Dooley Noted: 2/19/2014
I have an interesting array of jobs.
When it comes to conversation over cocktails, strange questions come up about my experience with human dissection.
I recently shocked an inquisitive friend with my answer to this question:
Friend: Which type of bodies have the best muscles?
Dooley: The obese ones.
Friend: No way! How is that possible?!
Dooley: They have to carry around that weight all day.
I am nearing number 800 for the amount of human cadavers I have helped dissect bilaterally.
In my initial observations, I see three basic builds:
1. ectomorph: very light on adipose, or fat
2. mesomorph: muscular and light on adipose
3. endomorph: muscular and heavy on adipose
When I first started to dissect, I was in the group that assumed endomorphic, obese cadavers wouldn’t have as much muscle as mesomorphs.
Then, I was flabbergasted by the gorgeous quads, enviable glutes, and thick abs of obese cadavers.
Knowing I previously carried around about 60 more pounds of fat, I went to the gym and picked up two 30-pound dumbbells. As I walked around with them, I realized I was carrying around that extra weight ALL THE TIME!
I was an obese bodybuilder!
Now, I know secrets to being muscular yet not obese. For me, they included the following truths:
1. Eat moderately.
2. Control insulin.
3. Lift heavy things, and lift them often.
4. Walk everywhere.
5. Take the stairs.
Those 6-pack abs you wish to see are there. They may be buried under fat, but they are there. The heavier you are, the thicker they usually are.
Steps 1-5 will get you closer to being muscular yet lean enough to actually see them, if that is your wish.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley