No argument there at all. I will never be Arnold Schwarzenegger no matter how many drugs I take or how much effort I ever put into it.
The point was that genetics are not the most important factor in achieving your goals. If my goal was to become Arnold, then my genetics still aren’t the biggest limiting factor, my perspective is. It’s an unobtainable goal and if I’m trying to deny that, then I’m going to have a problem achieving ANY goal, because I don’t have the capacity to effectively evaluate myself.
Now if I realistically evaluate my situation, and decide that I want to set a goal to add more muscle mass than I currently have, there is nothing that genetics can do to stop me.
Not naturally maybe, but you could. That’s the point.
Naturally speaking, there is a limit to how much muscle mass you can put on. You can reach a peak and then never get past that, but genetics cannot keep your from getting bigger. You can add pharmaceuticals to the mix and push right on past that.
I think you guys are completely missing my point, and that is that if you think genetics are your limiting factor, since genetics can’t be changed, then you have mentally taken yourself completely out of the game and you have killed yourself in your own mind.
When you tell yourself that you cannot reach your goals because of genetics, then you have just destroyed your motivation to strive for that goal. If it’s not obtainable, why waste the effort to try right? Now if you never really wanted to put the effort into it in the first place, then that’s the perfect excuse… all you have to do is set yourself an impossible goal, and then have a realization that you can never obtain it because of your parents bad genes. Case closed…Open a beer and the bag of pretzels.
@bkb333, all this means is that you will have to work harder in some areas than some guys will. That’s not fair, but it’s not a bad thing either. Hell, I would even argue that you will have obtained MORE in the form of self respect, and accomplished MORE than the other guys did because it cost you more.
Story of my life! Lol. I’ve never had a time in my life where I didn’t have to bust my ass to the fullest extent for every goal I’ve ever set for myself, but that didn’t keep me from achieving it. I look back on some of the things I’ve accomplished in my own personal life and I’m like “damn! Did I do do that?!!” Lol
It’s a great feeling brother. I wish everyone could know what I’m trying to explain here.
Well I guess I see your point but I think that there is grey area of “who gives a fuck Im just going to keep going”. Because honestly, who fucking really knows what your genetic potential is? Maybe that little bit of Neanderthal you got from your mom that your dad didnt have will propel you into the stratosphere. I can understand I have genetic limitations and at the same time have no fucking clue what those are. I probably don’t have Lillibridge DNA but that won’t keep me from pushing towards my genetic potential…whatever the fuck that is. It won’t stop me from saying I only need 3 for this PR and then take a deep breath in as I pull the 13th rep off the ground while my body is quaking and screaming STOP. We just keep going.
I don’t think reaching their genetic potential stops natty lifters and competitors from striving for more. It’s a personality trait. You are either going to look for excuses to not train hard or you are just going for it.
Completely agree with this. I hear all the time about how people are searching for excuses, and I see it first-hand too – some friends are classic examples – but can’t relate at all.
I show up to lift hard and eat well 24/7/365. My bigger issue is that I go too hard and don’t know how to relax. I’m sure many around here can relate. It’s a constant struggle, caring too much, even though I can’t really explain why – it’s not like reaching a certain physique would ever be truly fulfilling.
Currently weighing 175 and 11-12% BF. As you can see, still holding some weight in the lower abdominals, so the next phase is getting off that last bit (5ish pounds) of fat.
Thanks, brother! That’s encouraging. I was actually thinking my arms looked small and was considering switching to a shoulders/arms emphasis. Do you think I should…
Stick with chest/back
Switch to shoulders/arms
Switch to legs
Options 1-2 are preferable because I already have the programs and wouldn’t need to buy them, but 3 would probably do the most for my physique.
Right back at you and just posted my starting point!
Regarding your programming, I actually think your legs look in proportion with the rest of your body. As NH_Watts suggested, just adding leg volume consistently would probably be enough to get you additional development without needing to buy a new program!
I know you won’t believe this, and I don’t want to sound like a parrot here but…You are holding on to that very small layer in the lower abdominals (which nobody notices but you lol) because your body thinks you’re starving! I’d up the calories…
Regarding the Bi’s, do you incorporate isolation training using single arm targeting (iso DB curls, DB preachers, etc), or do you do mostly do compound lifts using both arms at the same time (barbell curls, pull ups, chin ups, etc)?
I ask because it looks like you are HIGHLY favoring one side, so I’m guessing that you do a lot of barbell work and chin ups / pull-ups.
If this is true, cut the barbell exercises completely out of your routine (for arm exercises anyway) and stick to isolation DB exercises. Start on the weak side and push it to absolute failure then do one or two more negatives if possible. Then switch to the strong side and do the exact same amount of repetitions with the same weight and stop. Only worry about complete failure on the weaker side. 6 months of this type of training will get you balanced out.
