Muhammad Ali is much taller obviously hes not gonna be a unit, thats basic human physiology
More somali guys need to hit the gym
- Thread starter Sigmundd
- Start date
Both men and women need to lose weight. We looked better during the Siad Barre days. We need to bring that look back.
Idilinaa
VIP
You often see Somalis with certain physical traits frailty, thinness, obesity or low muscle mass because many are not in optimal health. Nutrient deficiencies are surprisingly common, especially in iron, vitamin A, and vitamin D. These deficiencies largely stem from diet and lifestyle rather than genetics.
For example, overconsumption of milk (which inhibits iron absorption) without enough red meat can lead to iron deficiency. Low vitamin D is often due to limited sun exposure and indoor urban living, while vitamin A is typically lacking in diets with few vegetables or animal fats.
Looking through historical accounts, Somali fishermen were consistently described as robust, muscular, and energetic followed by agro-pastoralists. At the bottom were urban dwellers, often viewed as frail or undernourished or overweight at times. These town populations consumed high amounts of oil, rice, and milk, with little meat and minimal physical activity, sound familiar?
This traditional reer magaalo (urban dweller) lifestyle has more or less continued today. Coffee has been replaced with khat, and physical activity has dropped even more. What’s important here is that many of the physical traits Somalis associate with "ethnic appearance" like being slim, frailty or obesity may actually be symptoms of chronic undernutrition or overconsumption of empty calories linked to lifestyle rather than anything inherent or genetic.
What really drives this point home is how dramatically people’s appearance changes when they shift to a higher-protein diet and engage in physical activity. Look at the transformation of that Somali guy who trained to become a sprinter or past examples like the African long jump champion of Somali background. These athletes prove Somalis can excel in explosive, strength-based sports not just endurance if the right conditions are in place.
And contrary to popular belief, there’s no strong genetic evidence that East Africans are “naturally built” for endurance. Consider this peer-reviewed study:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
And a 2024 meta-analysis summed it up even more clearly:
www.degruyterbrill.com
The real "advantage" is high-altitude training (2,000–3,000 m) that boosts oxygen efficiency, plus early aerobic training, strong community support, and a culture of athletic excellence.
Also worth noting: Somali runners Ayanleh Souleiman and Abdi Bile were middle-distance champions, not long-distance runners. Mo Farah, a long-distance legend, attributes much of his success to training in high-altitude Kenya, learning from the best Kenyan athletes in Iten home to many world-class runners.
Bottom line is this, instead of leaning on vague ideas of genetics, Somalis should focus on improving their nutrition, lifestyle, and access to athletic development. The potential is there, it just needs to be unlocked.
For example, overconsumption of milk (which inhibits iron absorption) without enough red meat can lead to iron deficiency. Low vitamin D is often due to limited sun exposure and indoor urban living, while vitamin A is typically lacking in diets with few vegetables or animal fats.
Looking through historical accounts, Somali fishermen were consistently described as robust, muscular, and energetic followed by agro-pastoralists. At the bottom were urban dwellers, often viewed as frail or undernourished or overweight at times. These town populations consumed high amounts of oil, rice, and milk, with little meat and minimal physical activity, sound familiar?
This traditional reer magaalo (urban dweller) lifestyle has more or less continued today. Coffee has been replaced with khat, and physical activity has dropped even more. What’s important here is that many of the physical traits Somalis associate with "ethnic appearance" like being slim, frailty or obesity may actually be symptoms of chronic undernutrition or overconsumption of empty calories linked to lifestyle rather than anything inherent or genetic.
What really drives this point home is how dramatically people’s appearance changes when they shift to a higher-protein diet and engage in physical activity. Look at the transformation of that Somali guy who trained to become a sprinter or past examples like the African long jump champion of Somali background. These athletes prove Somalis can excel in explosive, strength-based sports not just endurance if the right conditions are in place.
And contrary to popular belief, there’s no strong genetic evidence that East Africans are “naturally built” for endurance. Consider this peer-reviewed study:
Genotypes and distance running : clues from Africa - PubMed
A look at the medal podium in almost any international sporting competition reveals that some athletes and certain countries enjoy regular success in particular events. While environmental influences such as training and diet are important, it is likely that there is also some genetic component...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
And a 2024 meta-analysis summed it up even more clearly:
Why the dominance of East Africans in distance running? A narrative review
Introduction Runners from East Africa including Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda have dominated middle- and long-distance running events, for almost six decades. This narrative review examines and updates current understanding of the factors explaining the dominance of East Africans in distance...
