Genetics and Training

[Zeigler]

I was talking to a friend about this recently - how genetics determine where your muscle goes, the shape of them etc

Im a big fan of Vince Gironda and remember seeing a quote from him saying that there's no point trying to 'build muscle where it isn't" - Ie. genetically, if your not blessed with great upper pec development, you shouldn't do specific exercises in the hope of altering that pre-determined factor.

Co-incidentally, my cousin who is 2 years my junior has just started training. Everyone has always commented on how alike we are in looks, shape and mannerism.
Im interested to see how he develops and if his muscles/body take on any of the same characteristics as mine.

Has anyone else ever thought about things like this when they're training? Or found any research articles on it? I find it a pretty interesting topic at the moment.

Ps. There was a thread on 'genetics and training' on here in 2006, but id be interested to hear views from members that were not around at the time or really, anyone with updated views/stories of developing parts they thought would never grow well etc

[Barrington]

I wouldn't mind seeing a tv program about a group of identical twins who try out different diets and routines and see who makes the best gains. If i was a lottery winner or chairman of the BBC i would commision it. Sort of along the same lines.

[MiniHulk]

I personally think that if one of my muscles has a disadvantage and don't wanna grow - then you should work it twice as hard and get the best out of it. I think that with steroids, it is possible to grow any muscle to insane amounts, so surely - with the right stimulus and enthusiasm, it's got to be possible to overcome weaknesses even without the use of anabolic enhancement.

Or maybe I just like to believe that lol.

[Zeigler]

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I wouldn't mind seeing a tv program about a group of identical twins who try out different diets and routines and see who makes the best gains. If i was a lottery winner or chairman of the BBC i would commision it. Sort of along the same lines.

Shoot me now for watching(!), but tv show 'the only way is essex' has a pair of bodybuilding twins - Here

They look insanely similar in composition - near enough exact chest shape, abdominal development etc

[MiniHulk]

I have really bad shoulder development - that's partly because of a rotator cuff injury that I have had for a long time, and then I damaged it again recently. Pre-injury and pre-illness when I was a lot bigger, my shoulders were never "great" even though I worked them hard and enjoyed working them. It would be interesting to see if I could flip it round and turn them into slabs of muscle!

I also have a very small frame, I was never made to be a big guy, and with colitis lingering I probably never will - but that doesn't mean I don't wanna try to be an exception to the rule!

So, shoulders are gonna get extra attention for an experiment for you lol.

[MiniHulk]

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Shoot me now for watching(!), but tv show 'the only way is essex' has a pair of bodybuilding twins - Here

They look insanely similar in composition - near enough exact chest shape, abdominal development etc

Oh dear lol.

[MiniHulk]

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Shoot me now for watching(!), but tv show 'the only way is essex' has a pair of bodybuilding twins - Here

They look insanely similar in composition - near enough exact chest shape, abdominal development etc

People say not to worry about training the forearms individually, but their routine obviously isn't taxing their forearms with the compounds much - their forearms quite literally ruin their physiques!

[Zeigler]

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So, shoulders are gonna get extra attention for an experiment for you lol.

Awesome.

Recently my back has just absorbed every bit of growth. Its like an annoying weed, not that im complaining.....I'd just like the same gains everywhere else!

and yeah, their forearms really annoy me too, but then ive not really ever seen a 'fitness mode' bodytype with great forearms (or legs haha)

[MiniHulk]

Some say that a true legend at bodybuilding needs terrifying calf muscles - but my calves won't grow even though I hit them hard with various routines. My forearms are strong and veiny, but they won't grow either - I really have been given a terrible vessel in life, I feel I have to work harder than most lol.

[Zeigler]

Ive been blessed with veiny forearms and hands, so much so when i've tried forearm barbell or band curls, my arm feels like its actually about to explode!

I cant remember where i read/saw it but for the calves someone played around with training them normally in their routine but on days they didnt train them, they did 100-150 bodyweight calf raises....in fact it may have even been advice from Vince again.

Once my knee injury clears up im going to start a quest for a beastly set of calves.