Mr. Universe vs Strongman physique

[SP33Demon]

A meme floating around social media. Which would you rather have? I look more like strongman physique with more bodyfat since I actually have a strong core. Not into the roid-assisted fake Mr. Universe body.

 

[bradley]

Where do you even begin debunking such utter bullshit?

I'll just say that I incorporate the best of both bodybuilding and powerlifting into my routines and go in cycles. A decent example of such a core principle is Bradley Martyn. This dude is an absolute beast when it comes to squats and deads and yet has a thin waist, low bodyfat and an aesthetic build as well.

Yet some bodybuilders do place less importance on lifting heavy vs. aesthetics and mass. I'd say powerlifters on average exploit Newton's second law by opting to use fat as mass over muscle. Except muscle is more dense than fat, so it only gets one so far.

BTW, those pure powerlifters develop injuries faster and their larger core actually represents fattier internal organs. No thanks. I'd way rather have a lower bodyfat percentage with a greater percentage of testosterone vs estrogen as a male.

 

[smitbret]

Where do you even begin debunking such utter bullshit?

I'll just say that I incorporate the best of both bodybuilding and powerlifting into my routines and go in cycles. A decent example of such a core principle is Bradley Martyn. This dude is an absolute beast when it comes to squats and deads and yet has a thin waist, low bodyfat and an aesthetic build as well.

Yet some bodybuilders do place less importance on lifting heavy vs. aesthetics and mass. I'd say powerlifters on average exploit Newton's second law by opting to use fat as mass over muscle. Except muscle is more dense than fat, so it only gets one so far.

BTW, those pure powerlifters develop injuries faster and their larger core actually represents fattier internal organs. No thanks. I'd way rather have a lower bodyfat percentage with a greater percentage of testosterone vs estrogen as a male.

Why don't you see more men with the "Mr. Universe" type in powerlifting competitions, then?

Personal Preference doesn't take precedence over nature.

 

[SP33Demon]

Where do you even begin debunking such utter bullshit?

I'll just say that I incorporate the best of both bodybuilding and powerlifting into my routines and go in cycles. A decent example of such a core principle is Bradley Martyn. This dude is an absolute beast when it comes to squats and deads and yet has a thin waist, low bodyfat and an aesthetic build as well.

Yet some bodybuilders do place less importance on lifting heavy vs. aesthetics and mass. I'd say powerlifters on average exploit Newton's second law by opting to use fat as mass over muscle. Except muscle is more dense than fat, so it only gets one so far.

BTW, those pure powerlifters develop injuries faster and their larger core actually represents fattier internal organs. No thanks. I'd way rather have a lower bodyfat percentage with a greater percentage of testosterone vs estrogen as a male.

Uhh that guy is not natty. The internet hath spoken:

If you still can't judge whether someone's on gear from the above criteria, simply compare his stats to another steroid user.

Bradley Martyn is 6'3, 260lbs, ~5% bodyfat.
Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime was 6'2, 235lbs, 5-7% bodyfat.

So Bradley has over 30lbs more lean muscle mass than arguably the greatest bodybuilder of all-time...naturally? Probably not.

 

[bradley]

Uhh that guy is not natty. The internet hath spoken:

After all I wrote, the best you have is a mostly irrelevant lowest common denominator two-second quora search. For someone to even say that Bradley is @ 5% bf immediately discounts their opinion and has never seen 5% bodyfat in person. But yeah, he's part of a growing trend of combo bodybuilder/powerlifter types.

I go back and forth on whether Bradley is *completely* natural or not. But the dude is extremely tall at 6'3" has been lifting for over a decade as a *lifestyle* and has lots of place to store muscle. He basically eats, lifts and sleeps then repeats and gets mostly everything right.

