Building Muscle For Bulk Is Un-sexy/ Build ‘Ripped’ Muscles Instead
May 24, 2010 by Shaun
Filed under The Fitness Bug
Building Muscle…
That is the name of the game, regardless of what your overall goal is. But the fact of the matter is this,
You want to be noticed!
If you deny that fact then you are lying to yourself.
I can admit that I build muscle for my own personal agenda, which is
- To look and feel great
- To look great in the clothes that I’d like to wear
- To be strong (Nothing better than a powerful hand shake)
But I also like a bit of attention too. I’m not going to sit here and state the opposite, as that would be far from the truth.
So how do you get noticed?
By focusing on getting ripped, instead of building muscle for bulk.
How To Stand Out And Why Ripped Muscles Stand Out More
Any one can build decent sized muscle (With a bit of dedication) and anyone can throw on a wife beater vest to give the impression of a ‘muscle man’.
I say…
Cliché, cliché, cliché!!!!
Since that is the case, you will want to stand out from the crowd with your muscles. Most people can build bulky muscles. But once you get to a certain size, it can just pass for fat.
”I thought this game was about building muscle”
So did I. Hence the first line introduction of this post!
And the folks who build a body like that are just blending in with the masses. Don’t let that be you this summer!
That is why you need to be focusing on getting ‘ripped’. If you are a hardgainer, getting ripped won’t be a problem, as you are already building muscle from bone. That is already conquered territory. Your pain point is,
How do I build bulkier muscle? (And no… you are not contradicting yourself here!)
However, that does not mean you can stop focusing on getting cut!
This site does cater for the hardgainer, first and foremost. But I also know that some of you are trying to build muscle for bulk, even though you may not be a hardgainer yourself. (The many different body types of the human race) If so… focus on getting ripped!
”But Shaun, If I focus on ‘just getting ripped’ I will have less muscle mass and people may still perceive me as a skinny guy!”
Depending on how you dress!
Remember my tailor made wardrobe post? If not go read it.
Why Hardgainer Bodybuilders Need Tailor-made Wardrobes
But for the sake of you new readers, the point I made in that post is that you need to start wearing clothes that compliment your body. When you do, you won’t have to worry about people perceiving you as a skinny guy. Now… here’s the point I’m trying to make.
HAVING RIPPED (SMALLER MUSCLES) WILL ACTUALLY MAKE YOU ‘LOOK’ BIGGER WHEN YOUR MUSCLES ARE ON DISPLAY.
Your chiseled body will look more like a work of art
than just some 1980′s pumped up beastly figure…. those guys just look cliché. I see them everywhere and my reaction is the same everytime ”Ahhh… ANOTHER one of those”
Now I may have stated ‘smaller’ muscles, but that does not have to be the case. Remember the 8 famous body types post?
If not, go and read that too.
8 Great Famous Bodybuilding Bodies From 8 of Your Favorite Sports (Unisex)
If you take a look at all of those body types, you’ll notice that you can have both.
Bulk and Cut.
The secret to having both is by cutting out excessive fats in your diet. Yes, you will need to eat fat, in order to burn it. But you will want to keep it under control. For some great food combos check out these posts.
Killer Foods for Fitness (part 1)
The Ultimate ‘Done For You’ Bodybuilding Regime (INDIAN)
The Ultimate ‘Done For You’ Bodybuilding Regime (THAI)
If you really want to put the icing on the cake (without the cake) then get yourself some great looking skin. Dry, flakey or dull skin is another thing that will make your body look ‘just average’.
Tip 1
Lay off the alcohol. Yes… I know a whopping 50% of you like to drink… my self included. But alcohol will dehydrate your skin, which overtime, will leave it looking dull. It will age you too. So drink with moderation (Don’t stop drinking! It is a part of bodybuilding lifestyle fun – which you know I like to encourage)
Tip 2
Just look after your skin with great products.
Read this post to learn how Bugmeister Shaun keeps his skin funky fresh!
How to Develop Great Bodybuilder Skin
I’m going to reveal my lady magnet secret fragrance, for those of you who want to smell good too.
Tom Ford Black Orchid Hydrating Emulsion – 150ml/5oz
Yes… it is a body lotion.
Ever since receiving this as a birthday present last April, I’ve attracted ladies of ALL ages. And man, do I love it! But I also like to share 
If you want in on some of the lady attention this summer, then pick up this undercover gem of a body lotion (Which has a more powerful scent than many of the top expensive fragrances out there)
Why Is It Undercover?
Because the smell isn’t too pleasant when you first crack it open. But once you ‘wear it’, the game changes.
I’m onto my 2nd tub in less than a year and the attention is not letting up!
