Why take its vital stats

It is initially necessary to keep in mind that body stats are only numbers, the most important being the “rendering” in front of the mirror : the appearance.

Muscular volumeis not all, definition, detached, symetry and harmony being also very important parameters. Each one its priorities and its criteria of appreciation.

Gregg Valentino : the biggest biceps in the world with 27 inches (68 cm). He recognized itself the use of steroids.	Steve Reeves : biceps admired for their beauty with 18¼ inches(46 cm). (Years 1950)

To measure its progression

To take its measurements regularly (every month for example) makes it possible to follow the evolution of its progression, a drive or a specific diet.
It is necessary nevertheless to keep in mind that the body can change without much variation of these measurements (ex : gain of muscle and loss of fat) but that remains a good indicator.

To measure - or judge - its muscular balance

If each individual has his own criteria, certain proportions known as ideal or esthetic were defined in musculation, as the arm size which must be equivalent to the calf one.
To compare itself with these standards and to the other people (having close morphologies in particular) can allow to better judge its strong points and its weak points.

How to take its vital stats

By using one meter ribbon (also called meter of seam), stuck to the skin without tightening it.
For measurements being able to be carried out in double (examples : arms, thighs…) it is useful to measure both, especially if the symetry is sought.

• Neck : relaxed; to measure under Adam's apple at the narrowest place.
• Shoulders : relaxed, slackened arms (along the body); to measure well with horizontal just below the clavicles.
• Chest : relaxed, breathing blocked in rest position (not to inflate the chest); to measure at height of the nipples.
• Biceps : contracted arm, survey parallel on the ground in the axis of the shoulders, folded up front armlevers and wrists; to measure at largest.
• Forearms : contracted forearm, tended along the body, wrist in the alignment of the forearm (not to fold it) and tight fist; to measure at largest.
• Wrist : relaxed, open hand; to measure at smallest, between the hand and the small osseous protuberance of the forearm (visible side back of the hand, on the left for the left hand and on the right for the right hand).
• Waist : relaxed, not to put the belly in nor out; to measure at narrowest, the level of the navel.
• Hips : relaxed, position upright and tight feet; to measure at broadest, the level of the pubis.
• Tighs : relaxed, position upright, to measure at largest (under the buttock).
• Calves : relaxed, position upright, to tighten the leg and to be pressed on the heel; to measure at largest.
• Ankle : same position that the calf; to measure at smallest.

Ideal statistics and formulas

The formulas of ideal statistics are sometimes regarded as objectives to reach to have a “perfect” body, or maximum values which one can reach while being “natural” (without doping products).
In way more objective, they were established on statistical bases of many champions (generally of the Fifties, where doping existed already but with less effectiveness). Those were often equipped with favorable genetics but did not profit from scientific progresses and technological which one knows today.

This is why they must be considered with a certain passing, even if one can give off some keys-points :

• The wrist size seems to reflect a genetic provision. Many great champions of strength or bodybuilding had turns of very important wrists.
• The morphology is a handicap - or an asset - which one can certainly correct on the esthetic level, but that one cannot change : an ectomorph will be able to inflate the muscles of his chest and to widen his shoulders thanks to the deltoids, but its skeleton will remain “narrow”.
• At the level of proportions,arm and calve sizes must be identical, and the ratio waist-hips of 0.85 (0.7 for the women).

The most known formulas are the following ones, valid for bodyfat rates around 10% (with a margin of 2%):

• John McCallum : based on the wrist size, this formula allows to define esthetic proportions.
• Stuart McRobert : based on the height and wrist sizes, this formula is famous for being appropriate to the ectomorphes well.
• Casey Butt : based on the height, wrist and ankle sizes, this formula is most complex and most accute.