Shaping Up  by Jerry Lundt

     Getting the look you want is in understanding what constitutes human form.  I have seen people do strange things all my life, when it comes to exercise.  If you are exercising with no particular method in mind and expecting results, then you need a new coach.

      I worked with a young girl in Dallas who was constantly going from gym to gym enrolling in classes to get into “shape”.  I’ll never forget her dismay when she told me she had been working out at this gym for about six months and she thought she looked worse than when she started!  She told me “I want to get my legs to slim down.” I found out that the new class she was in had her doing stair steps!  This girl had a natural broad calf and large lower leg muscles and they put her on stair steps?  Needless to say, she was enlarging her already too large calf muscles and trimming her already too small buttocks muscles.  She was paying to look worse!  It took me some time to convince her to change her workout routine to one I set up for her. She couldn’t possibly believe that I would know more than her coach, the one who was ruining her looks.

     Jimmy had a natural large upper torso with an unnaturally small lower torso.  His chest was probably in the sixties and his legs looked like chicken legs!  He and I worked out together and Jimmy could bench 460 lbs.  He blew off working his legs since his asset, he thought, was in his chest.  I told him that if he did not get more proportionality in his overall look that he would suffer health problems.  By over working his upper body and under working his lower, Jimmy was forcing a serious blood pressure differential in his systolic and diastolic pressures.  This would lead to heart problems, eventually.  Jimmy did not believe me, but had the good sense to ask his doctor, who confirmed what I had said.  Needless to say, Jimmy started doing some serious lower bodywork to catch up with his upper.

     Building a good, well-balanced torso is a science that all body builders work on.  I have trained men and women in this art and get immediate results with much less effort than most organized classes.  The key is to pin point your particular needs and to capitalize on your assets.  Every person is different, so each individual needs a separate work out routine.  Ladies, it is a lot easier for you to get you into great shape than it is for men.  That is just the way the anatomy works.  Within four months that young girl mentioned above got into what she called "the best shape of my life".  If she had stayed in her 'everybody do the same routine' class, she would not have reached her body form goals.  Again, I must stress, every person is unique and requires personal attention to enhance or correct their physique. 

     I will be writing articles for AlphaLane and would be glad to give you my two cents on any body development issues.  Click on my email icon in the display table if you have any questions and I will get back with you as soon as possible.

Jerry’s articles are strictly his opinion and all individuals beginning any exercise routine should consult with their health care provider before starting a new routine.