Do Muscle Building Genetics Limit Muscle Mass Gains or Fat Loss?

Unreasonable expectations have proven to be the downfall for many who attempt to achieve muscle gains or weight loss, as bodybuilding far too often becomes a pursuit of becoming someone else, as opposed to maximizing the genetic potential that each of us has been born with. We may frequently see individuals on the Internet, TV or in magazines who have the bodybuilding physique we are working towards, so we somehow feel that by weight training and dieting a certain way, we can produce an identical appearance, when in fact our physical makeup is unique to each of us, meaning that results others achieve do not in any way dictate 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 lifting workout plan to determine how our body responds.

The unfortunate downside of basing our own muscle gain and fat loss satisfaction upon achieving the body of another is that, although we may produce muscle gains or fat loss progress that impress nearly everyone that we meet, in our own mind, we maintain a feeling of inferiority, since our own personal standard is not based upon how much we've achieved, but rather whether we've become the person we choose to emulate, and therefore, regardless of how impressive our progress appears to others, we continually seek for the unrealistic dream, and eventually either abandon bodybuilding completely, or decide to experiment with risky drugs or bodybuilding supplements instead of modifying our expectations to match our own potential.

It is true that genetics offer us a barrier which we all must obey, no different from one who wishes to become a basketball player but lacks sufficient height. Yet, in bodybuilding, very few ever 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 eating and weight training perfectly, genetics will then eventually lead to a plateau in muscle building or fat loss, and will also impact the overall rate of results, but most who feel genetics are curtailing any significant change actually are eating and weight training without the correct techniques, which is the true culprit behind disappointing progress.

Unfortunately, far too many weight lifters continue to follow poorly written weight training and diet methodologies, and experience frustration due to a long term plateau despite disciplined effort. Making matters worse are the unrealistic expectations created by our media, as seeing men and women on the covers of popular fitness magazines tend to make even the most disciplined natural physical fitness enthusiast overflow with envy, but what is hidden by the pictures that so many desire to emulate is that most who are shown in such publications are using drugs such as steroids or growth hormone, which are extremely dangerous, offering health risks such as cancer, internal organ enlargement, and heart failure, therefore are clearly not a legitimate option for those who have their priorities in order and wish to preserve health and well being beyond any temporary muscle building or fat loss goal. It's unfortunate that many 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 produce such a temporary level of fat loss or muscle gain pose extreme health risks to those involved, and regardless of these realities, become a very powerful temptation for those who try to emulate the individuals they deem to be admired and accepted by society.

Muscle building or fat loss results are as unique as our finger prints, and we should never try to transform into another in our pursuit of any muscle gain or fat reduction goal, rather forging our own individual road by maximizing the individual bodybuilding potential each of us has, and doing so through an effective weight training plan and bodybuilding diet. When we begin to consider bodybuilding as an experiment in individual achievement, we then begin to finally embrace the improvements we make, as opposed to feeling constantly deprived due to focusing on the accomplishments of another. Without the chance of experiencing satisfaction with our own transformation, bodybuilding becomes a never ending pursuit of the unattainable, and can morph from an entertaining pursuit into a stressful, detrimental hobby.