This article was co-authored by Jason Whalen and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Jason Whalen is a Certified Personal Trainer and the Owner of JWWFitness in Scottsdale, Arizona. With over a decade of experience, Jason specializes in strength, core, endurance, and plyometric training programs for those looking to improve their fitness, overall health, and sports performance. He holds a BA in Exercise Science from Eastern New Mexico University. Jason is also a Nutrition Therapist and a Member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He was voted the Best of 2012 for Personal Trainers by Kudzu and was featured in Echo Magazine.
There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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If you’re browsing TikTok and you’ve come across a bunch of videos where semi-clothed folks are flexing over loud music with the #sleeperbuild hashtag, you’re probably a touch lost. And frankly, who could blame you? Yeah, it’s cool to show your muscles off if you’ve got them, but what’s that got to do with sleeper builds? And what is a “sleeper build” anyway?[1] In this article, we’ll explain the term and show you how to put your own “sleeper build” video together.
Things You Should Know
- Someone who looks weak or thin but is actually ripped when they flex their muscles has a sleeper build.
- If you want a sleeper build body, focus on cutting any excess weight by eating right and bulking your muscles up with bodybuilding exercises.
- Shoot a curated sleeper build reveal on TikTok by playing it cool and then flexing on your audience right as the beat to your song drops.
Steps
Shooting a Sleeper Build TikTok
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Dress up in clothes that’ll hide your muscles. Anything that doesn’t showcase your pecs and abs will work, but a lot of TikTokers will play it up by wearing loose-fitting clothes or dressing a bit like a dork. Don’t cover up your forearms, though. Show a little skin so that the viewer thinks you’re a lot skinnier than you actually are.[8]
- If you’ve got an impressive 6-pack, you could even try puffing your stomach out a bit to make it look like you’ve got a belly.
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Pick an upbeat song with a strong, expressive drop. The “big reveal” is going to be all the more impactful and impressive if you show your bod off right when the song in the background gets deeper or faster. Choose something with a huge drop.[9]
- Basically any hip hop or EDM song can work so long as it’s slow in the beginning and then has a really loud, vibrant turn.
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Reveal your 6-pack abs or robust biceps and abs as the beat drops. At the start of the TikTok, stand around sheepishly like you’re not doing anything impressive. You might turn back and forth like you’re nervous, or stand in front of the camera unmoving. Then, right as the beat drops, pull your shirt off or cut to a second shot of you wearing athletic-wear and flex on them![10]
- Lean into the camera as you’re flexing a bit to really emphasize the size difference in your muscles.
- A lot of people will put “#sleeperbuild” in the hash tags. Add it to your video so people can find it!
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about physical fitness, check out our in-depth interview with Jason Whalen.
References
- ↑ https://slang.net/meaning/sleeper_build
- ↑ https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Sleeper%20Build
- ↑ https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Sleeper%20Build
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/managing-your-weight/tips-to-help-you-lose-weight/
- ↑ https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2018/june/crash-diets-and-weight-loss
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/health/body/how-to-build-muscle/
- ↑ https://www.eatright.org/fitness/physical-activity/benefits-of-exercise/4-keys-to-strength-building-and-muscle-mass
- ↑ https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/sleeper-build-bodybuilding
- ↑ https://knowyourmeme.com/editorials/guides/what-is-a-sleeper-build-the-tiktok-term-explained