Building aesthetic muscle requires a focus on symmetry and details. It’s the ‘X’ factor, where your upper body is broad in appearance… tapering down to a narrow waist… then sweeping out with impressive thighs.
This holds true for both men and women… after all… when you round off the top and bottom of the ‘X’ it forms an hour glass, which is exactly what many women aim to achieve.
But is there such a thing as a ‘perfect’ physique with ‘ideal’ proportions?
The first time I ever came across the concept of a ‘perfect physique’ with specific measurements to aim for, was in Steve Reeves book, Building The Classic Physique The Natural Way…
Here’s the guidelines he prescribed…
Arm size= 252% of wrist size
Calf size= 192% of ankle size
Neck Size= 79% of head size
Chest Size= 148% of pelvis size
Waist size= 86% of pelvis size
Thigh size= 175% of knee size
Frankly, just looking at those numbers makes my mind go numb and kinda sucks the fun out of sculpting my physique.
Steve also provided guidelines for an ideal weight based on your height. I’m 5’7″… and according to his guidelines I should weigh 170lbs ripped.
If I took those measurements to heart I could spend the rest of my lifting days in utter disappointment… thinking, “What’s wrong with me? How come I only weigh a buck fifty-five? Am I missing something? What’s the secret?”
Weighing 170lbs… natural… may not be in my genetic cards… and I’m more than cool with that. I’m not chasing a scale number, nor am I striving for someone else’s ‘Ideal’.
John McCallum’s ‘ideal’ physique measurement formula also causes my eyes to gloss over as I stare into space and ponder the true meaning of life…
6.5 times your wrist gives chest girth
85% of the chest girth produces the hips
Take 70% of the chest girth for the waist
53% of the chest gives the thigh girth
The neck size is 37% of the chest
36% of the chest produces the upper arm girth
The calves come out a little less at 34%
The forearms get 29% of the chest measurement
Seriously… that’s just too much math for us bros to put up with. Just let me get back to lifting things up and putting them back down 😉
In recent years John Barban, creator of the Adonis Index and Venus Index… popularized the Adonis Golden Ratio… which is a much simpler formula based on your shoulder to waist ratio.
It just so happens that I have developed a perfect Adonis Golden Ratio through my training. When shredded… my waist is 29.5″ and my shoulders 48.5″
So… I should feel pretty damn satisfied right?
It does feel great to know I hit those numbers… but I also know I was dealt a pretty damn good genetic hand, which made achieving those numbers much easier than it will for many other guys.
I naturally have broad shoulders thanks to the bone structure my parents were kind enough to pass onto me. My son however, did not inherit my broad shoulders… so if he decides to get into bodybuilding down the road, it would be absolutely freak’n ridiculous for him to compare his physique to mine… and to attempt to build shoulders as wide as mine.
First of all… aesthetics is the goal… and if his clavicles are… say… two inches shorter than mine… he would need to add two extra inches of muscle to each of his deltoid muscles… and frankly… that’s probably going to look weird and freaky… not aesthetically pleasing.
Second of all… he could spend all of his time obsessing over achieving a shoulder width that may simply be out of his genetic reach… and in the process, neglect other areas of his physique that could have a greater potential for creating a symmetrical and detailed appearance.
You Don’t Need a Measuring Tape To Know When Your Body Is Out Of Proportion Or Lacks Detail
You can tell by simply looking at your physique in the mirror, in photos, or on video if your physique is somewhat out of proportion.
I know by looking at my videos and photos that I need to continue building up my calves to bring my lower body up to proportion with my upper body. My legs can use a bit more mass because my upper body is so wide…. but I also lack thickness in my chest and back.
So… although I’ve hit my “Golden Ratio” according to the Adonis Index, my physique still needs some work in the other areas that are not a part of this formula.
I can also easily tell through photos, videos, or the mirror, when the details of my physique are beginning to fade when my body fat begins to creep up… or when the details are beginning to ‘pop out’ as your body fat drops.
Beauty Is In The Eyes Of The Beholder
Let’s face it… what’s aesthetically pleasing to me, may not be aesthetically pleasing to others.
I find women with round shoulder caps, sculpted arms, trim waist, muscular round butt, and strong legs attractive.
This may not be the look that other men are attracted to… and thank goodness!
…If we were all chasing the same ‘ideal’… and if we all found this same ‘ideal’ to be the most attractive… life would be really dull and boring.
Think of it from the perspective of art. If all sculptures and all paintings looked the same… there would be no meaning… no joy… no passion… no fire… no creativity… no expression.
Your body is a work of art. Sculpt your own personal masterpiece, which is an expression of your passion… creativity… and joy.
Embrace the process, soak up every moment of the journey, and make the most out of the gifts you’ve been granted.
Through this fantastic experience you may very well end up at or close to these ‘ideal’ measurements… but the numbers themselves will not carry much significance in comparison to the appreciation you’ve gained from the art of body sculpting.
Sculpt a Masterpiece,
Scott Tousignant
About The Author
Scott Tousignant, BHK is a Physique Coach and Elite Natural Bodybuilder with the UFE.
Scott specializes in helping regular men and women sculpt their body into a chiseled work of art. Viewing training as an art form and your body as a sculpture is a simple shift in mindset that brings out the beauty in your ongoing body transformation.
The art of molding and chiseling an aesthetically pleasing physique with ideal proportions, spectacular symmetry, and magnificent detail is one of life’s most rewarding and fulfilling experiences. It’s an opportunity for self growth and self discovery that will impact every area of your life.
Learn more about Scott’s physique-focused training programs:
Build ROCK solid muscle with chiseled details by following Scott’s 6 month periodized muscle building system called AMP – Aesthetic Muscle Plan
Get a taste of Scott’s hardcore physique training programs with Physique Phreak
When Scott needs to urgently strip away stubborn sacks of fat for a photo shoot or bodybuilding contest, he turns to his time-tested proven system… Elite Physique system.
Check out Scott’s original physique training ‘work of art’… the Metabolic Masterpiece Body Sculpting Collection