The formula for a great bodybuilding summer
- Ripped muscles
- great looking skin
- great smelling skin
Women Like A Ripped Body Too
As you can see from above, women like a man that looks good. 6 pac abs and all. But mega sized muscles may intimidate some ladies… so, your ripped muscles will cater to more of the masses, which in turn might make you more approachable. Most importantly, you’ll be the first to catch these ladies attention over your fat muscled counterparts.
If you are a woman reading this article, the same applies to you, but with a little twist. I’m talking about becoming a sexy lady bodybuilder.
Why You Should Get Your Girl To Be A ‘Sexy’ Bodybuilder
- Fitness model
- Figure competitor
- Female Bodybuilder
Taking up any one of these will make you stand out from the crowd amongst the many sexy women on this planet we call Earth. If it is attention that you seek AND you manage to build a body like those mentioned in the above article, just be ready to fight off men . Because they’ll come at you in HORDES!
To Conclude
This post may seem like advice on how to get attention. But it is not.
The goal here is to help you build a body that you will be overly happy with. A body that beats even your own expectations of what you may perceive as great. Once you do that, you will get attention, yes. But it will be for the right reasons.
- Modelling agents will take notice
- Career opportunities will arise
To keep it brief.
And of course, attention from women/ men
Now do yourself a favour and get ripped!
What body type do you have?
Are your muscles ripped, like the way I have described above?
See you in the comments.
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Link to this page
Hey Shaun. Great post. Definitely ripped muscles are the way to go. I’m tired of seeing what looks like the same guy over and over again at the gym. Guys with huge arms and chests and huge guts hanging over their pants. Plus, most of those huge guys don’t have functional strength that smaller muscles that have been created by utilizing smaller fast twitch muscle fiber might have.
Absolutely Bill. The only mistake that the ‘ripped’ guys make is not wearing clothes that compliment their physiques. In many cases you simply won’t be able to tell they even have decent looking muscles. Any how, looks and attention are just bonus things. Superior strength and a great bodybuilding lifestyle is the goal.
True. A friend of mine is really ripped but you’d never know it just by looking at him. But then, again, I’d call him a meso/ectomorph. Still, I’ve noticed different looks ever since I started seeing the results of my work. Now, I can’t wait for summer to really roll out so I can wear t-shirt all day
Just what I like to hear!
The only way to train…..
Is to train insane! By the way, is that guy in the first picture for real?
Yup. I’ve met a few with that body type too. I’ll probably try and get them on the site at some time too.
Well, that’s just ridiculous. I assume a lot of isolation exercises, a lot of heavy weights and probably high fat/high carb nutrition…
And plenty of alcohol!
Yea I have the same thing going on. Im 140lbs 5’10 5’11 but all my muscles are very defined. My chest muscles I think are a bit to big, and I’ve been working on my abs to take away from my pecks. The top two sets come in great but I’m having problems developing my lower 6 pack. Any advice?
Hi Darrel
It’s all about diet and exercises such as…
Leg lifts, using full extension of your legs (leverage)
Advanced burpees (Burpee to pull up)
Hanging leg raises
Decline bench sit ups
Here are a lot more that can help here. There’s a few FREE bonuses coming up on the new ebook launch on 30th September that will help with this. The first one is here
http://www.stayfitbug.com/the-fitness-bug/bodyweight-exercise-bonanza-v3-0
In regards to diet… this is a concept you can follow, which I’m currently testing with others.
http://www.stayfitbug.com/the-fitness-bug/the-caveman-no-supplements-vs-the-21st-century-man-takes-supplements
I’m sorry but is your idea of bulk and cut in this article literally putting on muscle and cutting fat intake?
I really hate to be rude but this article misses a lot of very important points and is a bit misleading. I’ll start by saying the ‘fat’ guy in the photo is perfectly healthy and will have a very decent physique once the fat is stripped, he is merely a bodybuilder on a bulk. Furthermore trying to stay lean while building muscle is actually very inefficient. The lean guy isn’t actually very big at all, but just has a very low fat %age making him look muscular. Both men have very different aims and therefore bodies, one is a body builder the other a model.
Bulk and cut is a common phrase used to explain the different phases a bodybuilder goes through, it is common knowledge that bulking and cutting is the most efficient way to gain muscle mass. Bulk in this context means a phase (usually months), where the BB will consume excess protein and carbs and therefore calories, this helps him increase muscle mass significantly, but also produces extra fat as a bi-product. The cut phase usually consists of a high protein, low carb and fat diet, the aim of which is to strip away the fat while preserving muscle gained during the bulk.
Here are a couple of pictures do demonstrate this. I’ll stress that this certainly isn’t anyway near an extreme example (take the picture of the ‘fat’ guy for instance), just one I have at hand (if you don’t believe it is the same guy then check out the moles on his right [our left] pectoral):
AFTER BULK: http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww239/incredible_bulk82/15122008248.jpg
AFTER CUT: http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww239/incredible_bulk82/DSCF0987.jpg
I would have thought you were sufficiently qualified to know all I have written, so sorry if it’s condecending, but the article goes a long way from helping people looking to gain muscle, in fact it would be the opposite to most.
