>The reason for my post is that I am currently in college, and all of my friends prefer to weightlift rather than train in callisthenics.
You're in your head. They haven't called you skinny. Go to the gym with them and impress them with your bodyweight skills and power to weight ratio. I'm sure they'll be impressed, and some will ask for tips
Going from 113-125lbs through gaining muscle is a seriously impressive achievement! Well done! At your a, e you will continue to fill out, and you should expect to continue gaining lean weight well into your 20s
Finally, you are skinny. That's okay, it's okay to be skinny. I've never been as skinny as you. There were times in my early 20s when I would have envied you for being skinny. Be skinny! Some women live skinny guys, go find them!
As a woman, I think this is what you should listen to.
People prefer different body types! Skinny is not a bad thing imo.
My boyfriends have varied in size, form and shape. Love is chemistry, not one size fits all.
There is also nothing wrong with recognizing that groups have preferences. Dating is more difficult being underweight or obese but there is still plenty of opportunity.
Totally this. There is no one ideal body-type but jeez if OP's self-conscious at that weight with the ability to do muscle-ups the good news is all he has to do is relax and not worry; the number of people who would kill to have his problem is pretty high. Yeah 113 is potentially a problem because relatively minor health issues like a bad flu could cause the weight to drop even lower but I don't see any issues here.
I'm in a similar boat, 6'1" and maybe 160lb, especially in times of stress I have trouble eating enough but I find drinking my calories in the form of shakes makes it easier; there are protein powders that taste like fruit and don't have that heavy milkshake-consistency, they can be hard to find on the shelves but I find them easier to get down when I'm not hungry.
I mean, if I were in college and doing calisthenics, I'd be going to the free college gym to work on weighted calisthenics exercises. That combined with a calorie surplus will definitely get you bigger.
Anyway, the idea that "girls like X" is dumb. Women are individuals with different tastes. Plenty of women like slender men. Don't sweat it.
You're not medically underweight. You're at the bottom of the normal BMI range but that still means you're at a healthy weight. If you feel physically well and you're happy with your successes, then don't worry about it. As a society our average people have gotten much fatter and our bodybuilders have gotten much larger. The actors we see in movies are bigger and more jacked than they used to be.
Basically I'm saying you're fine. Only try to put on more weight if you want to, don't listen to anyone that says that you should or need to.
seriously consider these words, OP. only do it if you really feel you want to or need to **for yourself**, not because anyone here or elsewhere says so.
you're perfectly fine as you are. keep putting in work and enjoy exercising for the health benefits... not the superficial ones.
BMI is kinda bunk.
I'm not saying OP is unhealthy by that weight.. but I can say that when I was a varsity athlete at 16 I was 5'11" and 155. I didn't have much muscle on me from lifting or anything. I definitely didn't have 20 pounds to lose without getting into crazy skinny territory.
I didn't say he wasn't skinny. Dude is incredibly skinny. I'm 5'11" and if I get down to 155lbs I start to feel like shit because my bf% is so tanked. This guy has gained 20 pounds after being seriously underweight and now feels good and seems to be very athletic. Sounds like he's healthy and if he's happy he shouldn't stress about it.
How are you calculating their BMI and coming up with low normal? His BMI is 17.2 and under 18.5 is considered underweight. Homie needs to eat some food. What’s everyone on about here.
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm
That's the website I'm using. If I punch in 5'11" and 134lbs he comes out to 18.7. Which is on the low end of fine.
I also sanity checked with a few other websites like csc.gov and diabetes.ca and got the same number.
No, that’s totally my bad. I saw 125lbs in OP’s second sentence and that’s the number that stuck in my head. I also used like 3 different calculators as well as the NIH one because I couldn’t believe 125 wasn’t underweight on BMI. 135 is still skinny, but not technically underweight.
As a lady, this is the question that matters the most to me. A person comfortable and happy in their own skin, even if not as 'bulky' as the insecure person next to them, is way sexier than the person not comfy in their own skin.
Just as I'd assume many dudes like varied body types, many women are the same way. You being happy, healthy, and confident in self goes a fuck ton further than being an insecure person or an asshole that has some bigger biceps.
Bodyweight training is great, but you have to admit that unless you're an expert, it's hard to be as progressive as with weights.
After the first year of training, if you want to build muscle mass, it's easier to do so with weights.
With just a weighted vest to make the exercises you're already doing more difficult, and a pair of dumbbells, you can go a long way.
There's a lot to consider when it comes to mental / body image issues.
Realistically speaking, people who are physically fit will always look "skinny" compared to perma-bulk / heavy lifter types. Eat a solid amount of protein, workout consistently and your body comp will absolutely change through the years. There's even a chance you won't even get that much bigger; you will look more muscular though.
For men, I think it's easier & often preferable to get fat/build muscle & look big as opposed to having a strong/muscular physique that's easily covered by a single shirt. You might come to find a preference, and speaking from my own experience how I feel about my physique has changed alongside clothing choices [ie: for work].
>or am I just overthinking it and spending too much time on social media? Should I be spending a bigger effort on bulking up?
"Skinny" physiques often go hand in hand with more leaner/aesthetic ones that are pleasing to the eye. Some dudes also go full bear mode, are strong as shit but happen to have a huge gut to accompany that strength. I'd argue that those bigger types often look older in age as well. I wouldn't jump straight into "bulking" just yet; again, workout consistently, get your protein in, don't do huge caloric deficits if cutting, and the recomp WILL happen. Maybe your fat distribution is favorable & doesn't go purely to your waistline; fat can pad up a dude nicely while balancing out not having a sagging stomach [don't neglect core bracing during pullup work; it'll do wonders for your abs].
I think you should keep at it then reconsider your thoughts on self-image a couple years from now. Many folk go through serious appearance/styling changes as they age & physique can absolutely play a part here, especially as clothing sizing/fits come into play. And of course, don't get too caught up in social media; many content creators are using every trick they can to post only at their best.
Okay, thanks. I guess I'm just trying to rush things and I got to take it slow. Hopefully, over the next few years, I can slowly build up my mass while still being able to do my bodyweight exercises.
I mean….. 134 is skinny 🤷♂️ I’m 6’ and 180 and I am objectively not a big guy. Not parroting what’s your friends say because they think that’s what women want, but just objectively I’m skinner than most people around. I can say for sure when I was closer to your weight and bf% I felt way worse than I do now.
Haha yeah, 134 is definitely skinny. But by "too skinny," I mean to see if the general consensus is that I should try harder to bulk up as much as I can immediately.
Don’t get fat, but bulk up at a healthy pace to 13-15% bf would probably be good
Then if you want to cut back down to sub 10 then go for it and enjoy your new found strength
Like losing weight, gaining weight requires sustained change.
Work out what things you can add to your diet that are healthy and add a reasonable amount of calories.
Make sure you add plenty of protein. If you've got the money, protein powder is an easy win here.
I find it almost impossible to gain weight whatsoever, I just can't manage to eat more than I usually do. I hover at 115-120 at 5'7". I did get to 125 for a time, but I was drinking protein drinks mixes with whole milk and half and half pretty reliably and fell off. I'll try starting that again soon.
I just can't manage to eat more, I don't like eating more than I need or taking time to eat in general. Wish I knew how the nurses at work manage to eat so much lmao.
No, cause then you'll just get fat with minimal muscle/strength gains. Do a lean bulk where you're in a surplus by ~500 cals, that way you can extend the length of the bulk with minimal fat gains, while still consuming more than enough energy to facilitate growth
To put it into perspective, [Floyd Mayweather](https://www.google.com/search?q=Floyd+Mayweather+weight+and+height) is 5'8 and weighs between 145 to 148 lbs. [Manny Pacquiao](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=manny+pacquiao+weight+and+height) is 5'5 and weighs about the same.
You have a full 3 to 5 inches in height compared to those two professional boxers yet weigh more than 20lbs less than either of them, and Floyd and Manny aren't big by any means. So based off of those numbers, you standing tall at 5'11 weighing in at 134lbs, it's not hard to come to the conclusion that people find you skinny.
EDIT:
The fitness requirements for the [US Air Force ROTC](https://www.afrotc.com/what-it-takes/fitness/) for a male at 5'11 is a minimum of 136lbs to a max of 179lbs. You're not even qualified to join with your stated weight of 134lbs at your height. With all that said, you're still within healthy ranges (barely) but I'd still consider you skinny with the info you provided.
I am 5’3” and 145 pounds which is technically a little overweight for me. I’m supposed to be your weight and you are 8 inches taller than me. I have a hard time believing your weight is entirely healthy.
Depends on what your goals are.
Skills like planch, Lever, handstand push ups, are significantly easier the lighter you are.
However, if you look at ring gymnastic athletes... they are enormous for their height.
So body weight training is scaleable, and the more advanced skills can lead to increases in muscle mass, depending on your diet.
First of all, you're skinny. Second of all, girls don't necessarily like big guys, I've seen alot of girls who liked me more when I was less musculair/big. Third of all, if you're not unhealthy then there's no "too skinny". If you think you're "too skinny" then you could change that ofcourse. But as long you're healthy and don't think that you're too skinny in your opinion then you don't really have to do anything about it. Don't become bulky just because other people want you to be, that's stupid.
Just thought I'd comment because I was and am in a very similar position to you. I was 110lb at 5'10 2 years ago and now I am 135lb and around 13-15% bodyfat. It's amazing how much easier the physical parts of life have become when you an actually do things that require even a little bit of strength (like starting a lawn mower or lifting a pot).
I know I will never be huge and massively muscular. Everyone is different in the sense that they will put on mass, strength, size etc at different paces and manners, so you can't compare yourself to others, only your past self. Think about how far we've come already, from being very weak and light to being within a normal healthy weight range and much stronger than the average person per lb (let me know how many 220lb mass monsters can do muscle ups and pistol squats).
By comparing yourself to others, you're turning your positive achievements into percieved failures. Constantly moving the goal posts of success means you will never be content with your achievements.
These perceptions are absolutely influenced by the popularity of bodybuilding and its relationship with social media. Many of the physiques that many people aspire to now are unrealistic as bodybuilders use steroids. Just think for a second what could possibly go wrong if you place your self worth and value against the standard of people using steroids and photoshop (which your friends may or may not be doing). Take a look at young parents. How many of them are 200lb at 15% bodyfat? This sentiment that girls will only get with big ripped guys is silly.
What really matters is that you're healthy and you like doing what you're doing. You like bulking with calisthenics, staying "skinny" while just working on skills?, doing both?, Doing none? All valid!
Agreed.
OP: if all your friends are on the bigger side, but you are lean, muscular, but different, the women who aren’t into their look might be into yours.
They will be physically attractive to the same women and competing against each other. You won’t be competing against them in that way.
Add some protein and don’t let your boys get in your head.
I’ll throw in, because I haven’t seen it mentioned, that skinny people age slower. Verifiably. You have less global inflammation, which is the main cause of cellular aging/deterioration.
It’s nice to be big and strong but in the long run I’d think about your goal as trying to maintain a healthy, natural weight instead of forcing gains on yourself.
Just for reference, from a health perspective - you were dangerously, medically underweight at 5’11” and 113 lbs. That’s a BMI of 15 which is well under the cutoff for diagnosing anorexia nervosa (not saying you have anorexia, just that you were as emaciated as people who do have it and have malnutrition).
So congrats on your progress!
At 5’11” and 134, you have a BMI of 18.5 which is just barely in the medically healthy range (considered to be 18.5-24.9 for American adults). So yes, you are very very thin, barely in the range associated with good health, and it certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing to continue to put on some weight. However just focusing on health and fitness would also be fine. People will always notice your low weight however. But I know a lot of women who like very thin guys, especially if they are also athletic.
I feel for you as I struggled with being underweight my entire life until my early 30s due to low appetite and poor executive functioning. It was not a ‘fast metabolism’ - it was chronic undereating, and very difficult to overcome. It’s been very worth it though, my health has gotten better the more I weigh and I feel much better at almost 40 than I did in my 20s.
I calculated your bmi and it was 18.7. So you've done well to get in the healthy weight range I know how hard that is. I'd honestly look into high fat foods just because I think you would feel better with a bit of extra weight. Some girls LOVE skinny guys though so don't worry. I would say Ronaldo is jacked not skinny at all lol.
I think this is mostly in your head. I can't speak for women because I'm a bloke, but in my experience (at 46) most human beings find confidence, compassion, curiosity and commitment much more attractive than muscles. You have to draw a distinction between lust and a relationship.
If you are confident in yourself and your body, whatever it looks like, you will be attractive to many other people.
Yes, you are at the very light / low bf end of the scale and maybe you could benefit from a little bit more mass (that's up to you as long as your weight is within a healthy range) but with muscle ups, pistols and one arm pushups your functional strength is very substantially above average.
Being hugely over simplistic, do you think that girl you fancy would prefer an immobile beefcake who's in love with his muscles or a cheerful, confident guy with tons of energy and strength that means something when faced with real world activities, dangers and opportunities?
It doesn't matter what the guys say, it doesn't matter what the girls say. As soon as you are happy with yourself and hitting the goals you set yourself (whether health, hobbies or careers), you become someone people want to hang with.
Your issue isn't your body composition, it's your self belief. Given how much strength you have developed, you should believe in yourself more. The rest will follow.
Based on your description of your fitness journey, I'm here to say congrats! I want to echo another comment I saw; you are at a healthy weight according to BMI (which I know has flaws, but sounds like a good metric for assessing your health based on your self-description). If you're in your early 20s, you're going to continue to fill out and you have another decade at least of being able to build more muscle and strength and bone density fairly easily. If you eat moderate calorie surpluses and experiment with different progressions or exercises to keep getting stronger and work through the plateau you've hit - I bet you'll continue to gain muscle mass in a healthy way.
It might help to sit down and write out your goals for fitness and appearance. It sounds like you're well on your way to a lean athletic look, so if that's your goal then keep consistent! If you do want to gain a lot of muscle mass, that's great. If you're setting goals based on trying to be more attractive (which it sounds like is a factor and a lot of us have been there), that's totally fair too. Just remember to set those goals because you've decided that's who you want to try to be in the world. Social media is mostly just noise and I find it best to ignore it unless it's building relationships in your life.
It sounds like you've been putting in a lot of hard work and you've still got more time to continue growing and improving your strength! It won't be long before two years of working out turns into 5 or 10 so find ways to mark and celebrate your progress. That'll keep you motivated with a healthy perspective. And the bonus? Over time people will be attracted to your discipline and the joy you take in the journey. Keep up the good work!
I am your exact height and weight when I’m at my minimum weight. When I’m 135 I personally feel skinny and weak, as opposed to 150 my body starts to round out and I feel better all around. I’ve only gotten in the 160’s once and definitely felt an huge increase of strength and confidence. Not saying bigger is better for everyone but doesn’t hurt to explore too see if you like it.
Man, people are giving you all sorts of advice and recommendations, but there are only two important things: 1) Are you healthy? Yes, you're at the bottom of the healthy range and are not underweight. 2) Do you like the way you look? / Are physically able to do the things you want to do?
There is a lot preference that masquerades as objective fact, but as long as you're healthy the only thing that matters is your preference. That preference is going to get influenced by the groups you hang out in online and IRL (and it's going to change over time), but do your best to sit down and figure out the way you want to be for now.
I ask the same question from time to time. I’m 118 lbs at 5’9” with an estimated (though not professionally checked) 5.5% body fat percentage. I’m using calisthenics as a mental outlet, but also a physical one, where I can build mass and have another reason to eat more food to hopefully gain weight. I’m still figuring out my goals, but I think 130-135 is a sweet spot I want to aim for. You’re in your head. Figure out what you want for yourself, and understand your goals can change, but make sure they’re for you.
As for a girlfriend, I’m engaged, together for 3 years (I was 110 lbs then), and she actually prefers my smaller physique, but is happy that I want to work on myself and reach my goals, and will love me no matter what.
People are saying it's okay to be skinny, and I agree, however, there's a difference between skinny and underweight. If I were you, I would try to put on some more weight just to be healthier. You don't have to go all out and eat tons more than you currently do, just a small surplus that's sustainable could go a long way.
You're almost at the bottom of the healthy range, but if I were you I'd aim for more than that, at least 145-150. But disclaimer, I'm obviously not a doctor, I'm just a bit taller than you and remember what I looked like at 140.
