Genetics...

[b fold the truth]

Was thinking about something tonight... How quickly are we to point the finger at a great athlete and assume that they use AAS because they are VERY strong or VERY lean or VERY muscular... I have been guilty of this also...

I look at my girlfriend who has been lifting with me off and on for the past couple of weeks and I am just amazed. She has NEVER lifted weights in her life and she has muscles everywhere. She has erectors from neck to butt, calves, hams, quads, abs, can make her pecs jump, delts, biceps, triceps, traps, etc... She has done some pretty crazy things in the gym over the past week...and she is lifetiime drug free. She laughs that she is 'lifting free' also...

If I spent 3 years working with her, pushing her body to the extreme, working on her diet, etc...I just think about what she could be. She could be ripped at 5'1" with freaky strength...drug free. Most of all, people would be looking at her and they would just 'KNOW' in their minds that she was on all kinds of AAS because of how she looks...

Truth is...she has freaky genetics. Adding hard work to those genetics would make her look freaky. Of course...adding AAS to those genetics and hard work could make her amazing.

I also remember talking to Becca Swanson (if you don't know who she is, run a search on google) and she told me that she weighed 185 before she ever touched a weight. Our hands are the same size too...and I don't have small hands by any means.

Just a few thoughts...about genetics...about hard work...and about who we point the finger at. Mostly just speaking out loud...and bragging a lil too

B True

 

[c3bodybuilding]

I understand this point. I too am guilt of this, even though people have pulled that shit with me in the past! I remember being 6'3 144lb kid, and within a few months of lifting weights, and to be honest, not even eating all that well, weighing 191lbs. Not a monster, but for 3-4 months, it was a transformation to say the least. People were whispering all sorts of crap.

Well, even after going through that, I still sometimes see someone who might just be genetically gifted, but can't help but think "is it drugs and hard work?" But I guess unless we know the person, we would never have a way of knowing.

 

[DBCooper]

Sounds like you have a good women on your hands B, but I'm sure you knew that. I have met Becca twice and she is a phenome to the extreme. Genetics are a great thing, it's to bad not all those that have them use them. I HAD a best friend that has great potential-ripped up at any bodyweight and strong. To bad the party seen keeps his nose running and his weight low.

 

[flexygrl]

B,

Also to the other extreme is realizing that sometimes your genetics give you limitations. My husband has small ankles and wrists. He has a massive upper body and skinny legs. He's been working out for years. He trains lower body as hard as upper so it's not that he's not training right.


For me, I had to and I am still coming to turns that I don't have a tiny, petite frame.

So either if you have been blessed or not so blessed, it's important to make your genetics work for you.


On a side note:

You seem very happy with your gf!! Good luck with everything! Isn't love grans?!?

 

[Deleted member 33117]

Right, I know how that goes. Fortunately I'm gifted with alot of natural strength. People though I was on something after I had been working out all of 6 months because I was benching 315, and leg pressing 20 plates for reps. Of course now that I do juice it is just rediculous. Still it used to get on my nerves when people would ask me what I was on.
flexy, the wrist help with astetics (mine tape out at 5 3/4" around), but I know how he feels on a heavy lift. Anytime I go over 400 ibs on the bench my wrist kill me, even with wraps. They'll hurt all day. As far as the lower body goes, he needs to just keep pounding it. He proably needs to totally rethink his lower body routine if it is as you describe though.

 

[MissChris]

It's true! Since I started lifting last year, I've discovered that I have a definite tendency to be freakishly vascular (even in my calves -- what the heck!)...to a degree that I don't see in other females, and frequently I don't see it in the males in my gym either.

Combine that with my current leaness, which really plays up the mass I've built (which isn't a whole lot, it's just quite defined right now), and I get some funny looks sometimes. I'm sure there might be some who think I juice, but I suppose I just inherited it.

 

[spatts]

B, don't make me bust out my pics from when I was 5 years old again. lol

 

[makedah]

spatts -

 

[PolishHammer1977]

 

[makedah]

I've been thinking about this thread...
I've always had curvy, strong thighs and calves - even when I was a skinny kid. It doesn't take much to make my quads and hams thicker. When I was in college, I remember folks asking me if I ran track. Ah, those were the days!

But my upper body - oh boy. I have spindly arms and a tiny rib cage (and therefore, a narrow back). I've changed my training to try to bring my upper body up (esp. trying to thicken my upper back) so I can increase my squat.