The real "advantage" is high-altitude training (2,000–3,000 m) that boosts oxygen efficiency, plus early aerobic training, strong community support, and a culture of athletic excellence.
Also worth noting: Somali runners Ayanleh Souleiman and Abdi Bile were middle-distance champions, not long-distance runners. Mo Farah, a long-distance legend, attributes much of his success to training in high-altitude Kenya, learning from the best Kenyan athletes in Iten home to many world-class runners.
Bottom line is this, instead of leaning on vague ideas of genetics, Somalis should focus on improving their nutrition, lifestyle, and access to athletic development. The potential is there, it just needs to be unlocked.
Idilinaa
VIP
That being said, we’re definitely seeing a health and fitness shift happening in Somalia.
I remember watching this BBC segment where a Somali nutritionist discussed how people during Ramadan were eating unbalanced meals heavy in sugar, carbs, and oils, but lacking key nutrients like protein and vitamins:
On the bright side, there’s now a visible surge in gym memberships and new gyms opening up in major cities like Mogadishu and Hargeisa:
And this isn’t limited to men. Somali women are also entering the fitness space, with more women-only gyms opening and promoting wellness:
Pioneering women's fitness in Mogadishu – DW – 12/02/2020
Women's gyms are a rarity in Somalia. A woman leading a gym is even rarer. But that's exactly what Aisha Muhyadin is doing — keeping women fit, building self-confidence and maintaining a thriving business.
www.dw.com
I really hope this trend continues and expands to include more awareness around diet especially for women, who are often overlooked in public health discussions. There’s a lot of potential for lasting change if this momentum is supported culturally and institutionally.
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Is it weird to say when I see grown Somali dudes built like that in public I genuinely get disgusted. How can anyone respect a man who’s comfortable enough to walk in public looking like a fucking skeleton….How are we suppose to beat the luugi baasto stereotype if we got niggas cool with being built this way.
It's not weird to say at all. I literally get annoyed seeing these tall skinny dudes.
skinny is good people are too used to fat people in the west.. every other person got fat stomach and love handles. if u skinny say alx. odds are even skinny folks will one day be fat as u age and hit 30s,40s, and 50s with western diet and slowing metabolism.
people like samoans probably wish they could be naturally skinny they know illnesses come with all that mass. nothing wrong with gym but also dont need to eat eveything in site to try and force on mass
people like samoans probably wish they could be naturally skinny they know illnesses come with all that mass. nothing wrong with gym but also dont need to eat eveything in site to try and force on mass
Riftvalley
VIP
Mo Farah became the cross country champion of his youth area with very little training and whilst living in a chaotic situation. He then went on to became English champion and dominated the European scene. He was finishing around 7th in the world, so he was already an elite fighter before he went to train with the Kenyans. This is a guy who Alberto Salzar described as “one of the weakest athletes he had seen”.You often see Somalis with certain physical traits frailty, thinness, obesity or low muscle mass because many are not in optimal health. Nutrient deficiencies are surprisingly common, especially in iron, vitamin A, and vitamin D. These deficiencies largely stem from diet and lifestyle rather than genetics.
For example, overconsumption of milk (which inhibits iron absorption) without enough red meat can lead to iron deficiency. Low vitamin D is often due to limited sun exposure and indoor urban living, while vitamin A is typically lacking in diets with few vegetables or animal fats.
Looking through historical accounts, Somali fishermen were consistently described as robust, muscular, and energetic followed by agro-pastoralists. At the bottom were urban dwellers, often viewed as frail or undernourished or overweight at times. These town populations consumed high amounts of oil, rice, and milk, with little meat and minimal physical activity, sound familiar?
This traditional reer magaalo (urban dweller) lifestyle has more or less continued today. Coffee has been replaced with khat, and physical activity has dropped even more. What’s important here is that many of the physical traits Somalis associate with "ethnic appearance" like being slim, frailty or obesity may actually be symptoms of chronic undernutrition or overconsumption of empty calories linked to lifestyle rather than anything inherent or genetic.
What really drives this point home is how dramatically people’s appearance changes when they shift to a higher-protein diet and engage in physical activity. Look at the transformation of that Somali guy who trained to become a sprinter or past examples like the African long jump champion of Somali background. These athletes prove Somalis can excel in explosive, strength-based sports not just endurance if the right conditions are in place.
View attachment 367859
View attachment 367860
View attachment 367861
View attachment 367864
And contrary to popular belief, there’s no strong genetic evidence that East Africans are “naturally built” for endurance. Consider this peer-reviewed study:
Genotypes and distance running : clues from Africa - PubMed
A look at the medal podium in almost any international sporting competition reveals that some athletes and certain countries enjoy regular success in particular events. While environmental influences such as training and diet are important, it is likely that there is also some genetic component...
