What's Your Genetic Potential?

A lot of guys who dream to get big and strong look at bodybuilders or fitness models in magazines and say to themselves: "I want to be huge like that", "I want arms as big as this, "I'd love to be that ripped" etc. Women look at the photos of celebs and think “I’d love to look like this in a tight dress / bikini” etc. Is it really possible? And to what degree? That largely depends on the genetics your mom and dad have passed on to you.

There are so many variables involved. Let's discuss the most important ones.

- Satellite cells

Strong evidence suggests that the results you see in the gym are highly dependent on the efficacy of satellite cell-mediated myonuclear addition. Basically your muscles won't grow unless the satellite cells surrounding your muscle fibers donate their nuclei to your muscles so they can produce more genetic material to signal the cells to grow. Blessed individuals have more satellite cells that surround their muscle fibers, as well as a remarkable ability to expand their satellite cell pool via training.

- Hormonal profile

Testosterone, growth hormone, insulin etc. All of them will affect muscle growth / fat loss in different pathways, so proper function of endocrine system is essential.

- Myostatin

Myostatin is a protein produced in skeletal muscle cells that inhibits that inhibits muscle differentiation and growth. It normally restrains muscle growth, ensuring that muscles do not grow too large. Mutations that reduce the production of functional myostatin lead to an overgrowth of muscle tissue. Myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy has a pattern of inheritance known as incomplete autosomal dominance.

- Structure

What is the ratio of your clavicles (how wide your shoulders are) to your hips? This is very important to enhance that desired V-taper. How tall are you? Tall guys often have a tendency to look a bit lanky, whereas shorter guys can create that impression muscular thickness. How big your joints are? Muscles look fuller and rounder and can be more aesthetic with smaller joints.

- Length of muscle bellies

When the muscle belly is long with shorter tendons, the muscle could have a greater potential for growth, as well as it looks more aesthetically pleasing (think Phil Heath). However a shorter muscle belly could mean more explosive power and better athletic performance. The easiest muscle to measure is biceps. Flex your arm at 90 degrees angle and contract your biceps. The gap between your contracted biceps and your forearm will indicate the length of the muscle – the shorter the gap, the longer the muscle belly.

- Ratio of slow & fast twitch muscle fibres

Those with a higher percentage of fast twitch fibers will gain muscle mass more readily – think sprinters vs distance runners.

These are the main areas were genetics affect your physique. When it comes to fitness and athletic performance, there are other factors largely affected by genetics – strength, explosiveness, agility, balance, coordination etc.

However it should not serve as an excuse. We all have issues with genetics that we have to work around. Some of us are predisposed to carrying excess fat, some of us are lean but have stubborn areas of fat deposition, some struggle building muscle, and some are muscular but have weak body parts. Some of us have all of this combined, and nobody has perfect genetics! My list of genetic curses is endless, and having a bone condition as a kid set me back in a major way, but despite this I've managed to develop a quite respectable physique.

Also I have never had a client who didn't look better after a couple of months of training (or even weeks), assuming they stick with the program. All of them lose fat and gain some muscular shape.

The bottom line is - genetics make a difference, but intelligent training, adequate nutrition, and supplements can help you maximize what your parents gave you, as long as you’re consistent with your efforts.