Francesco A. Castano

Do Bodybuilding Genetics Limit Muscle Gain and Fat Loss?



Posted: Saturday, February 14, 2009

by Francesco A. Castano
IncrediBody.com

Unreasonable expectations have proven to be the downfall for many who pursue muscle gains or weight loss, as bodybuilding far too often becomes a pursuit of becoming someone else, as opposed to maximizing the individual genetic potential that each of us has been granted. We may frequently see individuals on TV, in magazines, or on the Internet who have the bodybuilding physique we wish to achieve, so we somehow feel that by weight training and eating a certain way, we can produce a similar body, when in fact our physical makeup is unique to each of us, meaning that results others can produce do not in any way indicate that we are capable of the same, or conversely, we may even be able to exceed the bodybuilding success of those we admire. Yet, there is no way of knowing our personal potential without embracing an effective diet and weight training workout plan to determine how our muscles respond.

The major downside of basing our own muscle building satisfaction upon achieving the body of another is that, although we may produce muscle gains or fat loss results that impress nearly everybody that we meet, in our own mind, we sustain a feeling of inferiority, since our standard is not based upon our individual accomplishments, but rather whether we've become the person we wish to mimic, and therefore, regardless of how impressive our progress appears to others, we constantly seek for the unrealistic dream, and eventually either abandon bodybuilding altogether, or decide to experiment with dangerous drugs or weight training supplements instead of modifying our expectations to match our own potential.

Genetics offer us a roadblock which we all must obey, no different from one who wishes to become a basketball player but is shorter than necessary for a career in such an industry. Yet, in bodybuilding, very few achieve their individual genetic potential not necessarily due to lack of effort, but rather resulting from diet and weight training errors which plague muscle building or fat loss efforts. Certainly, when weight training and eating perfectly, genetics will then eventually limit future gains, and will also impact the overall speed of results, but most who feel genetics are curtailing any significant change actually are dieting and weight lifting without the correct techniques, which is the true reason behind disappointing progress.

Unfortunately, numerous bodybuilders continue to follow poorly constructed weight lifting and diet methodologies, and experience frustration due to a long term plateau despite disciplined effort. Making matters worse are the unrealistic desires created by the media, as seeing men and women on the front cover of popular physical fitness magazines tend to make even the most disciplined natural physical fitness enthusiast overflow with envy, but what is not revealed in the pictures that so many desire to emulate is that most who are featured in such publications are using drugs such as growth hormone or steroids, which are extremely dangerous, leading to serious potential health issues such as heart failure, cancer, and internal organ enlargement, therefore are clearly not a legitimate option for those who have their priorities in order and wish to protect health and well being far beyond any superficial muscle gain or fat loss goal. It's unfortunate that numerous young men and women are being indoctrinated by many images that are promoted as the definition of a desirable and healthy appearance, when in fact the techniques used to obtain such a temporary level of weight loss or muscle gain pose extreme health risks to those involved, and regardless of these realities, become a very powerful temptation for those who attempt to pattern themselves after the individuals they deem to be admired and accepted by society.

Muscle building or fat loss results are as unique as our personalities, and we should never try to transform into another in our pursuit of any muscle building or fat loss goal, rather forging our own individual road by maximizing the individual bodybuilding potential each of us has, and doing so through an effective bodybuilding diet and weight training routine. When we begin to consider bodybuilding as an experiment in personal achievement, we then begin to finally relish in the improvements we make, as opposed to feeling unfulfilled due to focusing on the results of another. Without the chance of experiencing satisfaction with our own transformation, bodybuilding becomes a frustrating pursuit of the unattainable, and can morph from a worthwhile pursuit into a stressful, redundant hobby.

Francesco Castano authors MuscleNOW.com, a diet and weight training program teaching the exact techniques for muscle building without supplements or drugs. He also owns IncrediBody.com, an online fitness superstore selling exercise equipment at guaranteed lowest prices.
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