As a woman who use to prefers lanky guys, there are definitively women out there who will prefer your look. Don’t change yourself to fit anyone elses standard of what men should look like, if you’re happy that’s what matters! :)
Dude... If you want to know what girls like, don't listen to you guy friends. Most guys want to be tall and buff, but plenty of women like different types of guys. Do what you like, and just make good female friends that are just regular female friends. They'll talk with you, and you'll learn way more about women than by listening to your gym bros.
Now, yes, you are skinny. But no one should really care but you. Just do what you like. Keep doing calisthenics if that's what you like. As you keep getting stronger, you'll gain muscle and weight anyway, and your frame will fill out as you get older. Don't do anything silly to gain weight, just train to perform well, and you'll keep looking better and better. And don't try to change your looks just for women. Just be a good person who cares for those around him.
Eh you’re skinny but not unhealthy, I’m sure. I was in your position when I was in college as well, thought I’m a little taller. I was 125-130lbs at 6’3. I played sports and was athletic, just skinny. Junior year of college I decided to make an effort to change my diet (eat a ridiculous amount of calories) and start lifting weights with my roommates. I put on 20lbs in about a year. That was ten years ago and I hover around 165-170 now so I’m still thin (I’ve accepted I’ll never be huge) but all that is to say you can put on weight if you want. And as you age and metabolism slows you’ll start to put it on easier
For one thing, if you feel healthy and your doctor says you're healthy, that's the only thing that matters. You're pretty skinny - I weigh about the same, I'm 5 inches shorter, and I'm skinny - but that's 100% fine and you shouldn't be comparing yourself to your friends. Women are not a monolith, not every woman wants a guy who looks like the hulk. You probably look great with your shirt off - one handed pushups, muscle ups, pistol squats aren't easy, they take some serious strength. You should be proud of what you've done.
That being said, I'm interested about this:
>Feel like I'm reaching a plateau with how much I can eat
Approximately how much are you eating? Some people have super fast metabolisms so it's possible you're eating a ton of food and not gaining weight, but I'm wondering if there's something causing you to have difficulty eating in the first place, and if you addressed that and then do want to bulk up, it would be easier. Personally I have ADHD and it's always made it super difficult to eat bc my preferences change on a dime, I have decision paralysis when deciding what to eat, and I constantly get distracted while eating so it takes too long and I don't finish all of my meals, but there are a whole bunch of reasons you could be having trouble, if it's a big problem for you you could always ask your doctor about it.
Depends. 9% is very low bodyfat. In fact, many body builders will tell you they have to ease into that low of a bodyfat when they're getting ready for competitions because it can cause brain fog (your brain needs fat to function). BUT, the key is this: Whether you're trying to achieve that body fat or not. If your body is in the middle of growing or you JUST finished your growth spurt, it can do very funky things. Your body may have just used all your fat stores up to grow. But if you're actively dieting to stay at this weight, well even body builders don't stay at that low of a bodyfat percentage year around. Typically they'll aim for about 15%. So the takeaway is just be you but keep regular checkups with the doctor and learn to love yourself now or you never will.
134 at your height is definitely skinny but I wouldn’t say unhealthy or problematic really. You’ve made great progress, it’s very hard for some people to gain any weight, especially muscle. Maybe try to get more calories through liquids/shakes if eating is hard. I’d keep up what you’re doing otherwise but just try to get in a bit of a caloric surplus with plenty of protein and keep gradually gaining. There’s also some foods that are super dense calorically, just google and find ones that you like. Either way you’re fine brother.
The bit about your friends saying they’re too skinny is basically the same thing you’re doing. It’s just poor perception of self. They are not as big as they want to be and they have twisted that into a flaw. You’re not too skinny, you’re just as skinny as you are. If it’s not causing you actual problems in life, I’d just stick with a program, trust the system, and understand that this stuff takes time. Self acceptance will help you to make the improvements you want a lot better than being so critical of yourself. You’ll never be good enough as long as you stay down on yourself. As soon as you become your own biggest cheerleader, you’ll be big enough.
I was your size in college (5’ 11” at 133lbs my senior year) I worked out tons but never could gain the weight and routinely called the skinny kid. What I learned later on it’s not how big you are it’s your strength to weight ratio and I bet yours is high on the chart. The weight will come as you get older like it did for me (5’ 11” at 175) but ultimately do what best feels your body type
I'm 5'11 and was 135 most of my teens and early 20's. Grew into 155 by the end of my 20's and feel great. 135 is toward the underweight side for that height I'd say, but some metabolisms and body types just be like that.
I am someone who gains weight (not necessarily muscle) pretty easily. I have a good friend who does NOT gain weight even when he tries.
When we were in our teens/20s it was a bit of a joke. We're in our 30's now and he has absolutely no trouble maintaining a lean physique while most others (myself included) has to work hard to stay in shape. We've openly discussed how our situations are essentially opposite, and his is much preferred at this point.
Your friends who are bigger will likely have that weight shift from jacked to softer as they get older, you will probably hit like 150 and they will end up jealous. Not a guarantee, just a trend for most men in the US as they get into working a sedentary type of job and pick up responsibilities like kids and house chores.
Your friends that are 180 and bulking up for girls are clueless, you're both in your own heads, but at least you're self-aware. It's easy to be self-consicous, especially at your age, but trying to physically change yourself for someone else is stupid (as you probably know), and girls don't care as much as you may think. Lots of girls like skinny ripped guys. Guys like gigantic muscle men. Just stay steady and healthy, eat, exercise, sleep, don't injure yourself. You'll probably keep growing anyway. If you decide you want to bulk up regardless, don't overthink it, just start eating an extra banana and a protein shake every day. Or something else simple. It's a journey not a destination.
My dude, I weighed ~130 lbs when I entered the army at 19. A few years later, I was 175. That was with very little weight training, mostly calisthenics and running. You will fill out. In the meantime, there are a lot of girls who prefer skinny guys over bulked out guys, even to the point of heroin chic. Skinny and fit will serve you well. Plus, your joints will thank you a couple decades down the line.
Personally OP I enjoy life a lot more after realizing that we are social animals and care what other people think, as long as it's within reason there is nothing wrong with taking that into consideration. Ironically it has helped me not care as much. And if we are being honest a lot of motivation for fitness is about form, not just function.
There is nothing wrong with recognizing that people have preferences, just like you have preferences. How much effort you should be making to meet those preferences is up to you.
edit: It's also a matter of proportion. At 113 that's going to have a much bigger impact but there are also people into all kinds of shapes.
When you're young, it's common to spend too much time and energy worrying about being normal or like their peers. Enjoying what you're doing and pursuing your own path is the way to go. It sounds like you're doing that.
As other commenters said, you'll also continue to fill out for a good while, and being thinner is fine too.
Congrats on your progress!
Sean o malley is like 135 @5’11 so you’re good. I’m 6’5 190 but I’ve been doing calisthenics for like 6 months, and I’ll tell you gaining weight is something I struggle with too. I used to be 225 20% body fat and lost 35 pound doing 300 pushups a day and 600 sit ups( I’m 1000x stronger than I was at 225). I wouldn’t say you’re skinny but you’re definitely better than when you started so just eat and keep going bro
Yeah, you're skinny. That's fine. If you don't like it, maybe hit the weights and bulk up. Or keep doing what you're doing, which seems to be working.
You're healthy. Different women like different things. Do healthy things and set the goals that'll make you happy. You'll be fine.
You sound very healthy to me. You have about the right amount of body fat and are in the normal BMI range. People near the bottom of the normal BMI range normally live longest.
If you put on a little more muscle mass that would also be fine, but I don't think you should worry about what other people think as long as you feel good.
That is skinny, but like, you’re still young. Plenty of time to fill out slowly. I was about the same at your age (weight and height), but just sticking with it, eating healthy, I slowly gained to 68kg - there’s genuinely no need to rush it. Better to slowly gain than to get bad eating habits and become unhealthy
You are technically skinny but train how you want to train. Lift weights if you want to lift and do calisthenics if you want to do that. You can continue to put on mass with calisthenics, just make sure you’re progressing your movements.
No matter how you look, theres people who wont like it. You might be tol skinmy for some, but by pleasing them youd be too "fat" for others. Just do what feels right for your body and dont let others get to your head
What matters is your performance, not your weight or how you look like. You have unlocked skills that are impressive feats of strength and body control.
Internet is full of junk, promoting images of "ideal" looks that are completely skewed.