Although here's another utube powerlift/bodybuild dude who can lift extremely heavy (based in ratio to his body weight) who has mostly poor execution and very little to show for it. He has neither a powerlifter of bodybuilder physique with basically twigs for arms and legs. I see a ton of guys like him in my gym who lift extremely heavy with poor form and still have small muscles.

https://www.youtube.com/user/maxxchewning/



And you cannot compare Bradley or any modern bodybuilder to an old-school guy anyway. In Schwarzenegger's day, bodybuilding was still mostly taboo and they didn't have the sheer amount of lifting awareness, knowledge, supplements and equipment of this generation. It's not even close.

Machines were also taboo back then and most serious guys scoffed at Nautilus, now those machines are everywhere. Part of the reason I was able to gain such mass was due to those machines, including great devices like Hammer Strength. I can lift way heavier without worrying about injury, like you would with free weights..

Why don't you see more men with the "Mr. Universe" type in powerlifting competitions, then?

Personal Preference doesn't take precedence over nature.

I'm talking about people who bodybuild or powerlift for pleasure, which is totally irrelevant to what a sport demands. Bodybuilding a powerlifting have totally different ideologies. Otherwise everyone would have to be on steroids too.

SP33Demon is talking about a physical body type not an occupation. Although it sounds like sour grapes or excuses to me.

But do your own social experiment, take a picture of a powerlifter and bodybuilder under 10% bf and ask a group of girls what they prefer. Not to say you won't even find a few who even prefer a dad bods, but the result would likely be resounding in favor of the bodybuilder.

 

[Kaido]

I think it boils down to personal opinion. I have no desire to get huge because I want to fit into regular clothes, haha. I also care more about aesthetics than strength. I also care more about donuts than either of those, so I currently still look like Bill Gates

 

[HTFOff]

An aesthetically pleasing physique and functional strength are not mutually exclusive. Having been both trim and a permabulker (let's be honest, the guy who made that picture is probably a permabulker and in denial, just saying.) I can't imagine ever going back to 10+% body fat. My outlook is likely skewed as I weigh less now than in high school and my strength is equal to when I was 290+lbs. That doesn't change the fact that being lean means an easier time finding clothes and a 140% increase in visual molestation by the opposite sex. Lot's of doors open when you look good. If you don't care much for fashion and are married, disregard this comment.

 

[Zivic]

Uhh that guy is not natty. The internet hath spoken:

That guy has great genetics... a little small in the legs (given that single pic as reference)...

BUT NO WAY IN HELL IS HE 5% bodyfat... he is more in the 8 range....

@ 260, i'd say he is using something if you had to have a yes or no answer based on his weight and how lean he looks.

only he really knows if he uses or not, and frankly it doesn't take away from his hard work. tons of people could use all the drugs they wanted and would not look anything close to how he does.

in terms of how I'd want to look? definitely the tapered look. just because aesthetics are priority over strength; and that doesn't mean you aren't strong. Also, I have done both styles of training, and 'bodybuilding' takes more discipline and is harder overall than training for strength. Bodybuilding is more of a lifestyle.

I guess I look at it like this, if you train for strength, most guys couldn't be distinguished from some other "fat" guy on the street. Sure you might be stronger than most, but that is usually limited to a few lifts performed in a controlled environment. at the end of the day, those numbers stay at the competition or gym and you take home a heavier than needed, subjectively unaesthetic body.

bodybuilding you are still likely stronger than most, but the way you look shows 24 hrs a day and displays a dedication not only to training, but to diet as well. it comes home from the gym with you everyday.

I would also like to note that drugs are as widely used in strongman, or any other competitive sport for, the most part, as they are in bodybuilding. We just associate them with bodybuilding because of 'how' they are used; strictly for mass/aesthetics. mainstreamers aslo associate 'bodybuilding' with the top ifbb (Olympia) competitors, when in reality tons of people train naturally, but don't get the same exposure as the top 10-20 pros.

ALL THAT SAID, your choice of how you want to look. It is my experience that most people that make a lifestyle out of training will at some point train for both reasons - strength and aesthics

 

[bradley]

I have mainly lifted throughout my life for better health, mental strength and clarity.

One important aspect of health is having optimal body fat ratios, for athletic men it's around 6-12%. No excuses.

