Two lions stand on the edge of a cliff.
One of them knows he can jump to the other side, the other lion has never tried it before.
The first lion jumps and makes it over with ease, skidding on the rocks, before turning back to other as if to say "your turn."
The second lion runs up - jumps, but tumbles to the bottom.
But both lions are happy. How?
The first lion knew he could do it - because he's done it many times before.
The second lion has NEVER made the attempt, but knows with practice, that he'll get there one day too - before moving onto an even BIGGER gap in the future.
The second lion knows his legs aren't as long, and doesn't have the same natural jumping ability as his friend, but there's nothing on this earth that can stop that lion from doing his BEST.
The moral of the story is: embrace what YOU can do, don't worry about anyone else, but importantly, don't COMPARE yourself to anyone else where it's not justified.
"There's nothing on this earth that can stop that lion from doing his BEST..."
The same can be said for the fitness/muscle building world.
All of us are blessed with different genetics, whether it comes to muscle growth, fat loss, or both.
One study proved just how important genetics are for muscle growth (1).
585 male and female subjects pumped iron for 12 weeks in a progressive fashion.
Some people increased muscle cross-sectional area by a whopping 59% - and increased their 1RM (1 REP MAX) by 250%.
But the others?
They LOST 2% of their muscle cross-sectional area - and as far as strength gains go - they gained NONE!
And they both did the SAME workouts.
Further research (2) took 66 human subjects through 16 weeks of progressive dynamic exercise, with 26% of them walking away without ANY measurable growth.
That's life.
A bit like that second lion.
But, that's not to say that consistency and hard work, with every single repetition and well prepared meal isn't going to eventually bring gains.
Because - believe me, if you work hard enough at it - you will, no matter how big or small those gains turn out to be.
But the BIGGEST problem is when people begin to COMPARE themselves to people that have been:
- Training for longer
- Using highly potent anabolic substances
- Blessed with superior genetics
This can lead to depression, lose of face, and the desire to experiment with potentially damaging muscle building drugs.
FINDING YOUR NICHE
You might not be a genetically gifted bodybuilder, destined for the Mr. Olympia stage.
But what about sprinting?
Long distance running?
Or just generally having a pleasingly lean and athletic looking physique?
Fitness is a LIFESTYLE - and a state of mind, doing the BEST you can do with what you have.
KNOWING YOUR LOOK
Some people are round, thick and muscular.
If that's you - embrace it.
Others are lean, and find it REALLY hard to pack on the muscle that others do.
If you're the round, thick guy, don't stress yourself day in day out every year trying to have sliced and diced abs.
EMBRACE your size!
We all have a comfortable level of homeostasis - the level of body fat that our body is most comfortable at (3) - so don't tinker around with this for too long, unless of course you're competing in a bodybuilding competition, where you'll need to do exactly that!
PICTURE PROOF Here's a photograph of myself and my brother.
Me on the right, my brother on the left.
Same parents, completely different body types.
My brother (left) is an ECTOMORPH, whilst I'm more the MESOMORPHIC/ENDOMORPHIC type.
For me to look like my brother, it's DAMN hard.
For my brother to get as big as me, he has to eat CONSTANTLY, and would probably have to turn to drugs to achieve the same measurements in some body parts.
My brother is razor sharp and looks GREAT - where is I'm A LOT softer!
But hey, I'm rounded, have a fair amount of muscle, and I'm REALLY happy with what I've achieved.
I EMBRACE it and am PROUD of it. Same parents, completely different body types.
IT'S ALL ABOUT KNOWING YOUR LIMITATIONS AND YOUR BODY TYPE - AND EMBRACING IT!
BOTH of us are PROUD and EMBRACE what we have.
Whether you're thick, lean, or super fit, don't spend a lifetime trying to diet, or reach a size you're just not going to ever achieve without harming your health.
It just so happens that the second lion can run and hunt for longer without water then the first lion.
Both of their athletic ability's are different, but impressive just the same, and come in handy at different times.
MOTIVATION TO GIVE YOUR BEST
One of the most impressive and inspirational poems I've ever come across is "The Guy in the Glass" by Dale Wimbrow, written in 1934:
When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf,
And the world makes you King for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that guy has to say.
For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife,
Who judgement upon you must pass.
The feller whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.
He's the feller to please, never mind all the rest,
For he's with you clear up to the end,
And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the guy in the glass is your friend.
You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,
And think you're a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eye.
You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you've cheated the guy in the glass.
Don't cheat that guy/girl in the glass.
Think about this before you walk into them gym, walk into the office, or begin any type of challenge in your life.
That's why that second lion can smile, because he knows he hasn't cheated that guy in the glass.
With whatever training you choose to be the best for you - make sure you know in your heart it's everything you've got.
That last rep, that last step - it all COUNTS.
Don't take short cuts - and understand that although results might come quicker for others, that yours will come too in your chosen activity, be it long distance running, bodybuilding, sprinting, or anything else.
CONCLUSION
That second lion will always be happy - because he knows that with everything he can do - he does his absolute BEST.
He continues to try that jump over and over again, until one day, he gets there.
He might not have the same genetic ability as the first lion, but the same can be said for you and other people, along with myself and my brother.
So whatever it is that you choose, just make sure you give your BEST.
Don't cheat that guy/girl in the glass.
Stay Fit, Stay Flexed!
REFERENCES
(1) Hubal MJ, Gordish-Dressman H, Thompson PD, Price TB, Hoffman EP, Angelopoulos TJ, Gordon PM, Moyna NM, Pescatello LS, Visich PS, Zoeller RF, Seip RL, Clarkson PM. Variability in muscle size and strength gain after unilateral resistance training. Med Sci Sports Exerc 37: 964–972, 2005.
(2) Petrella JK, Kim JS, Mayhew DL, Cross JM, Bamman MM. Potent myofiber hypertrophy during resistance training in humans is associated with satellite cell-mediated myonuclear addition: a cluster analysis. J Appl Physiol 104: 1736–1742, 2008.
(3) MacLean PS, Higgins JA, Johnson GC, Fleming-Elder BK, Donahoo WT, Melanson EL, and Hill JO. Enhanced metabolic efficiency contributes to weight regain after weight loss in obesity-prone rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 287: R1306-1315, 2004.
Author
Dayne Hudson