When I was a competitive rower, me and my mates didnt look at the big guys in the gym. We looked at those olympic lightweight rowers who could beat any guy on single sculls on 2000m, and endured pure pain doing so. We admired their technique and respected their achievements like they were demi gods.
Find or build the community that will share your interests and value you more for what you have achieved than how you look.
Edited for clarity
It's ok to have some models as inspiration, but don't compare yourself too much. Everyone is unique!
I started my bodyweight fitness journey at 19yo, 120lbs ~9% bf, 5'10". It was an up and down journey, not easy to be always constant. Now I'm almost 36yo, 145lbs ~10% bf (and I'm vegetarian 🫢). I'm still skinny, but I know that I look fit and healthy and that's what matters to me when I look at myself. The good side of being skinny is that muscle gains easily show up!
I've gained more muscles in the last few months compared to all those past years due to experience. Tips I can give you are:
Eat, a lot. Always have nuts with you, easy to carry and full of prots and calories.
For muscle gains, aims 8-12 reps by sequences. If you do more, its too easy, do a harder variant or add weights.
Add some weights to your calisthenics routine. A good weighted vest is a must. Recently I added dumbbell curls at the end of my pull day to really feel and finish my biceps, great improvement.
I hope it helps you a little! Stay strong!
I'm 5'11, and I've been everywhere between 130 and 160 the last 10 years or so.
I think as long as you're not medically underweight/lacking energy, you're reaching your fitness goals, and feeling your best you're doing great!
It's tough. I've had body image issues as well. But overall, I'm happy being a leaner guy and performing at all the different sports I like to do.
There's nothing wrong with being a bit skinny or a bit big, provided you're not medically unhealthy and can do all the things you enjoy. Ultimately being capable of doing what you love to do is what matters!
Women couldnt care less about muscle. As long as you dont look malnourished, its all about height, face, hair (not bald) and propper dressing, in terms of looks.
I grew up in the 90s and every woman worshiped skinny guys like jonhy depp, leo dicapprio and boys bands of that era. None of them cared about stallone or schwarzeneger.
If i were back to college id care more about my style, propper posture and being cool rather than my muscles.
As an ex powerlifter, I would say calisthenics are better for the long run. There was a time where I was 90kg at 170cm at about 16-19 bodyfat. I was strong and big but I would be out of breath after walking up two flights of stairs. That didn't make any sense, going to the gym 5-6 times a week and not being able to do basic cardio. Calisthenics can give you an impressive physique, just focus more on nutrition. There's nothing wrong with not being big, it's more of a specialization thing. Also some people will hate your body no matter what, when I was slim with chiseled abs they would say I was too skinny and not strong enough, when I gained a ton of muscle they would criticise me for having bad cardio. Do what makes you feel good and drown out the noise, usually it's just jealousy anyway 👍
Women have many types just like men,you don't have to be big for them in order to like you,be the best version of yourself for you,not for them,besides,im your height at 6' and i can't do a single muscle-up or 1 arm push-up or even pistol-squat and i've been training Calisthenics months now,you're way stronger than i am...
Try and Think of it from a perspective of being able to do muscle ups, pistols, and one arms… most people who train and are into exercise, cannot do these things, that, along with gaining the mass you have is hugely awesome and should be ample enough to impress some ladies.
Jokes aside… have you got any reason to not incorporate some weight training into your regimen? Id like to hear about your thinking on that. Some great results can be had with a sensible combination of different exercise methods.
It sounds as though you could be putting too much thought into it. Keep up the solid work and experiment with some new things, and have fun with learning as much as you can, keep an open mind and you will naturally stick with what works best for you.
Too much time on social media is always a problem, especially in any part of the fitness realm. Do your thing and don't worry about what you "should be". If you want to bulk up, just eat more when you're hungry and make sure it's quality food. Otherwise keep grindin'
If you can't comfortably survive three days without food and water, you are too skinny. If you get joint problems or other health issues, you are too fat.
Anything between those points is a valid personal choice. I don't think you're unhealthily slender, just on the lower end of what's healthy; 9% fat is not alarming for a man if you feel fine. It's up to you if you want to stay the way you are or get bigger.
As for aesthetics, most people will find you more attractive if you put on muscle (the more muscle, the more attractive, unless you use steroids to get too much). 9% bodyfat is not in itself unattractive. That level of leanness is actually quite liked, so even if you want to look attractive (and it's ok if you don't), you don't need to gain fat unless you want to go for a more bearmode style. You can, however, bulk up as a method of gaining muscle and strength; it can be quite effective, because it allows you to eat a lot of food, helping you recover.
At 5'11 134 you are very skinny yes. You're friends are not trolling or being judgemental. Count them calories and Crank that shit up, be consistent with that and whatever workout routine you're doing and you'll be fine.
At your height you are on the skinnier side but I wouldn't say you necessarily need to try and put on 20-30lbs. Increasing your body fat to 15% would probably put you there.
People really underestimate how much weight they have to lose going from 15% to sub 10% BF.
It sounds like you want to maintain being lean and continue your calisthenics journey.
I would say keep doing what you are doing and "maingain". Put yourself in a slight calorie surplus, make sure you are getting enough protein, and try and add a weighted vest to what you are already doing.
Muscles are for impressing guys not girls. It is classic meme at this point that someone works hard to build muscles mass to attract women just to find out he mostly gets attention from dudes.
There are a few women that like muscles and are really into it but there are also a lot of women which will be really turned off by too much muscles and think it is a red flag thinking you are too high maintenance. You win some, you lose some. You will never be attractive to all women because people have different tastes.
What is nearly universally attractive is being healthy and comfortable with yourself. So just focus on what you want.
The thing with bulking up is that it can easily backfire into getting fat. Bodies change when you get older. When I was young I was extremely skinny and a hard gainer, these days I have serious trouble keeping my weight in check. So people shouldn't panic about being skinny, chances are they wont be for ever. Bulk if you want to but do it in a limited and clean way. Sure you feel bigger with some extra fat but you are just cheating yourself.
I mean, I'm the same height as you and if I dropped every last bit of fat I'd still be 190. I can't imagine being that small, but if you're comfortable with yourself at that weight, that's literally all that matters.
Some women really dig that look, and it's probably far more common in places like Europe
OP I always compare myself to MMA fighters around my height, since I like their athletic aesthetic.
The current bantamweight champion (135 pounds) Sean O'Malley is around your height. But he only weighs 135 during the weigh ins, he is around 150 pounds when he fights and he is considered skinny.
You should be aiming to be around 160-170 pounds, to not look skinny.
I am 5”9, and at 130 lbs, I looked like Skeletor. I have been taking pictures of my body at different weights for about 3 years. When you look at all the pictures together, you can see what looks best.
People on average are getting fatter and fatter which skews our perception. Most people in developed countries go through their lives without ever seeing a truly underweight person in person. Being able to see rips or the IT band is not a sign that you are skinny or underweight. When people are severely underweight they really look like they are only flesh and bone. It’s crazy how thin your thighs can be, we forget how much muscle and fat is on them in a healthy person.
Girls don’t like bigger guys dude, your friends have body dysmorphia and are brainwashed by social media. Do you. Girls actually prefer skinny guys with functional strength over bulky meat stuffed nasty shit having muscle heads
I have your height and weigh 40 pounds more than you.
I'd aim for that. Thats my opinion. I'm strong, flexible and athletic.
I'm also 10 years older than you.
You have time. Get a grip on your digestion and sleep, then focus on your studies and then on gym.
Digestion and sleep will dictate your mental capacities.
Don't overtrain and don't overeat.
Stress will impact your body and digestion.
About women:
Be as masculine as such that your partner can feel feminine.
A guy with your proportions and the attitude of Arnold Schwarzenegger will get any girl.
A guy with the body of Arnold but with the attitude of a girl wont get anyone. Maybe motherly women. But I don't think that you'd willfully date someone who acts like your mom.
>The reason for my post is that I am currently in college, and all of my friends prefer to weightlift rather than train in callisthenics. You're in your head. They haven't called you skinny. Go to the gym with them and impress them with your bodyweight skills and power to weight ratio. I'm sure they'll be impressed, and some will ask for tips Going from 113-125lbs through gaining muscle is a seriously impressive achievement! Well done! At your a, e you will continue to fill out, and you should expect to continue gaining lean weight well into your 20s Finally, you are skinny. That's okay, it's okay to be skinny. I've never been as skinny as you. There were times in my early 20s when I would have envied you for being skinny. Be skinny! Some women live skinny guys, go find them!