Another underrated aspect of health is having good posture of which a flexible core and strong back, shoulders, traps, glutes and neck is extremely important. This is where optimal aesthetics come into the picture. For me, good aesthetics is about having full, proportioned muscles throughout your entire body due to good execution, proper form and fully understanding kinesiology.

I see many guys at the gym with extremely forward head and shoulder posture trying to lift *extremely* heavy weights. They emphasize mostly push exercises, barely any pull and work primarily on chest and arms. Squats suddenly become a lower back exercise and chest presses are for delts and triceps etc.

These ego lifters barely look like they lift and yet wear extreme muscle T's which only further highlight their ample bellies. I'm a more modest person and usually wear baggy clothes at the gym, otherwise I get asked for advice sometimes.

Not to mention, heavy weights only further exacerbate that forward posture and create huge pressure on the internal organs and spine.

Then the next reason I exercise is for functionality and really enjoy challenging myself with body weight exercises. And then finally yes, I lift because sometime I want to look like I lift. Certainly low bodyfat is the number one thing that makes those muscles pop.

Again, if you can get past the fact that Rich Piana injects HCG, he makes some really salient and advanced points that address this issue.

EGO LIFTING Heavy Weight vs High Reps /w Tim Muriello & Rich Piana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjhWXI7ze90

 

[bradley]

Anyway to me, strength is merely one solitary aspect of bodybuilding and the byproduct of the progressive overload principle. Without progressively going slightly beyond your capabilities every workout, you will never get bigger and stronger. It's just not going to happen.

I only started lifting truly heavy after fully developing a mind muscle connection. Otherwise you become intimidated by those weights instead of vice versa. Focusing on your own ego or how much you lift or number of reps and sets is a distraction away from knowing and understanding your own body.

I intuitively perform each exercise with the proper amount of weight and reps till my muscle bellies cannot get any more full. And yes, I also see enough people with these lifting journals who are literally stagnant in growth. These are the same annoying guys who get in your face and ask how many more reps, instead of patiently waiting on the side for their turn.

 

[AntonioHG]

After all I wrote, the best you have is a mostly irrelevant lowest common denominator two-second quora search. For someone to even say that Bradley is @ 5% bf immediately discounts their opinion and has never seen 5% bodyfat in person. But yeah, he's part of a growing trend of combo bodybuilder/powerlifter types.

I go back and forth on whether Bradley is *completely* natural or not. But the dude is extremely tall at 6'3" has been lifting for over a decade as a *lifestyle* and has lots of place to store muscle. He basically eats, lifts and sleeps then repeats and gets mostly everything right.

Although here's another utube powerlift/bodybuild dude who can lift extremely heavy (based in ratio to his body weight) who has mostly poor execution and very little to show for it. He has neither a powerlifter of bodybuilder physique with basically twigs for arms and legs. I see a ton of guys like him in my gym who lift extremely heavy with poor form and still have small muscles.

https://www.youtube.com/user/maxxchewning/



And you cannot compare Bradley or any modern bodybuilder to an old-school guy anyway. In Schwarzenegger's day, bodybuilding was still mostly taboo and they didn't have the sheer amount of lifting awareness, knowledge, supplements and equipment of this generation. It's not even close.

Machines were also taboo back then and most serious guys scoffed at Nautilus, now those machines are everywhere. Part of the reason I was able to gain such mass was due to those machines, including great devices like Hammer Strength. I can lift way heavier without worrying about injury, like you would with free weights..



I'm talking about people who bodybuild or powerlift for pleasure, which is totally irrelevant to what a sport demands. Bodybuilding a powerlifting have totally different ideologies. Otherwise everyone would have to be on steroids too.

SP33Demon is talking about a physical body type not an occupation. Although it sounds like sour grapes or excuses to me.

But do your own social experiment, take a picture of a powerlifter and bodybuilder under 10% bf and ask a group of girls what they prefer. Not to say you won't even find a few who even prefer a dad bods, but the result would likely be resounding in favor of the bodybuilder.

