differences between tall and shorter men - UK-Muscle Body Building Community

Z3R0-CooL · 28-09-2004, 09:43 AM

besides the fact that tall people need to eat more and be heavier to look better is there any other physiological effect of this?

general rule of thumb says that tall people cant look as wide as a shorter guy..

i have also read that tall people cant get abs as easy as shorter people... is there any truth in that???? i think that its crap but then again look at all the tall bodybuilders.... none of them had good set of abs...

not arnold, not gunter.. definitely not Kovacs, not coleman(he is 5'11)....

however shorter people seem to be more "blessed" in that department..

ahmad haidar, dexter, johnie jackson, chris cormier etc.......

so what do u think?

**big pete** · 28-09-2004, 09:48 AM

ive always thought of shorter people having an easier job. cos they dont have to be as heavy to look a similar build.

the best squatter i know is only 5'5. and its getting close to 400kg, but then he suffers cos his fingers are short so cant deadlift heavy

John · 28-09-2004, 11:36 AM

many, if any tall builders with great mid sections:confused: , but when you look at shorter guys theres loads of them, Lee labrada, Thierry pastel, Lee priest, could prob give you a few more.I,ll need to have a think about taller guys, Pastel wasnt the shortest but he certainley wasnt tall.

**Jimmy** · 17-10-2004, 11:31 AM

Ronnie coleman has one of the best mid sections I have ever seen!

Dexters is better though

John · 17-10-2004, 11:34 AM

but do you know how tall they are?, im guessing were suggesting over 6ft is tall;) .

zoidberg · 17-10-2004, 01:50 PM

I had always wondered how height affected strength.

I'm 6 foot 3 and my housemates are both under 6 feet and our strengths are in very different exercises.

I can lift much heavier than them in back and shoulder exercises such as deadlifts and military press and I put this down to having more "back" area than them.

They can lift heavier in exercises that isolate the arms muscles (tricep extension, rows) but their upper and lower arm bones are about 2 inches shorter than mine so their bis and tris are stretched over a shorter distance.

Does that make sense?

Cheers,

-zoidberg-

andy78139 · 17-10-2004, 05:20 PM

i dont thinki it really matters how tall you are, its more a question of muscle belly lengths and area of muscle insertions. I think shorter guys have it easier simply because most of them have endomorph structure(stocky, short, wide). Taller guys tend to be ectomorphs and have that more "rake like" appearance. Although this tends to be the general rule there is always acceptions.
Arnold is a classic-hes tall, but has the long muscle bellys and wide shoulders of an endomorph but the hips and legs of an ectomorph, he also had a short torso making his other muscles(chest ,shoulders, etc)look big in comparison.
In conclusion i dont think height is the issue , more a case of structural make-up

winger · 18-10-2004, 01:34 AM

Short legs, long torso, wide shoulders and short neck

winger · 18-10-2004, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoidberg

I had always wondered how height affected strength.

I'm 6 foot 3 and my housemates are both under 6 feet and our strengths are in very different exercises.

I can lift much heavier than them in back and shoulder exercises such as deadlifts and military press and I put this down to having more "back" area than them.

They can lift heavier in exercises that isolate the arms muscles (tricep extension, rows) but their upper and lower arm bones are about 2 inches shorter than mine so their bis and tris are stretched over a shorter distance.

Does that make sense?

Cheers,

-zoidberg-

Less throw.;)
What about muscle attachments? If a bicept was attached closer to the wrist, the future is born..............lol

18-10-2004, 11:45 AM

Big people obviously have the potential to hold more mass, but lb for lb they are weaker. (A 6'5'' 200lb guy is not going to be able to bench 5 plates, whereas a 5'7'' 200lb guy won't have so much trouble.) Short poeple have better leverage, but cannot hold as much mass. For example, the semi-pro that has recently poste don this forum (jamie lewis??) is only 160lb but looks very big. Its cos he is 5'5''.

Stephen · 13-12-2004, 02:38 PM

I'd say tall guys can get just as good abs as short guys.... but in my experience it's easier for short guys get great abs whereas a if you're on the tall you have to work at it more...

Same goes for calves to... shorter guys nearly always have better calves than taller guys who have put the same amount of work in...

SportDr · 13-12-2004, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoidberg

I had always wondered how height affected strength.

I'm 6 foot 3 and my housemates are both under 6 feet and our strengths are in very different exercises.

I can lift much heavier than them in back and shoulder exercises such as deadlifts and military press and I put this down to having more "back" area than them.

They can lift heavier in exercises that isolate the arms muscles (tricep extension, rows) but their upper and lower arm bones are about 2 inches shorter than mine so their bis and tris are stretched over a shorter distance.

Does that make sense?

Cheers,

-zoidberg-

What James said basically, shorter arms/legs = shorter lever and therefore a mechanical advantage.

ONE SMART COOKIE · 14-12-2004, 05:57 AM

Maybe the bigger guys of today cant get abs is because they use that much GH that their intestines are so swollen that it hurts to do sits up.

Only other guy that springs to mind that had very weak abs was boyer coe

Killerkeane · 14-12-2004, 02:40 PM

i think we need a poll here;

1.would you rather be tall
2.would you rather be short

Skin and Bone · 17-12-2004, 02:40 AM

I think everyone would rather be tall. I'm 6'2" and I haven't even got started for various reasons. Now it might be harder for me to gain than a shorter person, but most shorter guys who are already experienced body builders would love the chance to have started out with my height.