For those who just want to look like the lean guy and not some massive BB the same applies. Bulking 10 lbs or more (for arguments sake) past the lean guys weight and then cutting to his fat levels will be far easier and quicker than staying lean and making meager muscle gains to get to his level.
I do however appreciate that to the average person just looking to live a healthier life and gain a little muscle along the way, bulking and cutting might seem a little extreme, but it doesn’t have to be done to such lengths. I’d have just thought it vital to include such information in a muscle gain article.
Look forward to hear your opinion and hope I haven’t stepped on your toes.
Hi Tom
First things first… step all over my toes. That’s what the comments section is designed for, to further discuss the ideas of the article. Now, the main point of the article was to describe the perfect way to look, which is moderate bulk with supreme cut. And it is true that both body types above would require different goal sets from each.
Yes, bulking and cutting phases are not new to the pro body builder out there. However, that approach too can be corrected some what by a carb cycling diet. But again… all based on the goal at hand.
The goal with this article is to get people to look like the guy who is cut… but with slightly more mass. Therefore avoiding the need to focus on a cutting phase. Because these individuals will be building mass at a slower rate while enjoying the lifestyle. That is how you stick to it, and which is the goal of the upcoming program that you’ll know about in 4-5 weeks from now (sign up above if you haven’t done so already, I’ll be sending out the info in the email updates).
I hope that clears things up on my part a little. What is your goal at present Tom?
Hi , Ive read this with interest and I understand what you are saying and the goals youre aiming for and theyre fine . What I would like to say AND THIS IS NOT A CRITICISM AT ALL , Is that everyone is different and we all have different agendas and goals / reasons for doing what we do . I have been interested in muscle building from a very early age. My main interest and focus however has always been strength and to aim to be as big and strong as I can be . And I have acheived that , although it is also a constant on going thing.
I have never been that interested in being what you call “ripped”, Ive no intention of ever entering any body building contests , etc, BUT I AM VERY HAPPY WITH MY BODY AND THE WAY IT LOOKS. I have always been very big ( Iam 6″ 5″ , 64 chest , 27 in biceps ) I am not unlike the “fat” guy in your pic , though a bit bigger (AND I DONT HAVE A BIG HANGING GUT !! xlol)
I like attention as much as anyone and Ive never been short of female attention , though I have a ladyfriend who Ive had for years who loves me the way I am and who actually is not that keen on that smaller skinny “ripped” look .
The point is we are all different and different things suit different folks. I may be what you would call one of those bulky “fat” guys , but I like the way I am and wouldnt want to be any other way . I am very disciplined with my training and diet , I dont drink at all and eat very healthy , etc. AND I am VERY VERY strong , which , as I say , was always may main goal and interest in training and muscle building.
Regards , Jeremy ( Bluto )
Hi Jeremy
It is true that everyone is different. And of course, the goal here is to build a visually pleasing stand out physique with superior definition, but actually a little bigger than the slim guy above. But one thing I do push everyone to focus on, which you too focus, is to get strong. Looking good is just a bonus. Building muscle should be about getting fit and strong and staying that way for the long term.
Hi Shaun , Thanks for your very quick reply. As You say being healthy and as strong as possible is the main thing. I think appearance , and peoples tastes as to which look they prefer , is such a varied thing anyway. The variety of shapes and sizes etc , that human beings come in , be it tall and thin , fat , bulky muscular or ripped muscular , or for that matter , hairy or bald , or whatever , is part of what makes us interesting.
Hope You dont mind my going away from the original thread here , but I d like to ask your opinion on something as you are obviously very knowledgeable on muscle building nutrition etc.
I have always eaten and dieted very carefully and healthily and I know what works for me . For a guy of approaching 450lbs Iam in very good health (my resting heart rate is around 40 bpm). I have a very strict diet which obviously is tied into my training. The only “supplements” I have ever used are Whey protein (I actually now prefer the fruit isolate type but have used various different ones over the years), Creatine I have found works well for me also. Since the beginning of this year I have been trying various Nitric Oxide products. Nitric Oxide was recommended to me by an old friend (who is a seasoned bodybuilder) who swears by it. I did a lot of my own research into it and have tried various brands of both tablet and powder form. To be honest I am not convinced it has made that much difference to the gains I have made and I probably wont continue using it , (it was only the fact that it was recommended to me and as much an experiment to see how it worked for me). I know it is widely used in bodybuilding and some people swear by it.
I wondered what you think of it and what your thoughts are?
Apologies if this is the wrong place to raise this .
Regards , Jeremy