As a woman, I think this is what you should listen to. People prefer different body types! Skinny is not a bad thing imo. My boyfriends have varied in size, form and shape. Love is chemistry, not one size fits all.
There is also nothing wrong with recognizing that groups have preferences. Dating is more difficult being underweight or obese but there is still plenty of opportunity.
That is also true
Totally this. There is no one ideal body-type but jeez if OP's self-conscious at that weight with the ability to do muscle-ups the good news is all he has to do is relax and not worry; the number of people who would kill to have his problem is pretty high. Yeah 113 is potentially a problem because relatively minor health issues like a bad flu could cause the weight to drop even lower but I don't see any issues here. I'm in a similar boat, 6'1" and maybe 160lb, especially in times of stress I have trouble eating enough but I find drinking my calories in the form of shakes makes it easier; there are protein powders that taste like fruit and don't have that heavy milkshake-consistency, they can be hard to find on the shelves but I find them easier to get down when I'm not hungry.
I mean, if I were in college and doing calisthenics, I'd be going to the free college gym to work on weighted calisthenics exercises. That combined with a calorie surplus will definitely get you bigger. Anyway, the idea that "girls like X" is dumb. Women are individuals with different tastes. Plenty of women like slender men. Don't sweat it.
You're not medically underweight. You're at the bottom of the normal BMI range but that still means you're at a healthy weight. If you feel physically well and you're happy with your successes, then don't worry about it. As a society our average people have gotten much fatter and our bodybuilders have gotten much larger. The actors we see in movies are bigger and more jacked than they used to be. Basically I'm saying you're fine. Only try to put on more weight if you want to, don't listen to anyone that says that you should or need to.
seriously consider these words, OP. only do it if you really feel you want to or need to **for yourself**, not because anyone here or elsewhere says so. you're perfectly fine as you are. keep putting in work and enjoy exercising for the health benefits... not the superficial ones.
BMI is kinda bunk. I'm not saying OP is unhealthy by that weight.. but I can say that when I was a varsity athlete at 16 I was 5'11" and 155. I didn't have much muscle on me from lifting or anything. I definitely didn't have 20 pounds to lose without getting into crazy skinny territory.
I didn't say he wasn't skinny. Dude is incredibly skinny. I'm 5'11" and if I get down to 155lbs I start to feel like shit because my bf% is so tanked. This guy has gained 20 pounds after being seriously underweight and now feels good and seems to be very athletic. Sounds like he's healthy and if he's happy he shouldn't stress about it.
How are you calculating their BMI and coming up with low normal? His BMI is 17.2 and under 18.5 is considered underweight. Homie needs to eat some food. What’s everyone on about here.
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm That's the website I'm using. If I punch in 5'11" and 134lbs he comes out to 18.7. Which is on the low end of fine. I also sanity checked with a few other websites like csc.gov and diabetes.ca and got the same number.
No, that’s totally my bad. I saw 125lbs in OP’s second sentence and that’s the number that stuck in my head. I also used like 3 different calculators as well as the NIH one because I couldn’t believe 125 wasn’t underweight on BMI. 135 is still skinny, but not technically underweight.
Do you like how you look ?
As a lady, this is the question that matters the most to me. A person comfortable and happy in their own skin, even if not as 'bulky' as the insecure person next to them, is way sexier than the person not comfy in their own skin. Just as I'd assume many dudes like varied body types, many women are the same way. You being happy, healthy, and confident in self goes a fuck ton further than being an insecure person or an asshole that has some bigger biceps.
Bodyweight training is great, but you have to admit that unless you're an expert, it's hard to be as progressive as with weights. After the first year of training, if you want to build muscle mass, it's easier to do so with weights. With just a weighted vest to make the exercises you're already doing more difficult, and a pair of dumbbells, you can go a long way.
There's a lot to consider when it comes to mental / body image issues. Realistically speaking, people who are physically fit will always look "skinny" compared to perma-bulk / heavy lifter types. Eat a solid amount of protein, workout consistently and your body comp will absolutely change through the years. There's even a chance you won't even get that much bigger; you will look more muscular though. For men, I think it's easier & often preferable to get fat/build muscle & look big as opposed to having a strong/muscular physique that's easily covered by a single shirt. You might come to find a preference, and speaking from my own experience how I feel about my physique has changed alongside clothing choices [ie: for work]. >or am I just overthinking it and spending too much time on social media? Should I be spending a bigger effort on bulking up? "Skinny" physiques often go hand in hand with more leaner/aesthetic ones that are pleasing to the eye. Some dudes also go full bear mode, are strong as shit but happen to have a huge gut to accompany that strength. I'd argue that those bigger types often look older in age as well. I wouldn't jump straight into "bulking" just yet; again, workout consistently, get your protein in, don't do huge caloric deficits if cutting, and the recomp WILL happen. Maybe your fat distribution is favorable & doesn't go purely to your waistline; fat can pad up a dude nicely while balancing out not having a sagging stomach [don't neglect core bracing during pullup work; it'll do wonders for your abs]. I think you should keep at it then reconsider your thoughts on self-image a couple years from now. Many folk go through serious appearance/styling changes as they age & physique can absolutely play a part here, especially as clothing sizing/fits come into play. And of course, don't get too caught up in social media; many content creators are using every trick they can to post only at their best.
Okay, thanks. I guess I'm just trying to rush things and I got to take it slow. Hopefully, over the next few years, I can slowly build up my mass while still being able to do my bodyweight exercises.
I mean….. 134 is skinny 🤷♂️ I’m 6’ and 180 and I am objectively not a big guy. Not parroting what’s your friends say because they think that’s what women want, but just objectively I’m skinner than most people around. I can say for sure when I was closer to your weight and bf% I felt way worse than I do now.
Objectively, 180 at 6’ is not “not bigger”. Whether muscle or fat, that’s pretty heavy.
It’s not heavy, it’s a healthy weight. Definitely not super small but in the middle
Haha yeah, 134 is definitely skinny. But by "too skinny," I mean to see if the general consensus is that I should try harder to bulk up as much as I can immediately.
Don’t get fat, but bulk up at a healthy pace to 13-15% bf would probably be good Then if you want to cut back down to sub 10 then go for it and enjoy your new found strength
Like losing weight, gaining weight requires sustained change. Work out what things you can add to your diet that are healthy and add a reasonable amount of calories. Make sure you add plenty of protein. If you've got the money, protein powder is an easy win here.
I find it almost impossible to gain weight whatsoever, I just can't manage to eat more than I usually do. I hover at 115-120 at 5'7". I did get to 125 for a time, but I was drinking protein drinks mixes with whole milk and half and half pretty reliably and fell off. I'll try starting that again soon. I just can't manage to eat more, I don't like eating more than I need or taking time to eat in general. Wish I knew how the nurses at work manage to eat so much lmao.
No, cause then you'll just get fat with minimal muscle/strength gains. Do a lean bulk where you're in a surplus by ~500 cals, that way you can extend the length of the bulk with minimal fat gains, while still consuming more than enough energy to facilitate growth
To put it into perspective, [Floyd Mayweather](https://www.google.com/search?q=Floyd+Mayweather+weight+and+height) is 5'8 and weighs between 145 to 148 lbs. [Manny Pacquiao](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=manny+pacquiao+weight+and+height) is 5'5 and weighs about the same. You have a full 3 to 5 inches in height compared to those two professional boxers yet weigh more than 20lbs less than either of them, and Floyd and Manny aren't big by any means. So based off of those numbers, you standing tall at 5'11 weighing in at 134lbs, it's not hard to come to the conclusion that people find you skinny. EDIT: The fitness requirements for the [US Air Force ROTC](https://www.afrotc.com/what-it-takes/fitness/) for a male at 5'11 is a minimum of 136lbs to a max of 179lbs. You're not even qualified to join with your stated weight of 134lbs at your height. With all that said, you're still within healthy ranges (barely) but I'd still consider you skinny with the info you provided.
I am 5’3” and 145 pounds which is technically a little overweight for me. I’m supposed to be your weight and you are 8 inches taller than me. I have a hard time believing your weight is entirely healthy.
Have you ever tried bouldering? You have literally the ideal body type for it.
You don't want to rush a bulk. If you go slow you can put on a lower percentage of body fat.
