This is true. Genetics only accounts for less than 20% (the same with nutrition; genetics plays a very minor role in what people can eat and look like); the rest can be achieved through hard work and dedication. Too many people like to make excuses as to why they aren't where they want to be.
~Rosie
Team APPNUT
WELL...IMO you will have the harshest criticism of yourself, I mean, lets be serious, we look at ourselves every chance we get, so it is hard for us to notice changes and get frustrated, but when we get a random compliment that is positive, it re-asserts us that we are making changes, but at the same time you can ask yourself, 'what do they know' or just take it has it is, a compliment nonetheless.
what is all this 'limit' talk, I hear it almost everyday, 'the limits...' whether it be in the manner of 'Im going to push myself to the limit' or 'We all have our limits'...I dont use that word, ever, why? to limit OR put a limit on one is to say, I will only give so much, or I can only do so much. If you've already made up your mind to how much you can do or withstand, then why even do it? where's the challenge? the victory? I HATE the saying, 'the sky is the limit'...I dont believe in limits
Arnold said, 'life to me, is always being hungry'...sorry for the little rant
How can you say that genetics have little to do with what people can eat and look like? Some people can eat and eat and don't gain any weight even without exercise. That's genetics. Other people easily put on fat if they just go a little over maintenance. Sure, with proper training most people can change the way they look but there is a definite relationship betweeen genes, diet, activity and what you look like. For the vast majority of people genetics aren't a "limit" on what they can look like but I don't think it plays a very minor role.
Even if your 20% is correct, the closer you get to your goal the more significant that 20% becomes. If you are trying to add inches to your biceps or lose BF the closer you get to your goal the harder your going to hit any genetic barriers.
I'm not one to use genetics as an excuse, I bust my ass in the gym no matter what. But I think it's important for people to realize that if they are trying to achieve a specific look or shape it may not be possible. For example I don't think I'll ever get much fullness in my upper pecs no matter what I do. So either I've been doing something wrong my whole life or it's my genes.
KG - I do like your take on limits. Eliminating the word from your vocabulary is a great idea.
Back to the subject...
Saturday was Day 39 and I had my most intense day of cardio since starting the log. I ran for 19:00, did 16:00 of intervals on the stairs and finished up with a 15:00 HIIT run. 50:00 of solid cardio.
I took Day 40 off and then back to lifting on Day 41 (Monday) with a little cario, then a 20 minute HIIT run on Day 42.
On Sunday I looked at the mirror and for a second felt really satisfied with my progress so I was motivated to take some new pictures. I felt like I was leaner than I appeared in the last set of pictures. I usually take my pictures first thing in the morning with sunlight coming through the window. This time I took pictures at night using flash. I look much more vascular but I don't know if you guys will think I look any leaner here than in the last pictures I posted which were taken two days before these photos.
In real life I know I'm leaner than when I started. I'd lke to think pictures tell the whole sture but this may be a case where the photos are deceiving. I'm pretty knowledgable about photography and GMG can back me up on how much of a difference lighting can make in how lean you look. Despite my efforts I haven't been able to get consistent results when taking pictures of myself.
Point is that I was pretty disappointed with how the last set of photos looked but I do feel I've made progress since starting the log. Here is the Day 3 photo again along side a new photo I took on Day 40.
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EDIT: Just to be fair here is the picture again from Day 38. The Day 40 picture is in totally different light than Day 38 and Day 3 pics. I want it to be clear that some of the differences above are due to lighting. In all photos it was two days since my last workout with weights.
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