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Genetics
- Thread starter spatts
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benchmonster
New member
The funny thing (to me) about genetics is that people who are strong never seem to talk much about genetics, while those who are weak never seem to talk much about anything but genetics, except for when they are whining about juice or equipment.
I am short, about five eight. I don't have very big hands. I have relatively short arms. I have brown hair. I have 20/20 vision. These things were/are determined by genetics.
I weigh 247 lbs as of this writing at 12.7% bodyfat. I have benched in excess of 500 lbs on a regular basis for the last 6 or 8 months. These things are not determined by genetics.
When I was in high school, which I graduated from 11 years ago, I was same height as now, and 92 lbs lighter. I was not as strong, or as muscular as I am now. Has my genetics changed in the last 11 years?
I am same genetically now as then, but weights that would have crushed me then, are passed in warmups with little or no notice now. Have my genetics gotten better? or maybe I have done just a little bit of hard and smart work over the last 11 years.
George Halbert was stuck at around a 500 bench for over a year, according to a story told by Louie Simmons, and this is someone who had powerlifted for some time. After being stuck, within a year training at westside he had put on almost 150 lbs on his bench. Same genetics after a year, don't you think?
And I know that people will say, "but those guys had the genetics to do those lifts all along" Sure, but who is to say you don't have them too? I certainly would not tell you that you don't. Hannibal would not tell you that you don't. DBCooper, Spatts, IronLion, and any of the other serious trainers on here would not tell you that you don't have the genetics to do anything you choose to do.
Stop using your whimpy genetics as an excuse. I was weak, skinny and sickly as a kid. I have come extremely close to bleeding to death in the hospital on 2 different occasions, and I have the most backwards, redneck DNA you will ever find, but you won't hear me whining about genetics. That is for the weak to discuss.
B.
I am short, about five eight. I don't have very big hands. I have relatively short arms. I have brown hair. I have 20/20 vision. These things were/are determined by genetics.
I weigh 247 lbs as of this writing at 12.7% bodyfat. I have benched in excess of 500 lbs on a regular basis for the last 6 or 8 months. These things are not determined by genetics.
When I was in high school, which I graduated from 11 years ago, I was same height as now, and 92 lbs lighter. I was not as strong, or as muscular as I am now. Has my genetics changed in the last 11 years?
I am same genetically now as then, but weights that would have crushed me then, are passed in warmups with little or no notice now. Have my genetics gotten better? or maybe I have done just a little bit of hard and smart work over the last 11 years.
George Halbert was stuck at around a 500 bench for over a year, according to a story told by Louie Simmons, and this is someone who had powerlifted for some time. After being stuck, within a year training at westside he had put on almost 150 lbs on his bench. Same genetics after a year, don't you think?
And I know that people will say, "but those guys had the genetics to do those lifts all along" Sure, but who is to say you don't have them too? I certainly would not tell you that you don't. Hannibal would not tell you that you don't. DBCooper, Spatts, IronLion, and any of the other serious trainers on here would not tell you that you don't have the genetics to do anything you choose to do.
Stop using your whimpy genetics as an excuse. I was weak, skinny and sickly as a kid. I have come extremely close to bleeding to death in the hospital on 2 different occasions, and I have the most backwards, redneck DNA you will ever find, but you won't hear me whining about genetics. That is for the weak to discuss.
B.
Zander1983
New member
They can be very important. Not everybody can be 6'4 and dunk a B-ball, for example 
However, much too often they are used as a very convenient scapegoat.
However, much too often they are used as a very convenient scapegoat.
benchmonster said:
If you are looking for a reason to lose you will always find one.
http://boards.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=52164&highlight=springs
posted almost 2 years ago and still holds true IMO...
....but it has been my experience that the genetically gifted are usually lazy. Everything comes so easily to them that they never learn work ethic...or dedication. While I can appreciate someone that is genetically gifted...and give them all their due credit. I have more respect for the "grinders". No NOT hardgainers...don't believe in that term. Just people that have to bust their balls/or ovaries to get where they want to go. Besides..."grinders" seem to respect their accomplishments more...and never seem to take them for granted. NOTHING has ever come easy for me...and that's just the way I want it.
Another thing that I have noticed about the genetically gifted...is that they always seem to follow their genitics. They engage in the activities that their body is built for...maybe even when they don't enjoy it persay. Someone without any athletic ability will generally follow their passion. While I give someone like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson all the credit in the world. I have more RESPECT for someone like Mugsy Bogues or Spud Webb...bad genetics are just an excuse.
quote:
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Originally posted by manny78
well i dont know anybody who's been rich for his genetics..... lol
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Of course you do..Shaquille O'neal...he has absolutely NO SHOT...but because he is big and can move people, and dunk...he is considered one of The Greatest. Taking nothing away from him..but put him in Kevin Garnett's skinny frame...and make him have to shoot...and he would have washed out years ago.
quote:
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Originally posted by rudedawg
Wait a minute.... remember your first response? People with that are gentecially gifted gravitate towards whtat they are gentically gifted at, right? So if Shaq wasn't built like he is he might have had to work on his all around game so he could have been a Kevin Garnett type player. Who knows?
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Well I know that we are in agreement with this. And I think that this proves my point. Shaq never developed his game because he was always bigger and stronger than the rest. Had he had to work to get where he is maybe he would have a jumper...and would be an even more dominant player....if that is possible. Imagine how many points he has left at the free throw line..that is rediculous. And in the beginning of his career all he did was DUNK. When asked about his poor free throw shooting..he blamed it on being TOO TALL...PLEASE. There have been several Centers that have been money from the stripe. Even Bill Lambeer was known to hit from behind the 3 point arc with some proficiency. Of course now Shaq is starting to work on his game...guess he finally realized that raw talent will only take you so far.
This is not to say that KG does not have freaky genentics...dudes got springs. But he spent last summer working on his three point shooting...wanting to be a more complete player. I guess the bottom line is...genetics aside...if you are a lazy bastard you are only going to go so far.
My dad is not a big guy. No one in my family is close to my size. My dad was a green beret and saw combat in Vietnam. What he taught me about mental toughness and 'limitaions' or more accurately the lack thereof, is the greatest 'genetic' gift I was blessed with. It can be summed up like this: you are only as strong as your will.
Make the best of what you got. What else you gonna do? I was lucky enough to have pretty well-built parents, but there's plenty of lifters out there that have done wonders with what they've been given
PolishHammer1977
New member
Zander1983 said:They can be very important. Not everybody can be 6'4 and dunk a B-ball, for example
You hads to slip that one in there lolI am very thankful
Lord_Suston
New member
Man o man you should see the shitty gene pool I was stuck with.... But hell I am not gonna use that for a reason to hold back and not try to succeed. Strive for the most because in the end settling for less is just a waste....
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