Chances are if you have been training for even 6 months and are seeing a bicep bulge, the chest stand proud, the abs starting to rip or the quads starting to swell, you have been gifted with genetics build muscle. Yet you look around the gym and see some guy training half your intensity and yet he carries substantially more muscle mass than you. You’re a bit frustrated. And while to don't pay as close attention, you notice on occasion that some guy regularly training for years looks just the same as he did years ago. He is still skinny with seemingly has no new muscle.

So what role does genetics play in bodybuilding?

Plenty! Just as Einstein was gifted mathematically, Michael Jordan gifted athletically, and Elvis gifted musically, some are gifted in physically. Now first of all if you are reading this article and have made even an inkling of progress, you have some degree giftedness in bodybuilding. However genetics is a determining factor in the level of bodybuilding achievement each of us are faced.

Trey Brewer's freaky thighs. Genetics or extreme focused leg training? Can you believe that Trey mashes the scales to 275 lbs at only 21 Years old? How does he do it?

My High School Example:

In high school, my best buddy had what I thought at the time enormous arms. Of course big arms would be a sign of strength to any high schooler. When I met his older and young brother, I noticed that both of them had big arms as well. Guess what their dad looked like. You got it…big arms. Now let me say that none of children or dad lifted weight one. They were just gifted genetically with big arms.

"The reason that some will achieve bodybuilding greatness is genetics. It is also the reason some won’t. " Socrates*

The loaded Chest of Mike Dragna. His gifted area.

Assuming you are working out hard, you probably can look in the mirror and size up to some degree your genetic potential. You might know if you are:

• An ectomorph (lean and thin)
• An endomorph (smooth and fat)
• A mesomorph (muscular).

Unfortunately, just as there are only a handful of Einsteins walking the earth at any one time, there are also only a handful of " Arnolds" as well. However, there are thousands of national level physiques, tens of thousands regional level physiques and probably hundreds of thousands of local level physiques. You don't know where you are…at least not completely.

So before you turn in your gym membership and give up training toward your goal, consider that success in bodybuilding is a combination of traits besides genetics:

• Desire- The attitude to achieve and push on even against the odds. You don't miss a workout. You don't give in to bad eating habits.
• Training- The willingness to work your butt off every time you hit the gym. "Sweat eventually hardens to muscle" Jameson
• Nutrition- The discipline to eat the right foods and take the right supplements. You pack in the high protein foods, vitamins and protein shakes.
• Steroids and other drugs- Admittedly these are a factor to extending the normal capability of your physique. I am not recommending their use, but am acknowledging the role the do play in bodybuilding.
• Genetics- Of course the programming of your body to grow and have certain body parts that easily improve and others that are weak points.

Now I know some of you are thinking, steroids will make up the huge gap even if I have some genetics deficiencies.

"If I just take enough juice I will reach my goal." Maybe and maybe not. Now I will not argue steroids will take you to your peak faster and the will even take you beyond what normally you are capable in development. But to think steroids will turn anyone into a national competitor just isn’t so.

Steve Michalik, a bodybuilder great with a ton of genetic potential from early 80's said this: "I would have eaten dirty grease out of the crankcase of an engine at 10 dollars an ounce if I thought it would make me Mr. America" [quote paraphrased from memory of the book Pumping Iron]. Steve had a lot of genetic potential. He competed at the national level competition long before he took his first steroid. He later won the Mr. Universe in 1975. While Steve reached greatness, he was never the greatest bodybuilder of his time. Steroids could not make him the best in world even though he willingly "boat loaded" the drugs and had a near death experience. Today Steve is a staunch supporter of training without drugs.

Erik Fankhouser's mammoth calves...rivaling the size of his quads. Genetically gifted.

So what next if I can't be the next NPC USA Overall Winner:

1. Strive to be your best. Today, even a below average bodybuilder looks better than 99% of the population.
2. Train like a maniac because "Sweat eventually hardens to Muscle" and you really don't know your limits without pushing yourself.
3. Measure progress against yourself. Check the scales and tape measure for gains you have made. Use the mirror to record new cuts, veins and definition.
4. Enjoy the sport for health purposes. You feel better both physically and mentally when you body build.
5. Have fun with the sport. Bodybuilding is collection of fun people. Enjoy your workouts and don't get stressed if you progress is slower than you want. (But don't excuse yourself to work less intensely either.)
6. Be thankful for the genetics abilities you do have.

So is there anything I can to do to fix my genetics….well maybe it is coming…read on about the Myostatin Gene.

* Okay you caught me. Socrates did not say this.

 

Sweat eventually hardens to Muscle".....Scott

This article is property of Bodybuilding Program Zone and may not be reproduced without written permission from Scott Jameson. Besides it wouldn't be right....Scott