View Poll Results: Tall Vs Shorter people. Are they the same when it comes to abs?
Yes. Tall guys cannot get abs like the shorter guys.	19	16.96%
No. Tall guys can get abs as good as anyone else.	45	40.18%
huh??	48	42.86%
Voters: 112. You may not vote on this poll

28-09-2004, 09:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
Z3R0-CooL Gym Addict Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SouthWest London Posts: 368	differences between tall and shorter men besides the fact that tall people need to eat more and be heavier to look better is there any other physiological effect of this? general rule of thumb says that tall people cant look as wide as a shorter guy.. i have also read that tall people cant get abs as easy as shorter people... is there any truth in that???? i think that its crap but then again look at all the tall bodybuilders.... none of them had good set of abs... not arnold, not gunter.. definitely not Kovacs, not coleman(he is 5'11).... however shorter people seem to be more "blessed" in that department.. ahmad haidar, dexter, johnie jackson, chris cormier etc....... so what do u think? __________________ Remember: "Drugs should be utilized to maximize the results of a proper lifestyle, both training and DIET. They are not there to correct your errors." "Knowledge is Power. Keep Educating yourself!!"

28-09-2004, 09:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
big pete Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: south midlands Posts: 3,797	ive always thought of shorter people having an easier job. cos they dont have to be as heavy to look a similar build. the best squatter i know is only 5'5. and its getting close to 400kg, but then he suffers cos his fingers are short so cant deadlift heavy __________________ any questions?? feel free to email me on.... To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 'there is greatness inside all of us, how deep are you willing to dig? '

28-09-2004, 11:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
John EFBB Winner Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 4,245	strange i cant think of many, if any tall builders with great mid sections:confused: , but when you look at shorter guys theres loads of them, Lee labrada, Thierry pastel, Lee priest, could prob give you a few more.I,ll need to have a think about taller guys, Pastel wasnt the shortest but he certainley wasnt tall.

17-10-2004, 11:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jimmy Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Forest gym crawley Posts: 4,300	Ronnie coleman has one of the best mid sections I have ever seen! Dexters is better though __________________ *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.* 'Genetics is the science of heredity and variation in living organisms. Inheritance in organisms occurs by means of discrete traits, called genes.'

17-10-2004, 11:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
John EFBB Winner Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 4,245	yes they both have good mid sections but do you know how tall they are?, im guessing were suggesting over 6ft is tall;) .

17-10-2004, 01:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
zoidberg Newbie Trainer Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Herts, UK Posts: 38	I had always wondered how height affected strength. I'm 6 foot 3 and my housemates are both under 6 feet and our strengths are in very different exercises. I can lift much heavier than them in back and shoulder exercises such as deadlifts and military press and I put this down to having more "back" area than them. They can lift heavier in exercises that isolate the arms muscles (tricep extension, rows) but their upper and lower arm bones are about 2 inches shorter than mine so their bis and tris are stretched over a shorter distance. Does that make sense? Cheers, -zoidberg- __________________ I hear, I forget. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.

17-10-2004, 05:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
andy78139 Newbie Trainer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: plymouth Posts: 34	i dont thinki it really matters how tall you are, its more a question of muscle belly lengths and area of muscle insertions. I think shorter guys have it easier simply because most of them have endomorph structure(stocky, short, wide). Taller guys tend to be ectomorphs and have that more "rake like" appearance. Although this tends to be the general rule there is always acceptions. Arnold is a classic-hes tall, but has the long muscle bellys and wide shoulders of an endomorph but the hips and legs of an ectomorph, he also had a short torso making his other muscles(chest ,shoulders, etc)look big in comparison. In conclusion i dont think height is the issue , more a case of structural make-up

18-10-2004, 01:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
winger UK-Muscle Male Animal Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Southern California, USA Posts: 10,216 Blog Entries: 1	Short legs, long torso, wide shoulders and short neck __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

18-10-2004, 11:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
James.Titor Guest Posts: n/a	Big people obviously have the potential to hold more mass, but lb for lb they are weaker. (A 6'5'' 200lb guy is not going to be able to bench 5 plates, whereas a 5'7'' 200lb guy won't have so much trouble.) Short poeple have better leverage, but cannot hold as much mass. For example, the semi-pro that has recently poste don this forum (jamie lewis??) is only 160lb but looks very big. Its cos he is 5'5''.

13-12-2004, 02:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
Stephen Newbie Trainer Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Essex Posts: 11	I'd say tall guys can get just as good abs as short guys.... but in my experience it's easier for short guys get great abs whereas a if you're on the tall you have to work at it more... Same goes for calves to... shorter guys nearly always have better calves than taller guys who have put the same amount of work in... __________________ Stephen Stats: 27yo, 220lbs, 6'0", lean, easy-gainer. Routine: 12 week x 3 day split (Push/Pull/Legs) Thanks to NY Frankie No Pain, No Gain

14-12-2004, 05:57 AM	#13 (permalink)
ONE SMART COOKIE Decided to leave due to idiots & and their over inflated egos Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,015	Maybe the bigger guys of today cant get abs is because they use that much GH that their intestines are so swollen that it hurts to do sits up. Only other guy that springs to mind that had very weak abs was boyer coe

14-12-2004, 02:40 PM	#14 (permalink)
Killerkeane The Geezer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Somerset although im not proud lol. Posts: 2,978	i think we need a poll here; 1.would you rather be tall 2.would you rather be short __________________ Fortes Fortuna Paratus Mens-Fortune favours the prepared mind.:amen:

17-12-2004, 02:40 AM	#15 (permalink)
Skin and Bone Newbie Trainer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: West London Posts: 16	I think everyone would rather be tall. I'm 6'2" and I haven't even got started for various reasons. Now it might be harder for me to gain than a shorter person, but most shorter guys who are already experienced body builders would love the chance to have started out with my height.