Are You Doomed to Be Fat?

When I decided to write about “abs” this week, I knew that I was taking a risk. It’s not that people wouldn’t be interested: Pick up any fitness magazine or look at a healthy-living website, you’ll see that there isn’t a more over-played sell than abs.

But many people hate the concept of abs because they represent a superficial goal that creates societal pressure to obtain a certain image. In reality, abs are not a representation of distorted body image. They are the end-goal of eating healthy, exercising, and working hard to take care of your body. And isn’t that what we should be doing on a daily basis? 

At the core of the “abs debate” isn’t whether abs are good or bad (they’re good), it’s whether they represent an unrealistic goal that does more harm than good. After all, many people would argue that abs are NOT made in the kitchen or they gym—they’re created by your parents. And new research seems to support that idea. Leaving one simple question: Are some people doomed to be fat?

I found myself rethinking this question after reading a great article by acclaimed fitness writer Lou Schuler. Lou is one of the best in the industry, and his blog post pointed out some thought-provoking research. 

Most notably, a recent study estimated that 65 percent of your weight is determined by your genetics. (let that sink in)

In other words, if this research is accurate (keep in mind it’s just one study’s estimate), then all your hard work would only account for 35 percent of your results. Some might argue that even if you do your best, 35 percent won’t be enough to overcome your body’s predisposition to gain weight. (or on the other end of the spectrum, remain skinny) 

The idea is based on a variation of “set point theory,” which shows that your weight is a combination of genes and environmental factors.

On some level, this makes complete sense. There are plenty of people who diet, exercise hard, and can’t seem to lose weight (or gain muscle). Even when they track calories and log their works, nothing seems to change.

 

On the other hand, some people seem to be born with abs. I’ll be honest: After working with fitness models for years, some of the BEST looking models are surprisingly un-fit. And they’re not Photoshopped. They just happen to look much better than the average person.

Genetics are a great thing—if they work in your favor. And if not, your journey to lose weight can be frustrating and at times appear helpless.

So where does that leave you?

With a simple choice: Make excuses or work harder.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that it’s more complex. Whether you have great genetics or were dealt a bad hand, your health and longevity depend on how much effort you’re willing to spend to take care of your body.

Listen, it’s easy to quit. It’s convenient to have a scapegoat and say that you can’t get in shape or can’t lose weight because you weren’t designed to have a certain body. 

But those are mental limitations. Not physical. That’s being intimidated by the hurdles instead of keeping your eyes on the finish line.  

Nowhere in any of this research does it say that losing fat is impossible. Sometimes, even when you’re working hard, you’re making mistakes and not even realizing how they are sabotaging your results. And as Chris, Robin, and Joe have shown—you can lose a lot of weight and completely change your body. None of these people had bodies that made you think “genetically blessed.” But now they are fit, healthy, and look the way they want. And that has nothing to do with abs or body image. It's about self-respect and the desire and will to change.

Listen, I understand. I’ve been there too. Growing up I was always overweight. It used to be so bad that I told people I was allergic to chlorine so I could wear a t-shirt in the pool.  It was a struggle and my weight hurt my soul and my confidence. My genetics appeared predisposed to me to a life of being overweight. Look at a piece of cake and I’d gain weight. Touch a barbell and I’d lose muscle. 

Ask anyone who knows me, and they’ll tell you: I was overweight growing up (I needed pants specifically tailored for someone as short and wide as me). And when I lost weight (finally) I became so skinny-fat that you’d have thought my body was allergic to muscle.  

But I worked at it. And I never quit. Because the only limits that really exist are the ones you place on yourself. 

And I didn’t do it for abs or a rock-hard body. I did it because I wanted to be better. And I wanted to prove to myself what I could accomplish if I worked at it and never ever gave in.

Here’s what I learned from my journey and the hundreds that I’ve had the privilege to read: You can be the person you want to be. 

For some, it just takes longer and more work. But when you achieve your goal—and you will—you’ll KNOW that you can achieve anything. 

If at any point you’ve lost focus or maybe set aside a particular goal, this is for you. Whether you want to lose fat, gain muscle, have six-pack abs, lose baby weight, fight obesity, quit smoking, climb a mountain, play a sport, or simply have the urge to walk around the block and do it consistently. Your goal is personal. This is about creating a new mindset.

Forget your genetics. Realize that dreams are a reality that require patience and hard work. 

Don’t worry about abs, or thinness or being skinny. They might be superficial goals, but they are someone’s goals. And as long as people aren’t obsessive or taking dangerous measures (neither is acceptable and both are very realistic problems) we shouldn’t judge people’s dreams when they are driven by a healthy passion.

I dream of making LIVESTRONG.COM the one-stop shop for fitness and health and starting a revolution that fights obesity—in both children and adults—to create a healthier world. 

Some people might say that’s more impossible than overcoming genetics; that some people just can’t—or don’t want to change.

I say that’s just another doubt—and another roadblock—that I’ll overcome. 

So who will you be? The person who accepts what is given to them or the person who fights for what they want?

That decision—and not your genetics—is the real set point that will determine whether you succeed or fail. 

If you choose to fight, I promise that LIVESTRONG.COM will keep providing the support you need to find your way to the finish line. 

And when that happens, we look forward to being part of the celebration.