Genetic Limits

[ZZuluZ]

Does anybody know more about this? Is it possible that someone's genetic limit is as low as 300 or 200 pounds in the BP or Squat? That no matter WHAT they do; they'll never get stronger.

I'm asking because I feel like I'm never going to get any stronger, yet I've read just about every weightlifing article in existance.

Just turned 16 btw.

Thx guys,

-Zulu

 

[1-dawg]

Your limits are only what you percieve them to be.

 

[ZZuluZ]

Care to expand on that? Surely there must be people with genetics which will NEVER allow them to gain superhuman amounts of strength, right?

Cheers,

-Zulu

 

[sysopt]

Some are certainly better off than others from a genetic standpoint, however if you are refering to yourself, you still have plenty time to go. Hell, you aren't even fully grown yet.

 

[powerlifterjay]

Dude at 16 yrs old i worked out at a rec center and i weighed 165 lbs . Probably less then that. But i was considered to be very powerful at my school for th efact i could bench 265lbs. I had no belt no wraps hell i didnt know what those were. But though i just dabbled in weight training when i was 18 i finally benched 315 @175lbs. Then by 20 i hit 365at 190lbs And by 22 i hit 425lbs at 200lbs. But then parting n geting to the gym at my leisure my bench stayed there forever. I entered a meet and the meet was the first time i put a single poly shirt on. Which i coulod put it on myself. I hit like 405 or something at 214lbs @25yrs old. Less then a yr later at the same time i hit 525lbs @228lbs. One yr afte rthat i opened with 565lbs at 220lbs this last sept. My best meet bench is 585 at 235lbs. I have benched over 600 5 seperate times and my Pr In the gym is 635lbs. My point is look at my size and strength from the time i was your age till now. There is no comparison. Your mind is very powerful, if you believe you can, or better yet should be lifting a certain weight you will. I know i will. To me 600lb bench is nothng and if for some reason if dont hit it in Jan i will probably be very upset cause i know i can and should be doing more. Dont let your mind set any limits. hell watching George Halbert this last Sept really taught me to never set limits. Consistancy is what gets you the weights you want. Cause once you get there if you take time off it goes away quicker then it came. So the secret isnt can i do it, its once i do it how long can i keep it.

 

[ZZuluZ]

Very impressive jay...... quite inspirational.

But at the same time it's sort of discouraging. It seems like progress sort of came naturally to you, at least early on. Hell you benched 265 in high school. I've been stuck at 150 pounds while some of my friends who know far less than me on the matter are benching 200+. Seems like some people are just so much more gifted no matter how motivated or knowledgeable you are.

-Zulu

 

[1-dawg]

Maybe this will make it clearer.

About 6 yeras ago when I was 26 I entered my first powerlifting meet. Now, do not laugh, but here's what I did @220lbs:
485sq
303bp
518dl
1303 total

Now 6 years later I have doen this:
711sq
501bp
655dl
1813 total

On teh day I squatted 711 I came up with 755 but was turned down. I feel good right now for a 520-530bp on the right now. I have also had 661 and 672 at lockout but dropped due to a weak ass grip. I am now looking for a 1900total and then 200 within the next 18 months. My point is this -- keep at it, you will get stronger. My numbers are not great but they are pretty good. I may never be the absolute strongest but I will keep trying. Push hard, and don't ley anyone tell you cannot. when someone says I can't do something, I go out of my way to prove them wrong.

 

[powerlifterjay]

Just like 1 dawg said dont let anyone say you cant and you dont believe you cant. I dint mention the first time i got on a bench when i was 14 almost 15 i could barely get 135 for a few little reps. I read a article in an old Pl Usa mag that talked about the wrestler Rulon Gardner or howe ever its spelled. He went up against the russian who hadnt even been scored on in over a decade and have never lost. Rulon coaches didnt think he couold win they were happy with silver no one in the WORLD thought he could. Hell they were just wandering for how long it would last. The only person who didnt know anybetter was Rulon. He didnt know he was supposed to lose. He just went out and beat him 1-0. The only reason that story stuck with me is cause i seen that match and was actually one of the people who just wandered how long it would last. He won cause he didnt know better. Dude lift like you know no better. There no limits and if you do ever reach your limit it wont be when your 16 hell it wont be till your 30's. I was just showing my wife last night on Garry Franks web site that when he was my age 27 his total was like around 2000 maybe 2100 not sure with out looking it up, but now at 36 he is 2606 and the freakin strongest man to ever walk this planet. So just lift!

 

[ZZuluZ]

Thx for the support guys; I guess I'll stick with it

Cheers,

-Zulu