1 You can't gain pure muscle indefinitely. Lots of elite lifters are on drugs. Just recently in the IPF some guys got snagged for drug use for instance. Check out Lu Xiaojun. Also popped for drug use. Lots of bodybuilders are on drugs as well.

2 As for Maxx Chewning I'd say that's partly because he wants to stay in a weight class and partly because of genetics, no? I mean, you're talking about stereotypes...? If his form was that poor, don't you think he'd be snapped up every other week? Plenty of bigger guys can't even begin to lift on his level (600 sumo dead, 295 pause bench and 455 squat) Not to mention weight classes. He's trying to be as strong as he can be in the 165lb weight class (I think that's what I heard).

3 I can agree with the machine enabling higher weight with less risk, but why not just use the lower weight and proper form and build the movement pattern up? Not to say you can't injure yourself on a machine (smith machine comes to mind).

4 My brother does purely calisthenics and boxing. He gets all the girls, lol. Some girls and guys really don't like muscular guys (lean or not).

 

[bradley]

1 You can't gain pure muscle indefinitely. Lots of elite lifters are on drugs. Just recently in the IPF some guys got snagged for drug use for instance. Check out Lu Xiaojun. Also popped for drug use. Lots of bodybuilders are on drugs as well.

2 As for Maxx Chewning I'd say that's partly because he wants to stay in a weight class and partly because of genetics, no? I mean, you're talking about stereotypes...? If his form was that poor, don't you think he'd be snapped up every other week? Plenty of bigger guys can't even begin to lift on his level (600 sumo dead, 295 pause bench and 455 squat) Not to mention weight classes. He's trying to be as strong as he can be in the 165lb weight class (I think that's what I heard).

3 I can agree with the machine enabling higher weight with less risk, but why not just use the lower weight and proper form and build the movement pattern up? Not to say you can't injure yourself on a machine (smith machine comes to mind).

4 My brother does purely calisthenics and boxing. He gets all the girls, lol. Some girls and guys really don't like muscular guys (lean or not).

1) It's not about building muscle indefinitely as much as exploring the boundaries of your own body. The increases might be getting more incremental, but improvements are still being made. And the science is out there to increase strength, size and recovery time without the assistance of drugs. You can get yourself within a decent range of steroids and HGH without the side effects and with enough knowledge.

2) Maxx is incredibly strong for his size; I'm not knocking him. But he hardly has anything to show for it except a very powerful central nervous system. And I think genetics are mostly bs when it comes to building size. There are several methods to employ to vastly increase contractions on pushing and pulling movements. A guy like Maxx is merely moving the weight from point a to b. His results speak volumes to this.

3) Again, I think the real thing to realize is that powerlifting is more an exercise of the central nervous system. So people who lift very heavy need more time for recovery. Therefore I go on/off between powerlifting and weightlifting. Some days I go into the gym with proper rest just wanting to see how much I can lift.

4) I agree. Women do like the superhero physique most, which means low body fat and lean muscle mass. So someone who does P90X and kickboxing might be preferred over a pure bodybuilder, who some might see as a little intimidating.

 

[SP33Demon]

1) It's not about building muscle indefinitely as much as exploring the boundaries of your own body. The increases might be getting more incremental, but improvements are still being made. And the science is out there to increase strength, size and recovery time without the assistance of drugs. You can get yourself within a decent range of steroids and HGH without the side effects and with enough knowledge.

2) Maxx is incredibly strong for his size; I'm not knocking him. But he hardly has anything to show for it except a very powerful central nervous system. And I think genetics are mostly bs when it comes to building size. There are several methods to employ to vastly increase contractions on pushing and pulling movements. A guy like Maxx is merely moving the weight from point a to b. His results speak volumes to this.

3) Again, I think the real thing to realize is that powerlifting is more an exercise of the central nervous system. So people who lift very heavy need more time for recovery. Therefore I go on/off between powerlifting and weightlifting. Some days I go into the gym with proper rest just wanting to see how much I can lift.

