(J)Max Aesthetics: Step 1 for Perfect Proportions and Optimal Muscle Mass

how to build muscleYou’re going to need a bigger boat.

I know that you already know this.  This is what optimal muscle mass is all about.  Bigger is usually better.  Yet, there is always the chance of being too big.

After all, if the Titanic was a bit slimmer, it wouldn’t have hit that damn iceberg.  This means you wouldn’t have seen Kate Winslet topless, Leo wouldn’t have frozen to death on a wooden door, and James Cameron wouldn’t have gotten the chance to make Avatar.  Maybe he’d be on this site learning how to build muscle instead.

Luckily for you, this does not hinder your ability to look better than a Greek god.

In my article entitled, Building the Ultimate Male Body, I gave you the ideal measurements that are scientifically proven to make women melt.  Since then, I’ve revised them.  Before I reveal these updated measurements to you, you’re going to need to know what the heck this article is about.

Why You Need to Read This Article

After defining your goal (perfect proportions and optimal muscle mass), you need to have a plan of attack; a way to get there.  This article is your plan of attack.  It’s the start of your road map.  It’s your plan A.  Save Plan B for pregnancy scares.

When I first moved to Toronto, I played in a killer rock band.  We played shows all over T.O., our music rocked, and our stage presence was awesome.  When we sat down to write a song, we had a plan.  In a nutshell, our plan was as follows:

  1. Write a catchy riff (guitar part).
  2. Choose simple melodies that are radio friendly.
  3. Come up with a chorus, verse, bridge, and an outro.
how to build muscle

Here I am rocking out so hard that it looks like I have a mohawk.

Building a visually pleasing body requires the same planning.  Here’s where to start:

Your Perfect Proportions (Updated)

Body Part Ideal Measurement (all measurements are the circumference of the body part)
Arm (cold; flexed) 2.52 x Wrist Size
Calf 2.52 x Wrist Size
Neck 2.52 x Wrist Size
Waist Measure While Lean (8%-12%)
Shoulder 1.618 x Waist (Golden Ratio)
Thigh 1.75 x Knee Size
Pelvis (Where you wear your pants) Measure While Lean (8%-12%)
Chest 1.48 x Pelvis Size
Forearm 2.02 x Wrist Size

What to do Next

Now, you need to figure out your weakest body part (body part that needs the most size).  Here is where most people get this wrong.  They think that the weakest body part is the one that needs the largest absolute size increase.

For example, let’s say that your ideal arm size is 17 inches, yet your current arm measurement is 16 inches.  Let’s compare this with an ideal thigh size of 27 inches, yet your current thigh size is 25.5 inches.  This means that to reach your ideal arm size, you need to put on 1 inch.  Alternatively, to reach your ideal thigh size, you need 1.5 inches (0.5 more inches than your arms).  Which body part do you prioritize?

It’s not what you think.

You prioritize the largest percentage error.  Here is where my Aerospace Engineering background comes in.  When it comes to building muscle and looking amazing naked, you need simple math.

Unlike high school math class, this math is easy and fun as hell.  The reason: building muscle is fun.

The Percentage Error Formula

how to build muscle

Using this formula for both the arms and legs, you get the following:

Arm Example

how to build muscle

Leg Example

how to build muscle

This means that even though you need to add more inches onto your thigh, the percentage change dictates that you need to prioritize your arms before your legs.

This is Step 1.

Your highest priority is the highest percentage error, not the largest measurement difference.  After knowing your priority, you need to train this body part first in the workout (while fresh), or more often during the week, or both.

Also, you need to dedicate yourself to re-measuring these proportions monthly.  You need to constantly track these measurements.  Each workout phase, prioritize your highest percentage error, and you will build a more visually pleasing body than any other guy in your gym.

WARNING: This is very powerful stuff.  Once you build your perfect body, try to use it for good, and not for evil. (The key word here is try).

Where to Go From Here:

If you enjoyed this article, then click the link below to check out The Hybrid Muscle Cycle for even more great stuff like this.

The Hybrid Muscle Cycle

In Part 2 of this series…

We’ll talk about the all-important second step to reaching a mathematically perfect proportioned male physique.  It involves how to structure your workouts, month by month.  You don’t want to miss this.

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