Genetic advantages and disadvantages

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Nicolasd

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What's your thoughts on people's genetic heritage?

I'm curious how fitness oriented people here feel about it.

The interesting part is most people talk about genetics in a different way than they actually react to it.

People will say or accept stuff like "I'm fat because of my genes", like it's some sort of excuse. Then there's the other crowd who chimes in "you just have to work hard to overcome it" - like it is inconsequential to have bad genes.

In my book, someone who works hard and overcomes their genes, sure that's great - but they still have bad genes, their results are probably less than someone with good genes would get, and they have to work their asses off.

Bad genes are still bad genes. If a guy genetically disposed to great appetite manages to fight it and stay fit, that's good for him - but in my book the guy whose natural appetite lets him remain at a proper weight has it better.

People are the sums or their environment, behavior and genetics. It's the results that matter. I just don't understand why people talk about it the genetics part (and often also the environment) doesn't contribute to the qualities of the person.

Is the fat guy turned slim really better off than the born athlete?
 
We have already had some pretty hot discussions on this topic. So I suggest you do a search ;)
 
Nicolasd said:
In my book, someone who works hard and overcomes their genes, sure that's great - but they still have bad genes, their results are probably less than someone with good genes would get, and they have to work their asses off.
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IMO you need to get to a very advanced stage before genetics prevents you from advancing. For example, I think my genes make it tough for me to gain muscle, but regardless of that I'm sure I'd be able to be at least the biggest guy in the gym with the correct application, or even the biggest guy on the whole beach, but would I ever be an Arnie? Probably not - (But I'd never know for sure unless I tried)

I think that with genetics it's one of those things you need to put out of your mind a little (unless you're studying genetics ;)), if you start to believe you'll always be skinny/fat then it'll become a self-fulfilling prophesy .

My parents both have this 'you are how you were and always will be' type of attitude that was popular when they were kids, like you can't fight nature. I think that's a big reason why my mum has continually gained weight over the years, she thinks it's out of her control.
 
Nicolasd said:
What's your thoughts on people's genetic heritage?

I'm curious how fitness oriented people here feel about it.

The interesting part is most people talk about genetics in a different way than they actually react to it.

People will say or accept stuff like "I'm fat because of my genes", like it's some sort of excuse. Then there's the other crowd who chimes in "you just have to work hard to overcome it" - like it is inconsequential to have bad genes.

In my book, someone who works hard and overcomes their genes, sure that's great - but they still have bad genes, their results are probably less than someone with good genes would get, and they have to work their asses off.

Bad genes are still bad genes. If a guy genetically disposed to great appetite manages to fight it and stay fit, that's good for him - but in my book the guy whose natural appetite lets him remain at a proper weight has it better.

People are the sums or their environment, behavior and genetics. It's the results that matter. I just don't understand why people talk about it the genetics part (and often also the environment) doesn't contribute to the qualities of the person.

Is the fat guy turned slim really better off than the born athlete?
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IMHO, I think that the person who is overweight and works his ass off gets more respect than those who have it easier. And, IMHO, that's the way it should be.

Taking your ex from above, the guy who is genetically disposed to a smaller appetite (A), is no better than the guy who's genetically disposed to a larger appetite (B). Guy A just has it easier. It doesnt' make him better.

However, you also hear "I get my XXX from my mother" or what have you and I think to the extent it's true. I have large hips. I know my mom did. Does that mean that they will remain that way forever? Not necessarily, but I can tell you that even when I was 15 pounds lighter, they were still big and there are only so many things you can do to make them smaller. Yes, there is diet, excercise....but I also wonder if it's possible to have lipo to help (I SAID HELP, PEOPLE!) get rid of some of the excess fat. Granted, you still have to maintain a clean diet and excercise, but I also think that perhaps lipo could help.

Not sure if that answered your question, but those are my thoughts.
 
Beth_G said:
IMHO, I think that the person who is overweight and works his ass off gets more respect than those who have it easier. And, IMHO, that's the way it should be.
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I dunno. If you needed to move two heavy boxes, and one guy is stronger and can carry both at the same time, while the other guy has to do two runs carrying one box at a time - the stronger guy has an easier time, the weaker guy doesn't get more respect for doing the same job in twice the time in my book.

Or the better looking guy who works hard to get the pretty girl, compared to the average guy who has a hard time getting an average girl - that's more success for the genetically bestowed fellow. Aren't you going to recognize that as such, even though they did the same effort?

Working hard is a quality for everyone, sure, but so is the other qualities that people have, including the genetic traits. And in the end, it's the sum of the parts that matter.

Beth_G said:
However, you also hear "I get my XXX from my mother" or what have you and I think to the extent it's true. I have large hips. I know my mom did. Does that mean that they will remain that way forever? Not necessarily, but I can tell you that even when I was 15 pounds lighter, they were still big and there are only so many things you can do to make them smaller. Yes, there is diet, excercise....but I also wonder if it's possible to have lipo to help (I SAID HELP, PEOPLE!) get rid of some of the excess fat. Granted, you still have to maintain a clean diet and excercise, but I also think that perhaps lipo could help.
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Off topic, but that's what lipo is for imo, to spot reduce after you've done what you can through diet and exercise. If you're happy with how you look relative to the effort you're willing to do with exercise and diet, except for one part, then lipo is a totally acceptable fix imo.
 