And a 2024 meta-analysis summed it up even more clearly:
Why the dominance of East Africans in distance running? A narrative review
Introduction Runners from East Africa including Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda have dominated middle- and long-distance running events, for almost six decades. This narrative review examines and updates current understanding of the factors explaining the dominance of East Africans in distance...
View attachment 367863
The real "advantage" is high-altitude training (2,000–3,000 m) that boosts oxygen efficiency, plus early aerobic training, strong community support, and a culture of athletic excellence.
Also worth noting: Somali runners Ayanleh Souleiman and Abdi Bile were middle-distance champions, not long-distance runners. Mo Farah, a long-distance legend, attributes much of his success to training in high-altitude Kenya, learning from the best Kenyan athletes in Iten home to many world-class runners.
Bottom line is this, instead of leaning on vague ideas of genetics, Somalis should focus on improving their nutrition, lifestyle, and access to athletic development. The potential is there, it just needs to be unlocked.
What you guys fail to understand is that there could have been at least 6 other mo Farahs in the UK. I know some of them. They all fell off From long distance athletics due to concentrating on football, lack of parental support and doing other “recreational” stuff. I know a Somali guy who raced Mo Farah when he was young and the dude finished around 40th in the whole uk despite being a heavy smoker. Somali boys used to dominate the cross country runs in my area. They were regularly beating cadaans from running clubs.
It simply does not make sense for people from a refugee country to be on average much better suited to long distance running than Europeans and west Africans who have access to better nutrition and training at a tougher age.
The other point you guys fail to understand is that it is simply abnormal to run such quick 400 metres at the end of long distance races. While high altitude training can help in this regard, there is also a genetic element as to why Cushitics and nilo Saharan’s can finish that fast. We are able to efficiently use fast twitch and slow twitch fibres at the same time. Mo Farah actually has natural speed faster than most humans. He just doesn’t have the speed of a 100 metre runner. East African bodies also have smaller ankles, thin longer limbs, which all helps give advantages like accelerating with longer strides with less effort Exerted.
If there was 4 billion dollars spent on creating Somali 100 sprinters, it would still almost be impossible to create Olympic champions or develop a successful culture like that of Jamaica/african Americans.
On the other hand, spending the same amount of money on creating long distance runners would yield better results.
The Dutch bro is an anomaly in my opinion. He has some insane freak 100/200 metres speed which most Somalis do not have. Somali kids and all other ethnicity btw are on average slower in the 100 metres speed compared to AA and Niger Congos. The reason why he trained and bulked him is because he was lightening quick from a young age, it is not that he bulked up and become a speed merchant. Go to any high school in the inner community in the UK and the 100 metre/200 metre sprint is always won by a madow. There are barely any Somalis kids with insane 100/200 metre at the age of 10. There is so much training and good nutrition can help you attain this. Sadly, a good portion of these traits are inherited. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying.
But of course there is no genetic reason as to why British Caribbean and west Africans dominate sprinting in an island of 60 million whites. Sure, Somalis could do this as well if they trained and eat more muufo
Same coincidence in France
And Holland.
Diophantus
الشيخ المشككين
Even if i wasn't somali saxib (i am btw, no clue why you think am not?), it still wouldn't make your post right.
Idilinaa
VIP
Mo Farah became the cross country champion of his youth area with very little training and whilst living in a chaotic situation. He then went on to became English champion and dominated the European scene. He was finishing around 7th in the world, so he was already an elite fighter before he went to train with the Kenyans. This is a guy who Alberto Salzar described as “one of the weakest athletes he had seen”.
What you guys fail to understand is that there could have been at least 6 other mo Farahs in the UK. I know some of them. They all fell off From long distance athletics due to concentrating on football, lack of parental support and doing other “recreational” stuff. I know a Somali guy who raced Mo Farah when he was young and the dude finished around 40th in the whole uk despite being a heavy smoker. Somali boys used to dominate the cross country runs in my area. They were regularly beating cadaans from running clubs.
It simply does not make sense for people from a refugee country to be on average much better suited to long distance running than Europeans and west Africans who have access to better nutrition and training at a tougher age.
