Building That Athletic Physique You Always Wanted, One Exercise At A Time

• Tweet
• Pin It

Although we may admire the likes of Kai Greene and Victor Martinez, not all of us want to be 250lb bodybuilders. It’s not in our style.

What we do want is a body that is lean and athletic and moderately muscular. But more than anything else, we want that body actually to work. It has to be able to do practical things in the real world that reward for all that effort put in at the gym. So with that said, how do you get an athletic physique?

Eat Vegetables

commons.wikimedia.org

The best way to get that athletic look is first to strip away the fat. One of the main reason athletes often look so impressive (I’m thinking 100-meter runners) is that they have such low body fat.

So how do they achieve this? Most of them don’t eat like body builders, desperate for the next pound of muscle. Most of them actually focus on eating real food. That means avoiding processed foods and oils, and well as sugar and refined grains.

But many have found that vegetables are they key to keeping lean. They have an uncanny ability to reduce inflammation and clear out the gunk in our cells that stops insulin from doing its job. Get rid of the fat in the cells and you’ll quickly become a leaner and more efficient beast.

Do Whole Body Movements

commons.wikimedia.org

Bodybuilders often speak of the importance of full body movements for building muscle. They force your body into growth because they are so demanding.

But if you’re looking to build an athletic physique, you need to take that a step further. Activities like CrossFit engage your entire body like bodybuilding moves. But they also employ a combination of systems in your body. They tax your cardiovascular system, your muscles, and your nervous system. And when taxed in concert, you get better results.

What’s often forgotten is that when whole body movements are used in context, they build functional strength. You’ll find after CrossFit sessions many factors are improved, not simply muscle size. Your power will increase. Your balance will improve. Your speed will adjust. Your flexibility will be better. And these are all things that top athletes focus on to improve their overall performance.

www.flickr.com

Focus On Your Weaknesses

We all come in different shapes and sizes. And that means that we all have relative weaknesses and strengths. Some people find it tough to gain strength in their arms and legs. And others find it hard to obtain strength in their core muscles.

Focusing on your weaker areas will lessen your chances of injury and help you achieve muscular balance. Nothing is worse than having a giant chest and skinny legs.

vimeo.com

Do Interesting Movements

When you conceive of an exercise regime, try to avoid doing the standard bodybuilding movements. These movements are designed to trick your body into building size. But people looking for an athletic physique want more than this.

Unusual combinations of movement build strength in multiple directions. Plus they force your muscles to adapt to new loads.

commons.wikimedia.org

• Tweet
• Pin It