Hi everyone -

I started working out about 4 months ago with a friend. I've been on a weight gaining diet as well, and have steadily gained about 14 pounds; from 136 to 150. Here's my question:

My friend currently weighs about 4 pounds more than me. Our height is about the same; I'm only 3/4 of an inch taller. However, despite having a similar height and weight, he looks much bigger. We do the exact same exercises with almost the exact same weight, but he looks twice as muscular.

It's amazing (and frustrating) that I can be nearly the same weight and practically still look like I'm where I started 14 pounds ago. I'm an ectomorph for sure, and he's probably a mesomorph...but does that really cause such a radical difference in the distribution of weight? Why?!

n:

My friend currently weighs about 4 pounds more than me. Our height is about the same; I'm only 3/4 of an inch taller. However, despite having a similar height and weight, he looks much bigger. We do the exact same exercises with almost the exact same weight, but he looks twice as muscular.


Your friend probably just has more muscle mass.

We do the same exercises though, with the same resistance. He isn't actually much stronger. If he had more muscle mass, wouldn't he weigh more as well?

Different people store weight in different places. Height and weight are just two small parts.

There are people my height with smaller rib cages and hips. So even with the same amount of muscle mass they'd look smaller.

We do the same exercises though, with the same resistance. He isn't actually much stronger. If he had more muscle mass, wouldn't he weigh more as well?


Muscle mass isn't a direct indicator of strength. Strength has a large neural component. It's nearly important how well you can fire muscle fibers as it is how big those fibers are. Then you can get into fiber makeup differing between individuals, with some people having more power type fibers and others having more endurance types of fiber.

Tons of reasons.

Also, if you are leaner, you look bigger, so if you weigh the same but his body composition is leaner he might look bigger at a similar weight.

We do the same exercises though, with the same resistance. He isn't actually much stronger.

Mannish explained it pretty well. A guy with more muscle mass isn't necessarily stronger than a guy with less muscle mass.

If he had more muscle mass, wouldn't he weigh more as well?

Not if he has less fat mass. Think about it: Arnold Schwarzenegger weighed 230 when he stepped on the bodybuilding stage, yet, I think you would agree that he had more muscle mass than your average 230 pound guy.

Seriously though, don't worry about how you stack up to your friend. There is always going to be somebody who is stronger, leaner, more muscular etc. -- The only thing you can do is just keep getting better than you are now.

The thing is, be both have little fat on us. Probably less than 5% on me, and 5-7% on him. I'm the leaner one.

If we were to stand next to each other, I would look 45 pound lighter (not exaggerating here) - yet we're the same weight and height.

My intentions aren't to compare with my friend; I'm just frustrated that I'm confined to the same body despite my efforts to grow. Nowhere on my body does my (added) weight manifest itself more prominently than his, so I'm left wondering: where's it all going?

The thing is, be both have little fat on us. Probably less than 5% on me, and 5-7% on him. I'm the leaner one.

If we were to stand next to each other, I would look 45 pound lighter (not exaggerating here) - yet we're the same weight and height.

My intentions aren't to compare with my friend; I'm just frustrated that I'm confined to the same body despite my efforts to grow. Nowhere on my body does my (added) weight manifest itself more prominently than his, so I'm left wondering: where's it all going?

I think people have taken a good shot at answering your question. You two are different men: where you distribute muscle and fat, how densely and in what quantities, are unique to each of you.

Maybe I just don't understand your question. :)

The thing is, be both have little fat on us. Probably less than 5% on me, and 5-7% on him. I'm the leaner one.

I have not seen you, but 5% body fat is very lean and very hard to maintain day to day as well as at a point where strength levels are hard to maintain. That is near pro body builder "stage" shape.

If that number is coming from some sort of impedance measurement device, they are reliably unreliable.

My intentions aren't to compare with my friend; I'm just frustrated that I'm confined to the same body despite my efforts to grow. Nowhere on my body does my (added) weight manifest itself more prominently than his, so I'm left wondering: where's it all going?

Bone structure, muscle attachment points, muscle fiber make up, neural efficiency all play parts in strength and "look".

Don't worry about it. You'll do better worrying about how to improve your own strength and look than to worry about how you look in comparison to your friend.