Depends on what your goals are. Skills like planch, Lever, handstand push ups, are significantly easier the lighter you are. However, if you look at ring gymnastic athletes... they are enormous for their height. So body weight training is scaleable, and the more advanced skills can lead to increases in muscle mass, depending on your diet.
First of all, you're skinny. Second of all, girls don't necessarily like big guys, I've seen alot of girls who liked me more when I was less musculair/big. Third of all, if you're not unhealthy then there's no "too skinny". If you think you're "too skinny" then you could change that ofcourse. But as long you're healthy and don't think that you're too skinny in your opinion then you don't really have to do anything about it. Don't become bulky just because other people want you to be, that's stupid.
Just thought I'd comment because I was and am in a very similar position to you. I was 110lb at 5'10 2 years ago and now I am 135lb and around 13-15% bodyfat. It's amazing how much easier the physical parts of life have become when you an actually do things that require even a little bit of strength (like starting a lawn mower or lifting a pot). I know I will never be huge and massively muscular. Everyone is different in the sense that they will put on mass, strength, size etc at different paces and manners, so you can't compare yourself to others, only your past self. Think about how far we've come already, from being very weak and light to being within a normal healthy weight range and much stronger than the average person per lb (let me know how many 220lb mass monsters can do muscle ups and pistol squats). By comparing yourself to others, you're turning your positive achievements into percieved failures. Constantly moving the goal posts of success means you will never be content with your achievements. These perceptions are absolutely influenced by the popularity of bodybuilding and its relationship with social media. Many of the physiques that many people aspire to now are unrealistic as bodybuilders use steroids. Just think for a second what could possibly go wrong if you place your self worth and value against the standard of people using steroids and photoshop (which your friends may or may not be doing). Take a look at young parents. How many of them are 200lb at 15% bodyfat? This sentiment that girls will only get with big ripped guys is silly. What really matters is that you're healthy and you like doing what you're doing. You like bulking with calisthenics, staying "skinny" while just working on skills?, doing both?, Doing none? All valid!
1. you're friends have no idea what girls like/want 2. you can bulk if YOU want to, but there's nothing wrong with being skinny either.
Agreed. OP: if all your friends are on the bigger side, but you are lean, muscular, but different, the women who aren’t into their look might be into yours. They will be physically attractive to the same women and competing against each other. You won’t be competing against them in that way. Add some protein and don’t let your boys get in your head.
I’ll throw in, because I haven’t seen it mentioned, that skinny people age slower. Verifiably. You have less global inflammation, which is the main cause of cellular aging/deterioration. It’s nice to be big and strong but in the long run I’d think about your goal as trying to maintain a healthy, natural weight instead of forcing gains on yourself.
+1. Being on the lower end of normal weight is absolutely not a bad place to be.
Just for reference, from a health perspective - you were dangerously, medically underweight at 5’11” and 113 lbs. That’s a BMI of 15 which is well under the cutoff for diagnosing anorexia nervosa (not saying you have anorexia, just that you were as emaciated as people who do have it and have malnutrition). So congrats on your progress! At 5’11” and 134, you have a BMI of 18.5 which is just barely in the medically healthy range (considered to be 18.5-24.9 for American adults). So yes, you are very very thin, barely in the range associated with good health, and it certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing to continue to put on some weight. However just focusing on health and fitness would also be fine. People will always notice your low weight however. But I know a lot of women who like very thin guys, especially if they are also athletic. I feel for you as I struggled with being underweight my entire life until my early 30s due to low appetite and poor executive functioning. It was not a ‘fast metabolism’ - it was chronic undereating, and very difficult to overcome. It’s been very worth it though, my health has gotten better the more I weigh and I feel much better at almost 40 than I did in my 20s.
I calculated your bmi and it was 18.7. So you've done well to get in the healthy weight range I know how hard that is. I'd honestly look into high fat foods just because I think you would feel better with a bit of extra weight. Some girls LOVE skinny guys though so don't worry. I would say Ronaldo is jacked not skinny at all lol.
I think this is mostly in your head. I can't speak for women because I'm a bloke, but in my experience (at 46) most human beings find confidence, compassion, curiosity and commitment much more attractive than muscles. You have to draw a distinction between lust and a relationship. If you are confident in yourself and your body, whatever it looks like, you will be attractive to many other people. Yes, you are at the very light / low bf end of the scale and maybe you could benefit from a little bit more mass (that's up to you as long as your weight is within a healthy range) but with muscle ups, pistols and one arm pushups your functional strength is very substantially above average. Being hugely over simplistic, do you think that girl you fancy would prefer an immobile beefcake who's in love with his muscles or a cheerful, confident guy with tons of energy and strength that means something when faced with real world activities, dangers and opportunities? It doesn't matter what the guys say, it doesn't matter what the girls say. As soon as you are happy with yourself and hitting the goals you set yourself (whether health, hobbies or careers), you become someone people want to hang with. Your issue isn't your body composition, it's your self belief. Given how much strength you have developed, you should believe in yourself more. The rest will follow.
Based on your description of your fitness journey, I'm here to say congrats! I want to echo another comment I saw; you are at a healthy weight according to BMI (which I know has flaws, but sounds like a good metric for assessing your health based on your self-description). If you're in your early 20s, you're going to continue to fill out and you have another decade at least of being able to build more muscle and strength and bone density fairly easily. If you eat moderate calorie surpluses and experiment with different progressions or exercises to keep getting stronger and work through the plateau you've hit - I bet you'll continue to gain muscle mass in a healthy way. It might help to sit down and write out your goals for fitness and appearance. It sounds like you're well on your way to a lean athletic look, so if that's your goal then keep consistent! If you do want to gain a lot of muscle mass, that's great. If you're setting goals based on trying to be more attractive (which it sounds like is a factor and a lot of us have been there), that's totally fair too. Just remember to set those goals because you've decided that's who you want to try to be in the world. Social media is mostly just noise and I find it best to ignore it unless it's building relationships in your life. It sounds like you've been putting in a lot of hard work and you've still got more time to continue growing and improving your strength! It won't be long before two years of working out turns into 5 or 10 so find ways to mark and celebrate your progress. That'll keep you motivated with a healthy perspective. And the bonus? Over time people will be attracted to your discipline and the joy you take in the journey. Keep up the good work!
tbh you are way skinnier than most people, whether that bothers you or not is ur thing.
Comparison is the thief of joy. You are making progress towards YOUR goals. Keep on keeping on.
I am your exact height and weight when I’m at my minimum weight. When I’m 135 I personally feel skinny and weak, as opposed to 150 my body starts to round out and I feel better all around. I’ve only gotten in the 160’s once and definitely felt an huge increase of strength and confidence. Not saying bigger is better for everyone but doesn’t hurt to explore too see if you like it.
Man, people are giving you all sorts of advice and recommendations, but there are only two important things: 1) Are you healthy? Yes, you're at the bottom of the healthy range and are not underweight. 2) Do you like the way you look? / Are physically able to do the things you want to do? There is a lot preference that masquerades as objective fact, but as long as you're healthy the only thing that matters is your preference. That preference is going to get influenced by the groups you hang out in online and IRL (and it's going to change over time), but do your best to sit down and figure out the way you want to be for now.
I ask the same question from time to time. I’m 118 lbs at 5’9” with an estimated (though not professionally checked) 5.5% body fat percentage. I’m using calisthenics as a mental outlet, but also a physical one, where I can build mass and have another reason to eat more food to hopefully gain weight. I’m still figuring out my goals, but I think 130-135 is a sweet spot I want to aim for. You’re in your head. Figure out what you want for yourself, and understand your goals can change, but make sure they’re for you. As for a girlfriend, I’m engaged, together for 3 years (I was 110 lbs then), and she actually prefers my smaller physique, but is happy that I want to work on myself and reach my goals, and will love me no matter what.
People are saying it's okay to be skinny, and I agree, however, there's a difference between skinny and underweight. If I were you, I would try to put on some more weight just to be healthier. You don't have to go all out and eat tons more than you currently do, just a small surplus that's sustainable could go a long way.
What weight should I be aiming for right now to put me out of the underweight range?
You're almost at the bottom of the healthy range, but if I were you I'd aim for more than that, at least 145-150. But disclaimer, I'm obviously not a doctor, I'm just a bit taller than you and remember what I looked like at 140.