4) I agree. Women do like the superhero physique most, which means low body fat and lean muscle mass. So someone who does P90X and kickboxing might be preferred over a pure bodybuilder, who some might see as a little intimidating.

A couple things on this.
1) Only speaking from a powerlifting standpoint, you will be able to naturally get within 10% of dirty numbers (which is pretty much accepted as fact). 10% is a huge boost over natty, especially for competition. So if by "decent range" you mean 10%, then sure. But I wouldn't consider that very close. For example, if my total is 1400 and my opponent has 1540, that's not really close - he's beating me by almost 50lbs per lift.

2) Maxx is very good powerlifter still getting newbie gains. I wouldn't be surprised if he fills out at the 181/185 weight class. You guys say he doesn't look good, but you haven't seen his massive lower spinal erector muscles. Not traditionally good looking, no. But it's not like the guy has no desirable attributes for males.

3) Powerlifting is a CNS development activity, but also and more importantly joint development as well. It takes years to build up the joint strength to support new PRs year after year which is why guys are usually considered in their prime in their 40's... with a good 5-10 years under their belts. Most won't make it in the sport that long due to injury because they want to greedily push their muscles which are ready but their joints are not. So while CNS is more developed, it's more joints (and tendons) that are the most important. I'll also add that genetics are very important in powerlifting in that guys with a majority fast twitch muscles (think sprinters) will outlift guys with majority slow twitch (cross country).

4) Most women I've met (and I'm old) do not like the unnatural, obsessive compulsive look of Mr. Olympia. It shows an extreme addictive nature which most will not equate to relationship material. In any case, red pill research has shown that women don't primarily care about physique as a top attractive indicator unless they're teenagers or early 20's (aka children). So if that is what you're aiming to attract, have at it but for all other women you better have an alpha personality and know what behavior constitutes as such.

One of the reasons I posted this was because of abs. Most powerlifters are going to have bulkier abs which are not desired in Mr. Olympia, however it is what powerlifters need to stabilize their core. While this may not be considered beautiful, it makes us stand out from bodybuilders in that we are deceptively strong while most bodybuilders would consider us "fat". Regarding the fat, it is necessary to have such fat because mass moves mass. It is actually safer for us to max out our weight class when maxing out a heavy attempt.

In a streetfight, natural mass is a huge advantage when combined with technique and an abnormally powerful core. MMA fighters that train in our gym said they have a healthy respect for powerlifters due to the fact that a powerlifter/strongman can easily lift them off their feet for a slam and it's much harder to submit them due to sheer strength and explosiveness. It makes them a lot more dangerous lb for lb than your average gymrat/bodybuilder. Function over form and all that. Not to say that bodybuilders aren't strong, but they aren't going to be as explosive as someone who specifically trains to lift heavier weight day in and day out.

 

[Zivic]

4) Most women I've met (and I'm old) do not like the unnatural, obsessive compulsive look of Mr. Olympia. It shows an extreme addictive nature which most will not equate to relationship material. In any case, red pill research has shown that women don't primarily care about physique as a top attractive indicator unless they're teenagers or early 20's (aka children). So if that is what you're aiming to attract, have at it but for all other women you better have an alpha personality and know what behavior constitutes as such.
.

i will just add that the more bodybuilder-like my physique becomes, the more attention I get from guys.... kind of like a lambo gets more attention from men.

women are intimidated by a guy that is "fit". they become self conscious about how they look. I have had women flat out tell me, I'd like to be with a guy like you, but would have to do it with the lights off because I would be self conscious about my body..

of course both are generalizations, but yeah, don't build the tapered physique in hopes of getting the females.

 

[AntonioHG]

1)
2) Maxx is incredibly strong for his size; I'm not knocking him. But he hardly has anything to show for it except a very powerful central nervous system. And I think genetics are mostly bs when it comes to building size. There are several methods to employ to vastly increase contractions on pushing and pulling movements. A guy like Maxx is merely moving the weight from point a to b. His results speak volumes to this.

