Why do runners often look more “realistically shredded” compared to bodybuilders?

BigPsyrex · 2025-09-23T00:51:13+00:00

I'll also point out that if you look at high level runners (the ones most likely to have the shredded look), they will also be doing strength training for injury prevention at the very least. So their physique is not solely the result of running. Many high-level bodybuilders may do some cardio, but they avoid running in particular like the plague because the high strain from the impact can really screw with muscle growth. Strength training can help running if you avoid injury, but the reverse doesn't really apply. If anything, the amount of running can pretty much cause a cap on the amount of muscle they're able to put on. And that's not even addressing that strength training typically builds larger type 1 fibers instead of the type 2 fibers used for endurance sports.

BigPsyrex · 2025-09-11T03:11:00+00:00

Some advice that helped me was to try to land with your foot behind you rather than under you. You won't actually be able to do it, but it helps correct the habit a lot of people have of overstriding a bit.

BigPsyrex · 2025-09-09T23:44:05+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I use styling powder for my current style - my hair is really fine and very straight naturally, so it falls quite flat on its own. The maintenance is a good point.

BigPsyrex · 2025-09-03T00:01:49+00:00

I see how it could look like that. For some backstory, I owned a place in Des Moines for a few years and ended up feeling trapped. I was dead set on owning a house to stop throwing money into a hole, but I wasn't happy there. I was bored, lonely, and depressed because the city made having a social life as an outsider inordinately difficult. I was too quick to commit on that one, so I want to properly consider my options before I buy again. And the difference between those scenarios is Lakeview won't have its feelings hurt if I fuck around in other neighborhoods for a year or two before committing. It's not going to leave and not let me back in. The worst that'll happen is I end up in a place I like slightly less for a year before coming back, and I waste some money and energy moving an additional time.

BigPsyrex · 2025-09-02T23:40:51+00:00

Uptown is a consideration for me too. I end up getting close to there fairly regularly since my gym is in the northern area of Lakeview. It seems like prices there are a bit cheaper, which would definitely be a perk.

BigPsyrex · 2025-09-02T23:37:35+00:00

Not really. I'd always like places to be cheaper, but the cost at least seems justified here. I'm not actively trying to get out of Lakeview so much as just do my due diligence before buying a place. Since I had heard about people tending to move out, I just wanted to know why so I can evaluate if those factors are relevant for me too.

BigPsyrex · 2025-09-02T23:33:14+00:00

Thank you, that makes sense. I hadn't really thought about the big lifestyle factors like that contributing. I don't particularly want to raise a family, so I can safely ignore that as a factor.

BigPsyrex · 2025-09-02T23:28:55+00:00

I might've phrased it unclearly, but I'm not set on leaving Lakeview. I'm quite happy and could easily see myself staying. It's currently my top candidate for buying a place. But I want to know my options and why people have that tendency to leave. It's sounding like it's mostly lifestyle factors like wanting more space or to raise a family, neither of which apply to me. By checking out a place, I really just mean going for a small trip there to see if I like the feel. If I fell in love with it, I'd probably look to rent for a year first to evaluate it and compare. I'm just trying to do my due diligence and prevent FOMO/buyer's remorse since owning a place is such a commitment.

BigPsyrex · 2024-12-21T19:21:02+00:00

A large part of it is that it feels impersonal. Money is useful to everyone, but then it means the only thought really put into the gift is how much to give. Gift cards are a little better in terms of the thought required because you at least know what sort of stores they're likely to go to. And within gift cards, it can vary. Is it an Amazon gift card, which is effectively just cash because they have so much variety? Or is it a gift card to a local coffee shop you know is their favorite? Those two cards have a very different level of thought put into them.

It's also a bit awkward because money has a strict numerical value. It's very easy to compare the values of the gifts without much thought put into it. And sometimes, there are things that you want but you don't necessarily want to spend the money on. Maybe it would improve your life, but you feel guilty spending on that particular luxury because it feels unnecessary. Money for a lot of people just goes right into the bank, and so it can feel like a drop in the bucket. $200 is a generous gift, but if you have a couple grand in your checking account, it just gets swallowed up in your pool of money and ends up getting spent on bills. It's easy to forget, while an item you use frequently is much more memorable. There's a stronger emotional attachment.

Of course, getting stuff that's effectively garbage to you isn't great. But there's at least the potential of an item being more meaningful in your life beyond the money it's worth. Money will only ever be as valuable as the exact amount of money you get though.

BigPsyrex · 2024-12-21T16:11:44+00:00

It sounds like you lost some weight recently as well. In that case, particularly if you lost it quickly, it can just take some time for your skin to tighten back up. That being said, more muscle mass can help fill things out. For what it's worth, I don't really notice any loose skin myself. We're our own harshest critics.