I consider myself not to have optimal bodybuilding genes and I don't care if I have to work twice as hard than someone with better genes as long as I reach my goal. The person with the bad genes will have a stronger mental determination and ambition to strive for his goal than the person born with the muscles.

One of my major pet peeves though is when people justify people being obese saying its their genetics...in todays world its the environment and culture ..mostly.
 
Beth_G said:
IMHO, I think that the person who is overweight and works his ass off gets more respect than those who have it easier. And, IMHO, that's the way it should be.

Taking your ex from above, the guy who is genetically disposed to a smaller appetite (A), is no better than the guy who's genetically disposed to a larger appetite (B). Guy A just has it easier. It doesnt' make him better.
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Keep in mind that having a smaller appetite does not make things easier. I've been struggling with my appetite for the past 3 years.

Now, my appetite issue is definitely not genetic, well I didn't inherit it from either of my parents. I could go all day without eating and I probably wouldn't feel psychologically hungry, you know that urge to eat something that originates in your brain. Yes, my stomach will start rumbling, and I take that as a sign that it's time to eat. It is very rare for me to get cravings for any particular type of food. Eating is mostly a chore for me. It is not something I enjoy (unless it's something really good like sushi :))

Most of the time, I forget to eat when I'm really stressed out. A couple of times, when I was having a really bad day, I went most of the day without eating because food just didn't cross my mind. I stopped doing that two years ago because I was wasting away. I hit 105 at my lowest.

Basically my lack of appetite makes me need to be very conscious of how much I have eaten each day and if it is enough.

Now, I have no idea how this could be connected to genetics, but I must have gotten it somehow.

Basically, the traits we are born with could be a gift for some and a burden for others. I envy those who put on weight easily while they probably envy me.

For someone who has struggled keeping weight on, I would not ever consider my condition an advantage in any way.
 
Just embrace yourself for who you are

And if you want to change for the right reasons, go for it and dont let anyone stop you...
 
A few quick thoughts

When I think of genetic advantages and disadvantages, I don't think about weight gain or loss so much as your suitability for specific activities and sports. Some people have more fast-twitch muscle, others more slow. Some people will be taller. We are all a mix of the three "classic" body types, but some have more of one than the others. We all gain weight and muscle differently - and in different places.

I'm about 80-90% meso. I can take off and put on weight (both muscle OR fat) fairly easy - depending on my goal.

I can be quick and explosive, but running any distance beyond 5K would require extensive training and would still not put me in the upper echelon of runners.

When I was playing basketball, I could shoot, run the floor, and, more important, hit the open guy with a pass. But I am not (and was not) tall enough to compete at a higher level, especially without being blessed with the vertical leap of a Spud Webb or Muggsy Bogues.

So, of course, genetics MATTER. At the same time, if you're not trying to be an elite athlete in a particular sport, your genetics should not be a limitation in accomplishing whatever goals you wish to aim for. What is "better" is being happy with who you are and what you can do, whether you got a boost from mother nature or not.

To comment quickly on two points raised above:

- Obesity is a problem of so many things - genetics, culture, socio-economics, and even semantics (amazing how many more people became obese when they changed the measuring stick!). There is no way for you to know what's the 'cause' of any one specific person's overall body composition, unless you are closely familiar with the situation. Ergo, one size fits all (ha!) solutions are not the way to go.

- Liposuction can be a major surgical procedure (requiring anesthetics & its risks, along with other side effects & long term consequences), so I caution anyone considering the process to weigh the benefits and risks carefully.

Just my two cents.

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I don't really get what you're driving at. I mean if somebody has got a good body, I'll admire it. If I know that they had to work hard to achieve it then I'll admire that effort/motivation as well - but I wouldn't admire their body any more or less than the natural. I don't see the need to compare one as better than the other.
 
I agree with phil. Whether you have "good" or "bad" genes, you still have to work. It's not like gifted athletes just sit on their ass and can go out and perform. You better believe they hit the weights hard, they workout hard, they eat right. People who have to work harder just have to work harder. I don't think genes is a barrier unless we are talking about bodybuilding levels.
 
A lot of the things you mentioned were limted not by genetics, but by the amount someone has to work. When you say,

In my book, someone who works hard and overcomes their genes, sure that's great - but they still have bad genes, their results are probably less than someone with good genes would get, and they have to work their asses off.
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I'm going to assume that the two specimens are of equal stature, one achieved by hard work, and the other achieved by relatively coasting on genetic gifts.

Well if they have equal stats, what's the limiting factor? It isn't genetics as much as it is character. Sure, maybe the guy with worse genes needs to work harder to maintain that same state as the guy with good genes. What's the point? As long as the worse off guy puts in the work, he will be at the same state as the better off guy.

If the results are the same...who's really "better off" in the end? Neither. They are equal. So where does genetics come into play? It doesn't. Because one was willing to get the results by compensating for what he lacked on his side of the equation, while the other guy worked less to get the same thing. Since these two are set to be equal, the limiting factor is, character and work ethic.


If you're looking at equal work, the guy with better genes will always come out on top.

I was not born athletic. I wasn't born strong or fast. As a kid, all my peers were physically better than me. I made myself strong and fast. A lot of my peers who didn't nurture their natural talent are still pretty good, but the difference now is-- so am I.
 
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