The only thing I can't go along with here is this -- he's in a specific weight class. 165lbs. Unless he decides to move up, his size will remain the same. The dude is lean so it's not like he can lose some fat and gain some muscle.

 

[bradley]

i will just add that the more bodybuilder-like my physique becomes, the more attention I get from guys.... kind of like a lambo gets more attention from men.

women are intimidated by a guy that is "fit". they become self conscious about how they look. I have had women flat out tell me, I'd like to be with a guy like you, but would have to do it with the lights off because I would be self conscious about my body..

of course both are generalizations, but yeah, don't build the tapered physique in hopes of getting the females.

Alpha women will always want the challenge of a fully alpha man. Yet the US has become a weird amalgam where the natural standard skews way toward the fat side and some women are even intimidated by someone slightly athletic.

But let's not fool ourselves, beta women also want to mate with alpha males, however only if they are approachable. I watch what people do not what they say, and women are a huge demographic for these superhero movies.

I do believe the average woman would rather be with a guy who possesses lean muscle mass and lowish body fat, not a strongman with a bulky core or a sumo wrestler even. The traditional Greek God physique has been around with us for a long time to come; and I believe Greg epitomizes it perfectly.

Interesting to compare with his before picture with a much higher bf.

 

[bradley]

The only thing I can't go along with here is this -- he's in a specific weight class. 165lbs. Unless he decides to move up, his size will remain the same. The dude is lean so it's not like he can lose some fat and gain some muscle.

The real question as it pertains to the topic is would you want to look like Maxx. Seems like a nice guy, but my answer is no. I'd way rather look like Greg or Bradley Martyn. But if Maxx is happy at what he does, that's all that matters.

I just use him as an example for those thinking that lifting heavy from point a to b (or without any real maximal stretch or contraction) correlates with bigger muscles. Not always unless you have above average genetics.

 

[AntonioHG]

Summary: I train for strength, but I'd dare say you and me have similar builds. Never did the bodybuilding thing because I don't have the patience for what seems like minutiae.

As for Maxx, he is just naturally thin, plus, the weight class like I mentioned. Would I want to look like him? Can I pick some parts? Hahah. I like the way my body is built for the most part -- just my calves are high and I can't bring them up. Spent a year trying, wasting time. I'm glad that I have decent sized, albeit weaker, quads, arms, shoulders, etc.

I use an upper/lower split from Jonnie Candito. I sometimes use a leg press to do single leg press. I regularly use the lat pulldown and a t-bar. I don't do much isolation work, but my arms are kinda decent. I said before I have no calves -- my mom, youngest (Mr Calisthenics) bro and older bro have no calves, my dad and middle bro have calves. Genetics, no? Here's me at 155-160 at 5'10":

 

[Zivic]

Imho, the pic above of Greg looks achievable with a decent diet and maybe a little weighted ab work. Doesn't look like much lean mass, mainly a factor lower bodyfat.

Personally I wouldn't want that build.

 

[bradley]

Imho, the pic above of Greg looks achievable with a decent diet and maybe a little weighted ab work. Doesn't look like much lean mass, mainly a factor lower bodyfat.

Personally I wouldn't want that build.

Actually, here's the interesting part about Greg's build -- at around 8% bf as dexa measured. He obtained it through intermittent fasting (eating chocolate bars, yogurt ice cream, french fries, apples, drinking coffee etc during his feeding window) and lifting only twice a week for 45 minutes each session. lol?

But Greg's extremely proportioned with his delts being the most prominent, as it should be. Another thing he gets right is focusing on the upper chest. Other bodybuilders definitely need to take note. He incline presses almost 300lb for 6 reps and does a lot of weighted pullups - bodyweight exercises in general.

Where I disagree: he also doesn't believe in building legs much, but then it correlates with his Greek God physique goal. If I worked out for other women rather than myself, then yeah, I'd probably want that physique too.