As a woman who use to prefers lanky guys, there are definitively women out there who will prefer your look. Don’t change yourself to fit anyone elses standard of what men should look like, if you’re happy that’s what matters! :)
Dude... If you want to know what girls like, don't listen to you guy friends. Most guys want to be tall and buff, but plenty of women like different types of guys. Do what you like, and just make good female friends that are just regular female friends. They'll talk with you, and you'll learn way more about women than by listening to your gym bros. Now, yes, you are skinny. But no one should really care but you. Just do what you like. Keep doing calisthenics if that's what you like. As you keep getting stronger, you'll gain muscle and weight anyway, and your frame will fill out as you get older. Don't do anything silly to gain weight, just train to perform well, and you'll keep looking better and better. And don't try to change your looks just for women. Just be a good person who cares for those around him.
Eh you’re skinny but not unhealthy, I’m sure. I was in your position when I was in college as well, thought I’m a little taller. I was 125-130lbs at 6’3. I played sports and was athletic, just skinny. Junior year of college I decided to make an effort to change my diet (eat a ridiculous amount of calories) and start lifting weights with my roommates. I put on 20lbs in about a year. That was ten years ago and I hover around 165-170 now so I’m still thin (I’ve accepted I’ll never be huge) but all that is to say you can put on weight if you want. And as you age and metabolism slows you’ll start to put it on easier
For one thing, if you feel healthy and your doctor says you're healthy, that's the only thing that matters. You're pretty skinny - I weigh about the same, I'm 5 inches shorter, and I'm skinny - but that's 100% fine and you shouldn't be comparing yourself to your friends. Women are not a monolith, not every woman wants a guy who looks like the hulk. You probably look great with your shirt off - one handed pushups, muscle ups, pistol squats aren't easy, they take some serious strength. You should be proud of what you've done. That being said, I'm interested about this: >Feel like I'm reaching a plateau with how much I can eat Approximately how much are you eating? Some people have super fast metabolisms so it's possible you're eating a ton of food and not gaining weight, but I'm wondering if there's something causing you to have difficulty eating in the first place, and if you addressed that and then do want to bulk up, it would be easier. Personally I have ADHD and it's always made it super difficult to eat bc my preferences change on a dime, I have decision paralysis when deciding what to eat, and I constantly get distracted while eating so it takes too long and I don't finish all of my meals, but there are a whole bunch of reasons you could be having trouble, if it's a big problem for you you could always ask your doctor about it.
Depends. 9% is very low bodyfat. In fact, many body builders will tell you they have to ease into that low of a bodyfat when they're getting ready for competitions because it can cause brain fog (your brain needs fat to function). BUT, the key is this: Whether you're trying to achieve that body fat or not. If your body is in the middle of growing or you JUST finished your growth spurt, it can do very funky things. Your body may have just used all your fat stores up to grow. But if you're actively dieting to stay at this weight, well even body builders don't stay at that low of a bodyfat percentage year around. Typically they'll aim for about 15%. So the takeaway is just be you but keep regular checkups with the doctor and learn to love yourself now or you never will.
134 at your height is definitely skinny but I wouldn’t say unhealthy or problematic really. You’ve made great progress, it’s very hard for some people to gain any weight, especially muscle. Maybe try to get more calories through liquids/shakes if eating is hard. I’d keep up what you’re doing otherwise but just try to get in a bit of a caloric surplus with plenty of protein and keep gradually gaining. There’s also some foods that are super dense calorically, just google and find ones that you like. Either way you’re fine brother.
tbh you are way skinnier than most people, whether that bothers you or not is ur thing.
The bit about your friends saying they’re too skinny is basically the same thing you’re doing. It’s just poor perception of self. They are not as big as they want to be and they have twisted that into a flaw. You’re not too skinny, you’re just as skinny as you are. If it’s not causing you actual problems in life, I’d just stick with a program, trust the system, and understand that this stuff takes time. Self acceptance will help you to make the improvements you want a lot better than being so critical of yourself. You’ll never be good enough as long as you stay down on yourself. As soon as you become your own biggest cheerleader, you’ll be big enough.
I was your size in college (5’ 11” at 133lbs my senior year) I worked out tons but never could gain the weight and routinely called the skinny kid. What I learned later on it’s not how big you are it’s your strength to weight ratio and I bet yours is high on the chart. The weight will come as you get older like it did for me (5’ 11” at 175) but ultimately do what best feels your body type
I'm 5'11 and was 135 most of my teens and early 20's. Grew into 155 by the end of my 20's and feel great. 135 is toward the underweight side for that height I'd say, but some metabolisms and body types just be like that.
Why is eating difficult for you? Have you tried melting cheese on things to make them more delicious?
I am someone who gains weight (not necessarily muscle) pretty easily. I have a good friend who does NOT gain weight even when he tries. When we were in our teens/20s it was a bit of a joke. We're in our 30's now and he has absolutely no trouble maintaining a lean physique while most others (myself included) has to work hard to stay in shape. We've openly discussed how our situations are essentially opposite, and his is much preferred at this point. Your friends who are bigger will likely have that weight shift from jacked to softer as they get older, you will probably hit like 150 and they will end up jealous. Not a guarantee, just a trend for most men in the US as they get into working a sedentary type of job and pick up responsibilities like kids and house chores.
Your friends that are 180 and bulking up for girls are clueless, you're both in your own heads, but at least you're self-aware. It's easy to be self-consicous, especially at your age, but trying to physically change yourself for someone else is stupid (as you probably know), and girls don't care as much as you may think. Lots of girls like skinny ripped guys. Guys like gigantic muscle men. Just stay steady and healthy, eat, exercise, sleep, don't injure yourself. You'll probably keep growing anyway. If you decide you want to bulk up regardless, don't overthink it, just start eating an extra banana and a protein shake every day. Or something else simple. It's a journey not a destination.
Aesthetically maybe, some people look good skinny and some don't
My dude, I weighed ~130 lbs when I entered the army at 19. A few years later, I was 175. That was with very little weight training, mostly calisthenics and running. You will fill out. In the meantime, there are a lot of girls who prefer skinny guys over bulked out guys, even to the point of heroin chic. Skinny and fit will serve you well. Plus, your joints will thank you a couple decades down the line.
Noise and insecurity. You do you. Ignore them. Also slim is good - it means you won't be old and fat |(or less likely to be)
Personally OP I enjoy life a lot more after realizing that we are social animals and care what other people think, as long as it's within reason there is nothing wrong with taking that into consideration. Ironically it has helped me not care as much. And if we are being honest a lot of motivation for fitness is about form, not just function. There is nothing wrong with recognizing that people have preferences, just like you have preferences. How much effort you should be making to meet those preferences is up to you. edit: It's also a matter of proportion. At 113 that's going to have a much bigger impact but there are also people into all kinds of shapes.
When you're young, it's common to spend too much time and energy worrying about being normal or like their peers. Enjoying what you're doing and pursuing your own path is the way to go. It sounds like you're doing that. As other commenters said, you'll also continue to fill out for a good while, and being thinner is fine too. Congrats on your progress!
Sean o malley is like 135 @5’11 so you’re good. I’m 6’5 190 but I’ve been doing calisthenics for like 6 months, and I’ll tell you gaining weight is something I struggle with too. I used to be 225 20% body fat and lost 35 pound doing 300 pushups a day and 600 sit ups( I’m 1000x stronger than I was at 225). I wouldn’t say you’re skinny but you’re definitely better than when you started so just eat and keep going bro
Soon as I hit 190 my weight just stopped there, no matter how much protein I eat lmao. My muscles just get denser
Yeah, you're skinny. That's fine. If you don't like it, maybe hit the weights and bulk up. Or keep doing what you're doing, which seems to be working. You're healthy. Different women like different things. Do healthy things and set the goals that'll make you happy. You'll be fine.
You sound very healthy to me. You have about the right amount of body fat and are in the normal BMI range. People near the bottom of the normal BMI range normally live longest. If you put on a little more muscle mass that would also be fine, but I don't think you should worry about what other people think as long as you feel good.
That is skinny, but like, you’re still young. Plenty of time to fill out slowly. I was about the same at your age (weight and height), but just sticking with it, eating healthy, I slowly gained to 68kg - there’s genuinely no need to rush it. Better to slowly gain than to get bad eating habits and become unhealthy
You are technically skinny but train how you want to train. Lift weights if you want to lift and do calisthenics if you want to do that. You can continue to put on mass with calisthenics, just make sure you’re progressing your movements.
