Let’s assume you’re sitting on the couch on a Sunday in November. You’re watching the Indianapolis Colts but during commercials you flip over to the Oklahoma Thunder game.
On one channel you’ve got the 5’9”, 228 pound Trent Richardson. On the other channel you’ve got the 6’9” Kevin Durant.
You, we’ll assume, are a genetically average, skinny-fat, 5’9”, 160 pounder.
When watching Kevin Durant you’d never in a million years assume that you could grow to his size.
But for some reason, whether it’s from being deluded by bodybuilding magazines and supplement companies, or constantly comparing ourselves to others on Facebook, many people would actually think (and wholeheartedly believe) that they could get to Trent Richardson’s size.
Height, we know, is impossible to increase.
Muscle, we also know, is, in fact, possible to increase in size. But there are genetic limitations. If you’re not realistic about it you’re in for a lot of frustration.
Some will argue with me and say that you should never put limitations on anything. I live my life according to that principle and agree.
However, when it comes to human physiology you do need to take a somewhat realistic view of things. For instance, I know that the chances of me being able to fly like Superman are pretty low.
There’s a very good reason I think I think it’s important to take a truthful view of what’s possible when it comes to gaining muscle.
Strength training helps a lot of people overcome self-confidence issues. That’s freakin awesome.
However, there’s the other side of the coin. An equal number of people get depressed because of their poor body image and obsession with looking like Trent Richardson. Or Terry Crews. Or Tony Atlas (Google that shit).
If you’re starting at a skinny-fat 5’9”, 160 pounds with narrow shoulders, wide hips and tiny joints the reality is you’re never going to end up looking like the guys you see on the magazine covers, no matter what you do.
I say this not to depress you but rather to de-stress you. It is what it is. This is the hand we’ve been dealt. You’ve got to accept that fact that we’re all given a certain set of tools. You do the best with what you got.
If you’re smart and dedicated you can make amazing transformations and huge gains. And if you don’t end up looking like The Rock, that’s okay. Nobody really cares but you. Plus you can be better than The Rock, or Trent Richardson, in plenty of other ways.
You can’t measure your entire self worth by the size of your biceps.
