Some words that belong in the 70’s and 80’s but still prevail today are the words “toning”, “shaping” and “lengthening” your muscles to get a “sleek” look with your body.
Your muscles have a genetically pre-determined shape, so these adverts you see trying to sell you some kind of “lengthen your muscles in a sleek way in a ridiculously short period of time” and make your muscles “long and lean just like a dancers” are guilty not only of false advertising, they are SCIENTIFICALLY WRONG!
Each of you will end up with a different shape, the best shape your body can be, your muscles will look better if you use strength training, and your body fat will reduce considerably if you eat a lot better too. This is what gives you “a great look” and will make you look “sleek”.
Getting into a healthy range of body fat will make sure you look your best.
A lot of times I have measured several women in the same excellent range of body fat, but each of them have had a different shape but all looked great and they felt amazing.
By the way, they do look lean, they are NEVER bulky and look athletic and very feminine always.
The propaganda you often get from people promising longer, leaner muscles for your body don’t understand your body at all, and have definitely never studied it. How many times have you heard that pilates and yoga will give you that long, slender look and using WEIGHTS will just make you bulky?
This statement is one of the greatest LIES you will hear about exercise, this statement is always from people who don’t know a thing about exercise science, who have never trained a lot of people and shouldn’t comment on matters they have no real experience on. Pilates and yoga WILL be good for your body, but please don’t try to lie to me that weights are going to make you bulky and be a negative in some way!!!!
If you train your muscle, saying it’s going to become long and lean is like saying all of our workouts are going to make you several inches taller, absolutely impossible, your muscles cannot respond that way.
Men and women are guilty of trying to look like someone they never will. Getting a grip of reality is vital when you start an exercise programme, and choosing the best way to accomplish your goals always involves not only strength training, but our speed and agility work, balance and coordination work too.
This is really the way to look incredible, to perform at your best in training AND daily life, and feel fantastic on the inside and outside! Your muscles and shape are unique to you and you only, so celebrate the way your body looks.
