"Stop Blaming Genetics For Your Lack Of Muscle Mass"

When looking to build muscle to gain weight using a proper workout program and bodybuilding nutrition, genetics plays a big role in determining exactly how much muscle you can gain and how fast you can grow.

However, I'm having a real problem lately seeing too many people blaming genetics for their lack of progress.

As soon as someone begins to mention that he / she can't seem to build muscle no matter how hard or long they weight train immediately the lack of having "bodybuilding" genetics is to
blame.

As soon as an individual notices that he / she isn't gaining an ounce of muscle mass even though they are following the strictest of workout nutrition / diet, who takes the blame?

Genetics.

Don't get me wrong, genetics is definitely a limiting factor in your overall, long-term muscular development.

That's why you have some individuals naturally stronger and / or bigger than others.

However, and this is a big however, being quick to blame a bad set of genes as the main reason why you are not experiencing the muscle gaining progress you feel you should can be turning
you into your own worst enemy.

Someone that instantly blames genetics for a lack of results is doing a huge disservice to themselves.

"Is it that you have bad genetics, or is that your workout routine isn't that effective?"

"Is it that you have bad genetics, or that you aren't consistent enough with your workouts or you aren't sincerely training intensely as you are capable of when you step into the gym?"

"Is it that you have bad genetics, or that you simply aren't eating enough calories to allow your body to recuperate, recover, and then grow from your workouts?"

"Is it that you have bad genetics, or the fact that you are focusing too much on getting stronger and are using incorrect training techniques that don't allowed you to get more hypertrophy out of it?"

"Is it that you have bad genetics, or that you are expending too much energy and calories on other activities, such as cardio, sports, work, etc.?"

You see what I'm getting at?

There are so many other factors, and actually probably more important ones, that have an effect on your progress that quickly jumping on the bad-genetics bandwagon is going to result in you forever being stuck.

You will never find the proper training or eating technique that is right for your particular body type if you feel that it is a lost battle because of bad genetics.

Ever notice that when someone mentions that a particular individual can gain well-defined muscle with minimal fat by eating fast food, pizza, ice cream, etc., the very first thing
someone else says in reaction to that is "It must be his genetics that allows him to eat garbage like that and still stay lean!".

Instead of instantly shooting down someone else's training or eating techniques because it isn't the "proper", "politically correct", "goes against bodybuilding tradition", "is everything we are not supposed to do or eat" etc., thing to do, how about looking at things with an open mind.

Maybe it's not the fact that someone has good genetics that allows him / her to be able to gain muscle using non-traditional / non-popular workout techniques or nutritional
plans work for them.

Perhaps it's that he / she has found what truly works for them and their particular body type.

Hey, there are tons of us that can burn off a lot of fat while eating on a daily basis a diet consisting of lots of carbs and fats, like fast food, fried chicken, donuts, etc.

No, it isn't in every individual case that we have genetics that allow us to do that, it's that we have found the correct amount of food that we can eat per day, regardless of what
type of food it is, that will allow us to lose fat weight.

There are many that have been able to build a lot of muscle while eating very little protein.

Is it because they have great genetics, or is it that they know that the real key to eating to gain muscular weight is not in a specific "percentage" or "ratio", or in consuming a
certain amount of grams of protein, but in fact that it's the overall, total calorie amount that has the biggest impact on building muscle?

Have you been following the typical you must "keep your reps in the 8-12 rep range per set to gain size", yet you don't seem to notice any difference in your appearance?

Is it that you have bad genetics, so you might as well give up bodybuilding and take up checkers...or could it be that for your particular body type a much higher rep range is needed to
properly stimulate muscle mass?

So, again, stop blaming genetics for every physical downfall.

Step back, examine your training and eating techniques.

Experiment.

Find what works for you...regardless of what the whole "he can get away with it because he has good genetics, but you don't and can't" philosophy says.

Don't hesitate for one second to go against the grain and try things that most preach are incorrect.

That may mean for you eating foods that many call "prohibited".

It could mean using a much higher rep range.

It could mean using more isolation exercises than compound exercises.

It could mean hitting a muscle group several times a week instead of once.

It could mean completely ditching cardio for good.

You just might find that the key to unlocking your true muscle building potential was lying under your nose the whole time.