Hey all-

This e-mail has some stuff in it pertaining to people in general, I wish
for people to read and understand me and perhaps comment because I often
read comments on veins, bodyfat, and muscle size on this board.

Just wanted to add my 2 cents on a few things. This morning I got in front
of my class and allowed a young woman to test my bodyfat. Seemed like a good
idea when I volunteered, but then when she started pinching the inch, I had
to concentrate hehe. 8.1% with a 5 point pinch test.

I wanted to share a few things on this. I have very strong abs and a very
strong lower back ( for my lifts, not compared to others ). At 8.1% bodyfat
my abs don't really show, there are no obliques really, and I'm not a
particularly veiny person. I believe I have come to the conclusion that my
body stores most of it's fat in a way underthe skin that makes it hard to
have "ripped" definition. And veins like Dave's. It's ok with me, because it
is me (;

As a side note to that last, I am eating around 4000 calories a day of
mostly healthy food at college. I workout 3 times a week on average. And
I've never been at a lower bodyfat. I STOPPED doing aerobics altogether and
have lost more than I did when I hit a little "plateau". Bodyfat wise...my
next paragraph will be on muscle size...

Let me explain a few things about myself. I do not know what body type I am.
I have always believed I was more endomorph, but I am not excessively large
naturally nor do I have a large body structure. I put on muscle at a good
pace and as long as I eat clean I don't put on fat. Now I think I have
properties from all 3. I have a very good metabolism but I can put on fat
easily, I can also put on muscle easily ( compared to some ).
Through this I have found that I can go up and down about 1/2 to 3/4 of an
inch on my arms alone simply by getting enough sleep, or not getting enough
sleep. When going about 4 days with less than 5 hours of sleep each night I
usually shrink down. After 2-3 nights of 8+ hours of sleep, and good eating,
I get instantly bigger and I feel like I have less bodyfat on me.

To this effect, I wish to say this to all. We often emphasize genetics on
here, but that doesn't just mean "endomorph, ectomorph, mesomorph". It means
you are an individual. Abs that protrude and in which you can hold quarters
may not be a part of you, nor may veins that look like the roadmap for
southern california be part of you. Dave's book has influenced me somewhat
on to write this, but be happy with what you have and set the goals that you
want. Not the goals someone else wants and that you want to show off to
them. Everyone on here knows that if they've lifted for 6 months or a year,
they probably knows what works for them. Yet people almost invariably will
listen and try someone else's program in the hopes it gives them extra
results. To what end? Find what works for you, love it, and do it. What else
can work better than something you've thought up, implemented, and succeeded
at yourself. Who can take that away from you?

-Joe O.

P.s. This e-mail was written for 3 things coinciding in my life. The study
of my own body and things that effect it, reading Brother Iron, Sister
Steel, and watching as my friend 2 doors down from me, who has been lifting
for 2 years and who is an ectomorph with an incredible body right now, tries
someone else's program in the hopes it will add muscle faster. He is the
only person in the world I would share my Bomber's Blend with, and I do. (;