The other point you guys fail to understand is that it is simply abnormal to run such quick 400 metres at the end of long distance races. While high altitude training can help in this regard, there is also a genetic element as to why Cushitics and nilo Saharan’s can finish that fast. We are able to efficiently use fast twitch and slow twitch fibres at the same time. Mo Farah actually has natural speed faster than most humans. He just doesn’t have the speed of a 100 metre runner. East African bodies also have smaller ankles, thin longer limbs, which all helps give advantages like accelerating with longer strides with less effort Exerted.
If there was 4 billion dollars spent on creating Somali 100 sprinters, it would still almost be impossible to create Olympic champions or develop a successful culture like that of Jamaica/african Americans.
On the other hand, spending the same amount of money on creating long distance runners would yield better results.
The Dutch bro is an anomaly in my opinion. He has some insane freak 100/200 metres speed which most Somalis do not have. Somali kids and all other ethnicity btw are on average slower in the 100 metres speed compared to AA and Niger Congos. The reason why he trained and bulked him is because he was lightening quick from a young age, it is not that he bulked up and become a speed merchant. Go to any high school in the inner community in the UK and the 100 metre/200 metre sprint is always won by a madow. There are barely any Somalis kids with insane 100/200 metre at the age of 10. There is so much training and good nutrition can help you attain this. Sadly, a good portion of these traits are inherited. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying.
View attachment 367907
View attachment 367908
But of course there is no genetic reason as to why British Caribbean and west Africans dominate sprinting in an island of 60 million whites. Sure, Somalis could do this as well if they trained and eat more muufo
View attachment 367909
Same coincidence in France
View attachment 367910
And Holland.
Those athletes bring with them not just their genetics, but also their socio-economic background, culture, and motivation factors that deeply influence development even after moving to Europe.
When we talk about athletic performance, it's rarely just about 'raw genetics.' There are biomechanical and physiological traits often cited like longer limbs, shorter torsos, high muscle mass around the glutes and thighs, and lean body composition which can confer advantages in specific sports like long-distance running. These are often found in African populations, and yes, they show up in research and meta-analyses.
But even those traits aren't a golden ticket. There are trade-offs like how shorter legs and longer torsos (more common in other populations) can generate more ground force, which is advantageous for sprinting. It’s really about maximizing your own physiology with smart training and support.
Mo Farah and the Somali sprinting champion from the Netherlands prove that Somalis, with the right conditions, can thrive in both endurance and speed-based sports. Back during the Kacaan era, Somalia’s state-supported athletics led to international success in basketball, volleyball, and football showing how environment and institutional backing can unleash potential. Produced a middle distance world champion and an African long jump champion in a span of just 5 years.
That’s why I always say: let's stop obsessing over aesthetics, 'genetic ceilings', or arbitrary comparisons. The real focus should be on building long-term health, functional fitness, and enabling environments for Somali youth to thrive.
If you look into the fitness industry, you’ll notice how it profits from insecurities. PEDs, eating disorders, bigorexia, and even harmful restrictive diets like extreme veganism are rampant. Many people aren’t really healthy or athletic they’re projecting filtered, unrealistic ideals and linking them to race or genetics. That mindset limits more than it liberates.
Riftvalley
VIP
@idinlaa,l
Simple question: do you think Somalis on average can compete and dominate like Africans Americans and Jamaicans in the 100 metres or heavy explosive sports? You’re saying that, with the right environment and nutrition, Somalis can dominate events like the 100/200 metres, heavyweight boxing? I don’t believe this and it is not based on “ arbitrary feelings”.
Simple question: do you think Somalis on average can compete and dominate like Africans Americans and Jamaicans in the 100 metres or heavy explosive sports? You’re saying that, with the right environment and nutrition, Somalis can dominate events like the 100/200 metres, heavyweight boxing? I don’t believe this and it is not based on “ arbitrary feelings”.
Idilinaa
VIP
If we train and nurture more sprinters, then yes . I believe Somalis can absolutely compete, and even dominate, in explosive sports. We already have a living example: a Somali sprinter raised in the UK who consistently outperformed Jamaicans and other African athletes at multiple competitions.
Somali runner Mustafa Mahamuud 🇸🇴🇳🇱 is the 2022 Dutch National Champ
Those East African genes of being tall and having long legs and a light frame really did help him You know how Kenyans and Ethiopians are known for long distance runners, Somalia could also win big at tournaments like this had we have the right equipment and facilities to train our people...
www.somalispot.com
He was on track for the World Championships before an injury set him back in 2022–2023. That alone proves there's raw potential. With the right environment, coaching, and support system, there's no reason Somalis can’t compete at the highest levels. We shouldn't box ourselves in based on assumptions or averages. Talent needs opportunity , that's the real bottleneck.
