View Full Version : Ethnicity and Muscular Development
Is it easier for people of some ethnic backgrounds to gain muscle than others or is it strictly a matter of genetics/training/nutrition or I guess possibly both? I've noticed that with the exception of Jay Cutler, most professional bodybuilders are black. Also, I noticed that black female figure competitors seem to usually have very well developed glutes and quads in comparison to their counterparts of other races. I know that with me personally, when I started working with Erik, I was close to 250lbs but I was still "solid" without of a lot of jiggle. I've seen people who weigh close to that number or less but seem to "look" a lot larger.
Thoughts? Am I just imagining this?
Blondell
10-19-2007, 02:02 AM
I've wondered this myself, but never asked. :lol:
wannabelean
10-19-2007, 02:25 AM
I wondered this too!
I pm'd Erik with it first because I wondered about it too. He told me to post it. :lol3:
I've wondered this myself, but never asked. :lol:
:yeahthat:
Great answers so far. :lol:
Man, I just read the first 5 posts of this thread. We all sound like a bunch of tards. :lol3:
Great answers so far. :lol:
We are waiting...for you!!
smuggie
10-19-2007, 02:51 AM
Man, I just read the first 5 posts of this thread. We all sound like a bunch of tards. :lol3:
So what else is new. :lol:
Neely
10-19-2007, 02:52 AM
Well, essentially, your ethnicity is a part of your genetic makeup. And we all know that gentics DO play a role in terms of fat storage, how much muscle we can build, all that jazz.
Through evolution and environmental influences, things will be different from the genetic makeups of our ancestors. But there's still some amount of those parts of our ancestory that are hanging out in our genetic coding.
For example, people of African descent commonly have great glutes and quads. Yet, they have a harder time building calves, they have 'higher' calves which are more suited for power, ie jumping. Their ancestors in Africa spent a fair amount of time traversing the countryside hunting. They needed those kinds of genetic benefits. And those traits still have some amount of prevalence, even though some people may be multiple generations away from their ancestors that were in Africa.
At least that's my theory :shrug:
Then what about the Kenyan distance runners that always seem to win marathons? They don't seem to fit that mold. Would that be an example of an adaption to one's environment?
I have noticed the 'higher' smaller calves on a lot of the black figure competitors. I don't have that problem though. I got some big ol mo-hunkin calves.
Neely
10-19-2007, 03:01 AM
:lol: Picking apart my theory now? :wink:
Differing tribes/areas of Africa would have different types of genetic coding for their survival needs. Again, talking more on an ancestory level, some people would need better abilities to cover ditances than would others. Like, there are areas of Africa where there's more flat desert, whereas others are more dense forests and mountains. Differing tribes in ancestral times would evolve certain physical attributes to accomodate their environment.
Now, in terms of modern day Kenyans kicking so much ass in distance running, I would think that maybe a lot of those high placing individuals would be from a longer, more direct lineage of Kenyan :shrug:
:lol: Picking apart my theory now? :wink:
Nah, I'm thinking this might be the most intelligent question I've ever asked on this forum so I'm just taking full advantage of it. :lol:
Neely
10-19-2007, 03:07 AM
Nah, I'm thinking this might be the most intelligent question I've ever asked on this forum so I'm just taking full advantage of it. :lol:
:lol3: :funny:
I'd actually be really interested in reading some studies on this, if there are any credible ones.
bubblebooty
10-19-2007, 04:21 AM
For example, people of African descent commonly have great glutes and quads. Yet, they have a harder time building calves, they have 'higher' calves which are more suited for power, ie jumping. Their ancestors in Africa spent a fair amount of time traversing the countryside hunting. They needed those kinds of genetic benefits. And those traits still have some amount of prevalence, even though some people may be multiple generations away from their ancestors that were in Africa.
At least that's my theory :shrug:
but this could be said about any nomadic tribe around the world. mongolians were nomadic and we know asians aren't known for their amazing glutes. ok, now don't tear that apart :lol:
i have noticed the same thing though. maybe more when it comes to football players :drool: but same concept.
Neely
10-19-2007, 04:43 AM
but this could be said about any nomadic tribe around the world. mongolians were nomadic and we know asians aren't known for their amazing glutes. ok, now don't tear that apart :lol:
i have noticed the same thing though. maybe more when it comes to football players :drool: but same concept.
But a majority of Africans weren't (aren't) really nomads. Nomads travel from place to place, staying in one area for a short period of time, usually exhausting what food supply they can and then moving on. Most Africans would be considered more of hunter/gatherer, keeping a set home area and traveling as far as needed for food, then returning.
The Mongolians are pretty stacked people too. A big difference in the 'look' when comparing them to Africans would be BF storage. Mongolia sits at a much higher elevation and the temps tend to be much colder, thus requiring them to carry more BF than the Africans. Also, he terrain in Mongolia isn't extremely conducive to large food supplies (animals), so when they would exhaust a food supply in one area and have to move on, they would need higher BF levels to sustain them if there next food source doesn't come along very soon.
Also, the Mongolians domesticated some animals for use in travel quite early. So in their nomadic times, they weren't always doing all the walking :wink:
Really, this is all just a theory of mine. No 'real' evidence to back it up :lol:
Ananda
10-19-2007, 12:17 PM
What about differences with the amount of fast twitch muscle fibres. The more you have, the more defined you can become. I thought I learned about it in my first year of Bio when I was in university. I can't remember, it was a long time ago. Oh just ignore me, as I don't really know what I'm talking about! It would be interesting to find out though.
What about differences with the amount of fast twitch muscle fibres. The more you have, the more defined you can become. I thought I learned about it in my first year of Bio when I was in university. I can't remember, it was a long time ago. Oh just ignore me, as I don't really know what I'm talking about! It would be interesting to find out though.
Definition is a function of bodyfat so no, muscle fiber type won't play into that. However, such individuals will have a greater chance of becoming big and strong. (ie. more muscular).
Noel Clark
10-19-2007, 01:34 PM
"African-American children were found to have higher muscle and bone mass than whites. We believe this may be a genetic difference and may help tell us why more whites than blacks suffer from osteoporosis later in life," said Dr. Kenneth Ellis, a professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. "We found that Hispanic and white children, in terms of bone and tissue mass, were almost identical, however, Hispanics did have a higher incidence of obesity and a higher percentage of body fat."
lawgrrrl
10-19-2007, 01:38 PM
"African-American children were found to have higher muscle and bone mass than whites. We believe this may be a genetic difference and may help tell us why more whites than blacks suffer from osteoporosis later in life," said Dr. Kenneth Ellis, a professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. "We found that Hispanic and white children, in terms of bone and tissue mass, were almost identical, however, Hispanics did have a higher incidence of obesity and a higher percentage of body fat."
:mecry:
that's all i have to contribute. :funny:
I'm looking for some evidence that I can eat more and exercise less and still look like Noel simply by being black. Can someone find that for me please and thank you. :D
smuggie
10-19-2007, 03:08 PM
I'm looking for some evidence that I can eat more and exercise less and still look like Noel simply by being black. Can someone find that for me please and thank you. :D
Hey, yahoo, Noel has to bust her hump to look like she does. And so do you if you want to look like her. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/montagnu/smiles%20and%20laughter%20smilies/laughing.gif
Blondell
10-19-2007, 03:08 PM
I'm looking for some evidence that I can eat more and exercise less and still look like Noel simply by being black. Can someone find that for me please and thank you. :D
Let me know when you find out how to do this. :lol:
yosef
10-19-2007, 04:25 PM
Let me know when you find out how to do this. :lol:
My thoughts exactly. :lol:
But I have also noticed that African Americans just seem to be better in all around athletics. BUT I'm African American and have those very small high calves and at the same time I still don't have the same type of musculator that all of my friends have who are also black have. I've noticed that with a lot of them they only train for a few weeks and then they're already just as defined as I am. For them muscle building comes fairly easily. For me...not so much. So obviously this is not going to be true for all African Americans but probably a good majority of, yes! Especially since we were forced to mate stallion on stallion during the era of slavery.
Man, I just read the first 5 posts of this thread. We all sound like a bunch of tards. :lol3:
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to LynS. again.
Bwahahahahaha
rogmel
10-19-2007, 05:20 PM
Well.....i can only speak for the pasty irish folk here......we have some damn nice biceps from the high rep/12oz curls....typically done at night in a pub called, Sullivan's, Mulligans or O'Sheas.........:ninja:
i seriously think that is why i LOVE, and i mean LOVE beer.......it's genetic!!!!
JGWright
10-19-2007, 05:45 PM
Black people have an additional bone in their leg which makes them faster.
Its Science [/Ron Burgundy]
mackie
10-19-2007, 06:01 PM
Great answers so far. :lol:
:funny:
Meechel
10-19-2007, 06:03 PM
I'm looking for some evidence that I can eat more and exercise less and still look like Noel simply by being black. Can someone find that for me please and thank you. :D
:pimpslap: :laughatyou: :funny: :buddies:
Sportsgirl
10-19-2007, 06:07 PM
My contribution to this...
There is a joke email going around telling you how you know you're Samoan. One of the points is... you sister has bigger calves than your Dad or brothers.
For me this rings true :lol:
mackie
10-19-2007, 06:07 PM
I'm looking for some evidence that I can eat more and exercise less and still look like Noel simply by being black. Can someone find that for me please and thank you. :D
:lol: :lol: :lol:
:woohoo: Wish I was black!
Noel Clark
10-19-2007, 11:07 PM
I'm looking for some evidence that I can eat more and exercise less and still look like Noel simply by being black. Can someone find that for me please and thank you. :D
:lol:
You are a dork
pixie
10-21-2007, 01:14 AM
Well.....i can only speak for the pasty irish folk here......we have some damn nice biceps from the high rep/12oz curls....typically done at night in a pub called, Sullivan's, Mulligans or O'Sheas.........:ninja:
i seriously think that is why i LOVE, and i mean LOVE beer.......it's genetic!!!!
:lol:
I like this theory - I can trace my LOVE of wine to being Italian.
Plus... we have good arms/shoulders from lugging around the gallon jugs.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.7 Copyright © 2012 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.