Everyone in the gym loves to work chest and arms, very few love working the larger muscle groups like glutes, quads and back. Legs lifts are especially taxing on the central nervous system.

 

[Zivic]

Actually, here's the interesting part about Greg's build -- at around 8% bf as dexa measured. He obtained it through intermittent fasting (eating chocolate bars, yogurt ice cream, french fries, apples, drinking coffee etc during his feeding window) and lifting only twice a week for 45 minutes each session. lol?

But Greg's extremely proportioned with his delts being the most prominent, as it should be. Another thing he gets right is focusing on the upper chest. Other bodybuilders definitely need to take note. He incline presses almost 300lb for 6 reps and does a lot of weighted pullups - bodyweight exercises in general.

Where I disagree: he also doesn't believe in building legs much, but then it correlates with his Greek God physique goal. If I worked out for other women rather than myself, then yeah, I'd probably want that physique too.

Everyone in the gym loves to work chest and arms, very few love working the larger muscle groups like glutes, quads and back. Legs lifts are especially taxing on the central nervous system.

we are both talking about this guy here? he does not look like what I would call a bodybuilder? he just looks lean.

 

[Zivic]

Here's me at 155-160 at 5'10":

right now, this is about the body composition I have, but I'm 5'8" and 210.4 lbs as of this morning.

this is my 'fattest' time of year. I need to lean out a bit. I would like to be 202-204; probably by first week in november

 

[bradley]

we are both talking about this guy here? he does not look like what I would call a bodybuilder? he just looks lean.

Yep, we're talking about the same guy. Even though that pic probably doesn't do him justice, he looks more like a bodybuilder to me than 80% of people I see at my gym. Maybe you're a member of Gold's Gym in Venice.

https://www.youtube.com/user/gog9

But again, I'd say being at 8% bf places him in the top 1 percentile of American males... with obviously very little effort. Also he is that lean all year round without any cutting or bulking cycles. Same goes for me, btw.

And until you see 8% in person, you never truly realize how much it makes muscles pop and take on a 3D look. The point being: it makes one look much larger than they really are.

 

[Zivic]

Yep, we're talking about the same guy. Even though that pic probably doesn't do him justice, he looks more like a bodybuilder to me than 80% of people I see at my gym. Maybe you're a member of Gold's Gym in Venice.

https://www.youtube.com/user/gog9

But again, I'd say being at 8% bf places him in the top 1 percentile of American males... with obviously very little effort. Also he is that lean all year round without any cutting or bulking cycles. Same goes for me, btw.

And until you see 8% in person, you never truly realize how much it makes muscles pop and take on a 3D look. The point being: it makes one look much larger than they really are.

I have no doubt he looks lean and can make himself look bigger than he is.

I guess, other than being decently lean, he doesn't really have much size.

http://www.muscleforlife.com/gregory-ogallagher-kinobody-interview/

^^ that says he is 5'10' and 185. I would be very surprised if were 185. yeah, he has abs, a little bit a biceps size, but that's about it (no width to his back, small traps, small legs). He does show some decent strength given how "scrawny" I think he looks

I look at it like this... ANYONE can be that lean. just a matter of controlling your food intake. Now to be that lean and be 200, maybe 210+ is not something anyone can do.

I belong to two gyms, and I can think of multiple people from both gyms that look similar to him.

I know this really sounds like I am ripping and being a hater, and maybe I am, but a guy in his early 20's has no reason not to look like him. I just don't see too much special about that build... I call his build 2-dimensional

if you want a reference point, Mike O'Hearn has a physique that is special
check him out at 18:00 in this vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDgpxuUtV_g

I know I know, drugs, but he has a mass and depth to him that doesn't require angles/lighting/filters to be seen. he actually is 3-D, not just an illusion. maybe in time, greg will get closer to this.

My goal is to achieve a build like Mike's(read that as more in that direction) ...

plenty of pics in my instagram. the pics show me from 198 to 215 lbs
https://instagram.com/azivman/