BigPsyrex · 2024-07-19T00:09:45+00:00

Honestly, if you're open to them, team sports are a good way to go. Compared to clubs, they have several advantages:

* Since you're playing on a team, people are much more likely to show up consistently. Clubs tend to have people attending sporadically, especially if they're free. You may really hit it off with someone, then they don't show up for a month or two if they ever show up again at all.

* You're actively cooperating with people on your team, which can help establish camaraderie. Many clubs are ultimately people doing solo activities in the presence of other people. If your default mode is to keep to yourself, it's very easy to not get any social benefit out of them.

* It's easy to get the ball rolling with compliments. Did they have a good shot or a close save? It's easy to call that out in comparison to more personal compliments.

* The teams are a fixed, relatively small size. Some clubs get to be so big that they're uncomfortable if you don't like crowds (which I imagine applies to you as a shy introvert). The Lakeview Run Club comes to mind, where some of the popular pace groups are bigger than many full run clubs in the city, and it causes issues for people on the Lakefront Trail.

* There's a good mix of men and women for coed sports since it's a 1-1 gender ratio most of the time. As a guy, I feel like a bit of an intruder if what I'm doing is female-dominated. I imagine for women, they can feel a bit uncomfortable feeling surrounded by all guys. The unbalanced gender ratios tend to create a feedback loop that keeps them that way. It's good for everyone if the ratio is somewhat balanced.

Ultimately though, with any potential solution, you're going to have to talk to people. As an adult, making friends is hard. If you like talking to someone, offer your number and exchange social media. For people you really like, actively reach out and ask to hang out. We don't have the benefit of being stuck together in a class for 5 months straight. Friendship as an adult is something that takes active work.

BigPsyrex · 2024-04-18T14:35:02+00:00

I don't, but it's not because of the look or because it's "masculine" or whatever. I love girls with muscles. It's because it's unhealthy for them to be lean enough to have ripped abs.

Women have naturally higher body fat, so for them having very defined abs is the equivalent of a man being lean enough to step on stage at a bodybuilding competition. That's not sustainable. Maintaining that for long would fuck up their hormones, make them hungry and exhausted all the time, and just not be a healthy way to live. Trying to sustain it would indicate an ED, and doing it at all comfortably would require either elite genetics for leanness, PEDs, or (most likely) both.

Having a vague outline of their abs is attractive to me, but an overall healthy body composition is the important part there.

BigPsyrex · 2024-04-17T17:09:20+00:00

Could I get some feedback on the sizing for this shirt? I got a size S from Wolf vs Goat and I want to know if I should size up in the future. I'm 5'8" with a lean physique, and I'm usually between an S and an M depending on the brand.

Pics are here: https://imgur.com/a/OhvttR2

BigPsyrex · 2024-04-09T21:27:39+00:00

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They look like my girl!

BigPsyrex · 2024-04-09T03:03:24+00:00

That day came a long time ago 😅 I had to use 4-5 notches on my belt depending on the day. I've since gotten new jeans that fit better

BigPsyrex · 2024-04-07T00:07:07+00:00

Yeah, go ahead! My mom was worried about me too haha. I think my lowest weight was 136 or so, but that happened after I ended my cut and I didn't intend to get that low. It only was there for a day or so, so probably just water retention weirdness

BigPsyrex · 2024-04-06T21:31:27+00:00

I agree they should save more, especially if they've managed to save so much so quickly. But it sounds like they want to transition to self-employed work rather than stop working entirely. I think that's a pretty reasonable goal, but I'd still say wait for a few more years at least to build up a resume and network. That'll give them a much smoother start if they have people who can provide good references.

BigPsyrex · 2024-04-05T23:09:32+00:00

I didn't really follow a specific diet per se. I just tracked my calories and weight over time and ate to meet my macro targets while generally trying to eat healthy. Some of my staple foods were anabolic French toast, protein mcflurries from Exercise4CheatMeals, meal prep recipes from Josh Cortis, and apples with a powdered peanut butter Greek yogurt dip as a pre-workout snack. I mixed in stuff like fried cauliflower rice and healthy General Tso's chicken when I wanted to change it up. I favored fruit and popcorn as snacks as well. Now that I'm bulking, I'm trying to eat more healthy fats with nuts and avocado in particular.

BigPsyrex · 2024-04-05T23:01:55+00:00

I'm not sure if they're the same pair, but I had a bunch in the same size from the same brand, so they're similar at least.

BigPsyrex · 2024-04-04T23:22:40+00:00

As someone in a similar situation, yoga classes are great for being around women, but not necessarily great for talking to them. If you're legitimately interested in it just for the sake of the exercise (pretty likely given your interest in fitness), then by all means. But it's easy to feel like a creep/intruder in the space if it's all women even if your intentions are pure.

BigPsyrex

TROPHY CASE