Have you ever felt that the journey to a great physique seemed overwhelming, thinking you need to pack on massive amounts of muscle to look good? According to Mario Tomic, you probably don’t need as much muscle as you’ve been led to believe. According to him, you might be closer to achieving your ideal physique than you think.
Mario Tomic is an entrepreneur who helps other busy working professionals get fit and build a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. He has a YouTube channel account with over 400K subscribers.
Many people get into fitness with the goal of building a lean, healthy, and athletic body while maintaining a long-term healthy lifestyle. However, the physiques that dominate social media are often the most muscular and extreme, belonging to those who have dedicated their lives to maximizing muscle growth by any means necessary, including performance-enhancing substances.
This exposure can create the illusion that you need to gain a lot of muscle to look good and enjoy the benefits of fitness. But how much muscle do you really need to achieve your goals? Is it necessary to aim for maximum muscle growth to reach your ideal physique?
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From Mario Tomic’s own journey and his experience as a coach working with hundreds of people over the past decade, he confidently states that the first 15 to 20 pounds of muscle you gain are the most transformative. These initial gains make the most significant difference in changing your physique and bringing you closer to your fitness goals.
Let’s take a look at how gaining 15 pounds of muscle changes your physique.
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How Gaining 15 Pounds of Muscle Changes Your Physique
From Tomic’s experience as a coach and having worked with hundreds of people over the last decade, he can confidently say that the first 15 to 20 lbs (7 to 9 kg) of muscle you gain are the most important. This amount of muscle significantly changes your physique. Most people would reach their goal physique if they gained those 15 lbs or 7 kg of muscle and maintained a body fat percentage of 12 to 15%.
Reflecting on his own journey, when Mario Tomic initially got lean, he went down to 154 lbs (70 kg) at 5’10” (178 cm) tall, and he was quite skinny at around 14-15% body fat. However, after switching from fat loss to muscle building and eventually gaining 15 lbs (7 kg) of muscle, his physique was completely transformed. The next time he leaned out, he ended up at 12% body fat at 167 lbs (76 kg), and he was very happy with the results.
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Breaking Down the Numbers
Let’s dive deeper into the numbers and break down what 15 lbs or 7 kg of extra muscle could do to your body composition.
Example 1: Skinny Fat Joe
Joe weighs 160 lbs (72.6 kg) with 24% body fat and has never lifted weights. His lean body mass is 122 lbs (55.3 kg). If Joe gained 15 lbs (7 kg) of muscle, his lean body mass would increase to 137 lbs (62.1 kg). At the same weight of 160 lbs, his body fat percentage would drop to 15%, resulting in a significant transformation.
Example 2: Dan
Dan starts his journey at 200 lbs (90.7 kg) with 30% body fat. His lean body mass is 140 lbs (63.5 kg). To reach 15% body fat without losing muscle, Dan needs to drop to 165 lbs (74.8 kg), losing 35 lbs (15.9 kg) of fat. If Dan gains 15 lbs (7 kg) of muscle, his lean body mass increases to 155 lbs (70.3 kg). To reach the same 15% body fat, he would only need to cut down to 182 lbs (82.6 kg), making his fat loss phase shorter and easier while looking significantly better with the extra muscle.
The Value of Early Gains
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A big chunk of the first 15-20 lbs of muscle will come from newbie gains, which are the fastest gains you’ll ever make. Dedicating yourself to building foundational muscle is critical, even if your goal is to lose body fat. Progressive overload, good technique, and prioritising weight training are essential. Once you’ve built the muscle, maintaining it is much easier. You only need about half or one-third of the training volume compared to gaining it, as long as you get enough protein and decent sleep, and lift weights a few times per week.
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You Might Be Closer Than You Think
Most people are two proper cuts and lean bulks away from their goal physique. If done right, you’ll never be skinny fat again, and you’ll be healthier, look better, feel better, and be more confident. Mario Tomic is not saying everyone should stop once they reach this point or that chasing your genetic potential isn’t worthwhile. However, those first 15-20 lbs are a no-brainer. They will completely change your physique and health, something most people are capable of achieving without needing to live like a bodybuilder.
Applying the 80/20 principle here makes a lot of sense: you get the majority of the benefits without huge trade-offs in a very sustainable way. If you’ve been thinking you need to build a ton of muscle to look good and have been comparing yourself to super-jacked social media influencers, Tomic hopes this gives you a more realistic perspective and inspires you to get after it, knowing you might be closer than you think.
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In conclusion, the first 15 pounds of muscle can significantly change your physique and bring you closer to your fitness goals than you might have imagined. This foundational muscle not only enhances your appearance but also boosts your strength, confidence, and overall health. The journey to build this muscle does not require extreme measures or a lifestyle dedicated to bodybuilding. Instead, it involves consistent, intelligent training and proper nutrition.
Remember, the most significant changes come from those initial gains. Once you achieve this foundation, maintaining and refining your physique becomes much easier. You don’t need to compare yourself to extreme examples on social media; your personal best is closer than you think. Focus on the basics, trust the process, and you will see remarkable improvements.
If you need guidance, accountability, or coaching to reach your goals, consider seeking professional help from someone like Mario Tomic. Your journey is unique, and with the right approach, you can achieve the lean, healthy, and athletic body you desire. So, get started today, stay committed, and you’ll be amazed at how 15 pounds of muscle can transform your physique and your life.
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This content is originated from https://www.boxrox.com your Online Magazine for Competitive Fitness.