beeg musckles? What about the other end of the scale?

[Colossal]

I thought Id flip one of the threads on its ass just because Ive always been fighting a battle to make my body leaner while keeping the body and frame Ive trained for/had genetically.

Ive been big for as long as I can remember, muscular and tall. But never been able to reduce my body fat percentage below 15-18%. Ive basically got a small layer of fat over all my muscle so they dont show as well as someone smaller but more defined. My current measurements are 49" chest, 36" waist, 19" biceps (flexed), and Im currently 16 stone 2lbs at 6 ft 1.

Because Im training for a 10k race event in July, Ive been training 7 days a week for the last 6 weeks, lost 12lbs and 1.5" off the waist to become the weight and stats above, yet the abs still dont show, and the larger veins still arent appearing as a constant, only when Ive pumped up during the gym.

The 7 days are 5x cardio (usually running, with one legs weight session) with two upper body weight days added for maintenance.

Coming from a large mediterranean family, pasta, potatoes and chicken are my mainstay - I love my ice cream and have killed over a snickers bar on a hot summers day before.

Ive read how that dude from Blade 3 worked to the extreme with training and eating and hated every minute of it, despite the fantastic balance of muscle and tone he achieved for the movie - I dont want to have to do that to get a body that Im proud of, but mass doesnt always look as good without tone.

Is my problem that Im not a religious fanatic when it comes to my dieting, or is there a better approach to training in order to maintain large quantities of muscle mass and strength levels while stripping excess body fat?

[Sam Wilson]

not my forte, see a dr., a dietician or a personal trainer for better help.

[metfan923]

i dont want sam to get mad at me for trying to answer any of his questions, but heres my two cents (sorry sam)

everywhere, i mean EVERYWHERE ive read in books/magazines/online/etc., it says diet is the main thing for abs to show. Yes Cardio is needed, and you still have to workout (crunches and such), but ive read diet is the thing that makes or breaks having visible abs.

I mean it makes sense, everyone has abs, but to get to see them, you have to lose the layer of fat on top of your abs. So my answer would be yes, your diet is your main problem. hope this helps...

[dynabol69]

I lecture all over the country to help gyms run a more successful and helpful buisness for it's clients. As a level one nutritionist and Fitness professional for over 15 years the answer everyone tries to avoid but will make the most ompact is food intake. Find a Fitness professional that has a good education about how to use food to manipulate body composition and you will be amazed at the results. If you can't find one let me know and I will help you find one were you are. No you don't have to be fanatical and you can still have a snickers once in awhile.

[Colossal]

Thanks for the feedback guys (and thanks Sam, I know you must be sick of all these training threads by now!).

Dynabol, Im in Central London, UK. Any links to reputable professionals here would be great too.

Thanks again!

[stormshadow007]

I've read somewhere that you have to cut down on the carbs and sugar and increase your protein intake.....more chicken breast, salad greens, fiber and water to get lean and mean.