How To Sculpt The Body You Want - and where you might be going wrong

Scott Acorn
Jul 21, 2016
2 min read

Who, more than anyone else, do you wish you could look like? Four years ago, when I started my career as a Personal Trainer, most men that I sat down with to discuss their fitness goals all coveted "the big units" like The Rock or Tom Hardy. But in 2016, men's "body icons" are European soccer star Ronaldo, Ryan Reynolds (Blade-Trinity and Deadpool), and Michael B. Jordan (Creed). The obvious trend today is towards the lean, athletic, lighter physique.

So, what do these guys have in common? Their training regimens are predominantly gym-based. Too many guys still are looking for that "magic pill" or shortcut, and forsake tried and tested lifting for whatever the latest fad that the gym or fitness magazine is touting that month. When it comes down to getting that "leading man" body, nothing beats getting into a structured weight training program.

About 43% of men say they are unhappy with what they see in the mirror. Frankly, I'm a little shocked it's that little who are. What I find more concerning is that over 35% say that lack of time is their biggest barrier between them and a six-pack. They fail to realize that they don't have to spend every spare minute they have in the gym. - most of the top fitness models only train four to five hours a week, max.

Too many also don't adequately support their training with their lifestyles. Your efforts in the gym HAS TO BE MATCHED WITH THE EFFORT SPENT IN THE KITCHEN AND RECOVERING! Does getting that physique you want takes sacrifice, not a total upheaval? no, but cutting down on how many beers you have on the weekend? yes. And remembering that rest/recovery days are not a luxury - but a NECESSITY.

What also is a concern to me is that most of you want bigger arms and chests over other muscle groups, by a very large margin. Now I'm a big fan of the coveted "V-shape" build as much as the next guy - but when you skip a leg day, as an example, you miss out on some of the biggest exercises in your cache for causing metabolic stress and getting rid of body fat - such as deadlifts and squats. Letting your vanity dictate your training is a recipe for disaster - the result is an inefficient and detrimental workout.

While Ronaldo sets a very high - but healthy - benchmark, please, idolize those "Hollywood physiques" with a grain of salt and caution. when you see that actor's ripped body in their latest movie you must factor in that they have peaked - especially for that shirtless scene. Some of them have spent weeks getting their body fat percentage unsustainably low and have been cranking out push-ups and biceps curls off camera before shooting the scene in order to get a good "pump" for the camera.

So remember, even Ryan Reynolds doesn't look like Ryan Reynolds most of the time.