a calorie in his life.

How do you explain these people?

Natural selection

 

[StageLeft]

Of course. The guys on the mags or at least in contests have timed their diet specifically to hit minimum water retention at a specific day; they do not look like that at all times.

You will look quite a bit leaner in the morning and also on an empty stomach. if you want to look your best, keep food and fluid intake low throughout a day, like if you're going to the beach or something, because a hearty breakfast can backtrack you decently.