Being Big vs Being Lean?

fromdario · 2018-09-25T21:50:57+00:00

Everyone is different.

My experience...

I'm 6'3" and at my highest weight I was 239lbs, don't know the exact BF but upper abs barely visible. I could have definitely lost some fat tho. No noticeable change in responses from women compared to when I was around 200-210, which is a more average weight for me.

Now I'm 195lbs very clearly defined abs, the V, nothing extra to grab onto etc. I'd estimate between 7% and 10% bf but who knows. Lots more casual interest from women, i.e. walking into a room down the street etc, more checking me out.

I'd have to attribute it to face gains. Strong jaw line is clear, tight high cheek bones, no swollen puffiness. I've maintained that level of BF for a while and even when I am wearing a jacket or something bigger that hides muscle definition the attention still comes, which is why I think it's face gains.

Now, I am not as strong as I once was or obviously as big but without a shirt I look stronger simply because I am cut and have lean muscle definition.

I've had several conversations with women who all seem to dislike the powerlifter body type. Think about the bodies women drool over every time some guy in a TV show or movie takes off his shirt. Who knows, take that with a grain of salt because women have their own preferences too, which I've been told change depending on the age and culture.

I do the LeanGains method, Intermittent Fasting and strength training. It's something I can realistically maintain and stick to, which for me is big. It has helped me cut to a good level of body fat and then slowly clean bulk. But again, that what works for me.

Son_of_Gatsby · 2018-09-25T21:10:31+00:00

183 pounds doesn't seem too much for your size. You want to increase muscle mass but you dont want to bulk dirty, where you don't look good for large periods of time.

Cut til you have some ab definition and then bulk cleanly, you'll gain mass slowly and look good all the time while still gaining muscle mass

FlyingSexistPig · 2018-09-25T21:12:06+00:00

Bigger chest, shoulders, arms ==> good.

Bigger gut big gut lifters ==> bad.

stat1490 · 2018-09-25T22:22:23+00:00

Sucks to hear this but: -in a shirt, 12-15% bf

-shirtless, shredded

Jimmy_Greenteeth · 2018-09-25T22:59:34+00:00

I have been both lean and bulky and I would say that in terms of attraction that bulky wins every time. Unless you're walking around everywhere with your top off then no ones going to be able to see your abbs or super defined chest; you're just going to look like another skinny guy. You also lose a lot of the masculine presence that being bulky gets you. When you're the hugest guy in the room even if you're a little chubby then you're gonna get a lot more attention from women and a lot more respect from men.

jekporkins77 · 2018-09-25T21:21:05+00:00

Some girls like the shredded hollywood physique, some like the beefy linebacker look, some like the arnold look. Do whatever you think you look best/ be what you wanna look like

SuperCrazy07 · 2018-09-25T21:09:13+00:00

Big. I’m 6’1 as well and couldn’t hit 185 as my walking around weight unless I had cancer.

I can’t even imagine cutting from there.

FatmanO · 2018-09-25T21:19:27+00:00

You could probably be around 200 lean at that height I would keep bulking.

sonnydanger · 2018-09-25T22:17:44+00:00

lean with muscle definition gives you the.illusion youre bigger than you are, if youre big but youre body fat is high (20~25%) then youll just look overweight.

Throwaway-242424 · 2018-09-25T23:03:54+00:00

As long as you're not getting obviously fat, building muscle has better payoff for the majority of people who spend most of their time fully clothed.

Note: Your mileage may vary depending on how you carry fat in your face.

Time_Animal_ · 2018-09-26T00:00:19+00:00

Lean, helps your face out

A good male body is one that is sub 12% body fat and has all muscles at least a little developped, so that they're the right shape, hold the body in the right places, give the overall body the correct shape.

Less than 10% of men, at least 25+ men, have this body. Everything bigger than that is better as long as you maintain the body fat percentage.

I'd take 6'5'' and 300 pounds over 5'3'' and 12% body fat though

punchyson · 2018-09-26T04:26:34+00:00

I'd say having the V taper and being cut is more important than looking really jacked.

Millions of women around the world sploosh to Brad Pitt from Fight Club and he isn't huge. He looks like a lean mean scrappy fighter who probably doesn't have $50 in his wallet in that movie. Cut > Huge

A lot of men can get really close to that V taper the chicks go nuts for by getting very lean.

Being huge is great and all. A lot of women are really into arms and stuff. The V taper is science though, women literally want that between their legs.

chazthundergut · 2018-09-26T03:22:22+00:00

Go lift and find out

Kabuki431 · 2018-09-26T06:42:41+00:00

You are skinny fat prolly. Go lift bulk up with 300 to 500 cal above your maintenance.

wtg2989 · 2018-09-26T02:25:01+00:00

Be tall

Title	Being Big vs Being Lean?
Author	FatmanO
Upvotes	7
Comments	38
Date	September 25, 2018 8:18 PM UTC (7 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askTRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/9ivoxb/being_big_vs_being_lean/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askTRP/being-big-vs-being-lean.133968 https://theredarchive.com/post/133968

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