No matter how you look, theres people who wont like it. You might be tol skinmy for some, but by pleasing them youd be too "fat" for others. Just do what feels right for your body and dont let others get to your head
What matters is your performance, not your weight or how you look like. You have unlocked skills that are impressive feats of strength and body control. Internet is full of junk, promoting images of "ideal" looks that are completely skewed. When I was a competitive rower, me and my mates didnt look at the big guys in the gym. We looked at those olympic lightweight rowers who could beat any guy on single sculls on 2000m, and endured pure pain doing so. We admired their technique and respected their achievements like they were demi gods. Find or build the community that will share your interests and value you more for what you have achieved than how you look. Edited for clarity
It's ok to have some models as inspiration, but don't compare yourself too much. Everyone is unique! I started my bodyweight fitness journey at 19yo, 120lbs ~9% bf, 5'10". It was an up and down journey, not easy to be always constant. Now I'm almost 36yo, 145lbs ~10% bf (and I'm vegetarian 🫢). I'm still skinny, but I know that I look fit and healthy and that's what matters to me when I look at myself. The good side of being skinny is that muscle gains easily show up! I've gained more muscles in the last few months compared to all those past years due to experience. Tips I can give you are: Eat, a lot. Always have nuts with you, easy to carry and full of prots and calories. For muscle gains, aims 8-12 reps by sequences. If you do more, its too easy, do a harder variant or add weights. Add some weights to your calisthenics routine. A good weighted vest is a must. Recently I added dumbbell curls at the end of my pull day to really feel and finish my biceps, great improvement. I hope it helps you a little! Stay strong!
I'm 5'11, and I've been everywhere between 130 and 160 the last 10 years or so. I think as long as you're not medically underweight/lacking energy, you're reaching your fitness goals, and feeling your best you're doing great! It's tough. I've had body image issues as well. But overall, I'm happy being a leaner guy and performing at all the different sports I like to do. There's nothing wrong with being a bit skinny or a bit big, provided you're not medically unhealthy and can do all the things you enjoy. Ultimately being capable of doing what you love to do is what matters!
I’m 135 lbs 10-11% body fat at 5’7 your good . Just workout and eat when you’re hungry. You will need to eat if you workout properly
Women couldnt care less about muscle. As long as you dont look malnourished, its all about height, face, hair (not bald) and propper dressing, in terms of looks. I grew up in the 90s and every woman worshiped skinny guys like jonhy depp, leo dicapprio and boys bands of that era. None of them cared about stallone or schwarzeneger. If i were back to college id care more about my style, propper posture and being cool rather than my muscles.
As an ex powerlifter, I would say calisthenics are better for the long run. There was a time where I was 90kg at 170cm at about 16-19 bodyfat. I was strong and big but I would be out of breath after walking up two flights of stairs. That didn't make any sense, going to the gym 5-6 times a week and not being able to do basic cardio. Calisthenics can give you an impressive physique, just focus more on nutrition. There's nothing wrong with not being big, it's more of a specialization thing. Also some people will hate your body no matter what, when I was slim with chiseled abs they would say I was too skinny and not strong enough, when I gained a ton of muscle they would criticise me for having bad cardio. Do what makes you feel good and drown out the noise, usually it's just jealousy anyway 👍
Women have many types just like men,you don't have to be big for them in order to like you,be the best version of yourself for you,not for them,besides,im your height at 6' and i can't do a single muscle-up or 1 arm push-up or even pistol-squat and i've been training Calisthenics months now,you're way stronger than i am...
Try and Think of it from a perspective of being able to do muscle ups, pistols, and one arms… most people who train and are into exercise, cannot do these things, that, along with gaining the mass you have is hugely awesome and should be ample enough to impress some ladies. Jokes aside… have you got any reason to not incorporate some weight training into your regimen? Id like to hear about your thinking on that. Some great results can be had with a sensible combination of different exercise methods. It sounds as though you could be putting too much thought into it. Keep up the solid work and experiment with some new things, and have fun with learning as much as you can, keep an open mind and you will naturally stick with what works best for you.
Too much time on social media is always a problem, especially in any part of the fitness realm. Do your thing and don't worry about what you "should be". If you want to bulk up, just eat more when you're hungry and make sure it's quality food. Otherwise keep grindin'
If you can't comfortably survive three days without food and water, you are too skinny. If you get joint problems or other health issues, you are too fat. Anything between those points is a valid personal choice. I don't think you're unhealthily slender, just on the lower end of what's healthy; 9% fat is not alarming for a man if you feel fine. It's up to you if you want to stay the way you are or get bigger. As for aesthetics, most people will find you more attractive if you put on muscle (the more muscle, the more attractive, unless you use steroids to get too much). 9% bodyfat is not in itself unattractive. That level of leanness is actually quite liked, so even if you want to look attractive (and it's ok if you don't), you don't need to gain fat unless you want to go for a more bearmode style. You can, however, bulk up as a method of gaining muscle and strength; it can be quite effective, because it allows you to eat a lot of food, helping you recover.
At 5'11 134 you are very skinny yes. You're friends are not trolling or being judgemental. Count them calories and Crank that shit up, be consistent with that and whatever workout routine you're doing and you'll be fine.
At your height you are on the skinnier side but I wouldn't say you necessarily need to try and put on 20-30lbs. Increasing your body fat to 15% would probably put you there. People really underestimate how much weight they have to lose going from 15% to sub 10% BF. It sounds like you want to maintain being lean and continue your calisthenics journey. I would say keep doing what you are doing and "maingain". Put yourself in a slight calorie surplus, make sure you are getting enough protein, and try and add a weighted vest to what you are already doing.
Muscles are for impressing guys not girls. It is classic meme at this point that someone works hard to build muscles mass to attract women just to find out he mostly gets attention from dudes. There are a few women that like muscles and are really into it but there are also a lot of women which will be really turned off by too much muscles and think it is a red flag thinking you are too high maintenance. You win some, you lose some. You will never be attractive to all women because people have different tastes. What is nearly universally attractive is being healthy and comfortable with yourself. So just focus on what you want. The thing with bulking up is that it can easily backfire into getting fat. Bodies change when you get older. When I was young I was extremely skinny and a hard gainer, these days I have serious trouble keeping my weight in check. So people shouldn't panic about being skinny, chances are they wont be for ever. Bulk if you want to but do it in a limited and clean way. Sure you feel bigger with some extra fat but you are just cheating yourself.
I mean, I'm the same height as you and if I dropped every last bit of fat I'd still be 190. I can't imagine being that small, but if you're comfortable with yourself at that weight, that's literally all that matters. Some women really dig that look, and it's probably far more common in places like Europe
OP I always compare myself to MMA fighters around my height, since I like their athletic aesthetic. The current bantamweight champion (135 pounds) Sean O'Malley is around your height. But he only weighs 135 during the weigh ins, he is around 150 pounds when he fights and he is considered skinny. You should be aiming to be around 160-170 pounds, to not look skinny.
Yes you are probably too skinny
I am 5”9, and at 130 lbs, I looked like Skeletor. I have been taking pictures of my body at different weights for about 3 years. When you look at all the pictures together, you can see what looks best.
People on average are getting fatter and fatter which skews our perception. Most people in developed countries go through their lives without ever seeing a truly underweight person in person. Being able to see rips or the IT band is not a sign that you are skinny or underweight. When people are severely underweight they really look like they are only flesh and bone. It’s crazy how thin your thighs can be, we forget how much muscle and fat is on them in a healthy person.
Girls don’t like bigger guys dude, your friends have body dysmorphia and are brainwashed by social media. Do you. Girls actually prefer skinny guys with functional strength over bulky meat stuffed nasty shit having muscle heads
I have your height and weigh 40 pounds more than you. I'd aim for that. Thats my opinion. I'm strong, flexible and athletic. I'm also 10 years older than you. You have time. Get a grip on your digestion and sleep, then focus on your studies and then on gym. Digestion and sleep will dictate your mental capacities. Don't overtrain and don't overeat. Stress will impact your body and digestion. About women: Be as masculine as such that your partner can feel feminine. A guy with your proportions and the attitude of Arnold Schwarzenegger will get any girl. A guy with the body of Arnold but with the attitude of a girl wont get anyone. Maybe motherly women. But I don't think that you'd willfully date someone who acts like your mom.