This is the mindset I will continue to push in Somali men and women that they must reject self-limiting beliefs and realize the full extent of their potential, in whatever it may be.
Khal Mah Oma
Anti-troll, anti-racist and support all minorities
You’re right most do need to exercise and avoid sugar and refined foods. Somali mothers need to stop getting them into these things.
Riftvalley
VIP
I just have to disagree with you. I have played football with thousands of west Africans/somalis and have only seen a handful of Somali guys with unstoppable speed. On the contrary, I have met hundreds of Jamaicans with unstoppable speed. I have also been to many track races and never saw a Somali win a 100 metres. Most of them were not even the fastest on their schools.
I have seen untrained madows from the hood repeatedly beat trained white guys who spent their teenage years training for sprint.
The reason why no white man has one won the 100 metres in the 30 years has a component to it. For similar reasons, Somalis stand little chance of ever dominating the 100 metres. Can a single Somali achieve it? of course! The discussion is about averages though. The average Nigerian kid just sprints faster than the average Somali kid no matter where they are in the world.
on the other hand, an athletic Somali kid with a similar build to Mo Farah has more of a chance to become a middle distance runner or other sports suited to such builds.
I have seen untrained madows from the hood repeatedly beat trained white guys who spent their teenage years training for sprint.
The reason why no white man has one won the 100 metres in the 30 years has a component to it. For similar reasons, Somalis stand little chance of ever dominating the 100 metres. Can a single Somali achieve it? of course! The discussion is about averages though. The average Nigerian kid just sprints faster than the average Somali kid no matter where they are in the world.
on the other hand, an athletic Somali kid with a similar build to Mo Farah has more of a chance to become a middle distance runner or other sports suited to such builds.
I know this is a going to the gym discussion but cutting out Somali food would do the heavy lifting in making you look good. It's so important to stop eating full plates of bariis and baasto if you're going to the gym.
Idilinaa
VIP
The average Somali guy is often chronically undernourished iron deficient, vitamin A and D deficient and possibly dealing with protein malabsorption from overconsumption of milk. Meanwhile, West African and Jamaican youths typically grow up with diets richer in diverse protein sources, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates.
So it’s no surprise that you’ve only seen a handful of Somalis with ‘unstoppable speed’ nutrition and training matter greatly.
Take the Somali sprinter I referenced: he wasn’t naturally fast or particularly built early on. He had to move away from a traditional Somali diet and invest heavily in proper training and nutrition.
What you perceive as a 'natural build' among Somalis is deeply linked to cultural and dietary patterns. There are plenty of stocky Somalis with shorter builds who retain more iron, while the tall and lanky phenotype is often the result of high milk consumption and nutritional imbalance.
And finally, training opportunities are a major factor. How many Somalis in the UK have had the same level of institutional support, coaching, and development that Mo Farah received? I can't recall another Somali who reached his level not because the talent isn’t there, but because the systems of support often aren’t.
Riftvalley
VIP
You’re missing my point for some reason. Mo Farah actually proves my point because he is not an explosive/strength based athlete. A malnourished Mo Farah was the long distance youth champion in his local area. I have already told you untrained Somali youths in the UK use to dominate cross country races in the UK. If Mo Farah did not have a natural and genetic disposition to endurance running then how is it possible he was the fastest longest distance runner in his school, county, etc? How were so many other Somali youths also wining long distance races in their school but they mostly happen to perform average in the sprint races? Mo Farah was not picked out randomly; he was naturally the fastest endurance runner out of thousands of youths. It is not a coincidence that he is a from a particular part of the world.
also, I doubt that Dutch guy was not naturally fast as a kid. It is literally impossible to not be an extremely fast kid and become a sprinter. There is only so much speed a person can gain with training to reach that level. Secondly, if it is about nutrition then why do white kids from the top English sporting schools always lose to black kids in the sprint races? These are some the richest people on earth with access to all kinds of nutrition yet a black kid from the inner ghetto trounces them with little training.
back to the nutrition part, you don’t need to have super nutrition to be able to run quickly at a young age. I have average-to above average pace. When I was a kid, I use to fall short of catching the fastest Jamaican kids in sprinting. However, when it came to long distance, I would get away from them within the first 500 metres and my stamina and endurance would make sure they never caught me. I had no training. The nutrition was poor at the same time I was one of the best endurance runners in my school/county. Most of my relatives back home would good be at good at long distance running if they came to the west at a young age. Most of them have decent speed, meaning they’re not slow, but they stand no chance against fast Jamaicans in a sprint.
Just go to the gym and stop being a whiny goof.
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