Exercise versus genetics

mulderpf

I think the genetics card is overplayed, I'm not saying it doesn't factor, but it's definitely overused.

I look at myself as an example - obesity, heart problems, high blood pressure and high cholesterol run in my family and I'm supposedly genetically pre-disposed to this. I'm not obese any more and therefore, I have reduced my chances of having a heart attack and also my cholesterol and blood pressure are both in the normal range.

I then look at my family and the people with the genetic issues mentioned above. Most of them were smokers and their diets are pretty bad (luckily most of them quit smoking, but the food they eat hasn't changed much). You don't inherit smoking and you don't inherit these bad eating habits - it's all things they learnt when they grew up. I also learnt these bad habits growing up, but made the decision not to get stuck in the same cycle. Unfortunately I look at my sister and she is in the same cycle.

It doesn't mean that I won't have a heart attack or suffer from high blood pressure or heart problems later in life, but I made a choice not to let this constrain me. I look at cousins of mine and some have just gone down the same road and blame their genes and others made the decision to break the cycle.

Even people who are predisposed to put on muscle easily - if they were to have a lifestyle of eating and drinking and not moving, well, then their genes didn't help them much.

I choose to use this information to make informed decisions, but not let it constrain me.

martintanz

I've just watched Penn and Teller's Exercise versus Genetics and .... I'm confused.... surely you can't pin EVERYthing on genetics? I mean... I'm sure it's relevant to a point, but there MUST be outside influences; lifestyle choices, upbringing, etc. I mean... lets suppose someone is overweight, out of shape, etc... why should they give up before they've started and just assume that that's the body shape they've been allotted?
How do you KNOW until you've tried exercising, etc, that you CAN'T be a different shape? Either I'm not getting it, or it's a very simplistic outlook. Ideas please?

I found it and watched it. Thought it was funny. They aren't saying you can't get in shape. Just calling out fitness industry bull****ers on specious claims. Penn and Teller arent't telling anyone not to exercise. Quite the contrary. If you eat right and exercise, you just become a fitter version of yourself, which is a good thing. But you probably won't look like your favorite fitness celebrity.

As for body type, I have been in shape and out of shape. Even in shape, I can't change my body type, which is endomorph. Just do what I can with it.

I would make this analogy. If you start running, with time and training, you will get faster, but probably not Usain Bolt fast. If I worked out with a football coach, over time, I would become a better football player, but the chances of my starting at quarterback for the Green Bay Packers is, well, zero. Or playing power forward in the NBA. Or beating Roger Federer in a tennis match. None of this means I shouldn't try any of these sports if I am so inclined. Only that genetics is a wall most of us run up against eventually.