As a high schooler I looked with disgust on the others speaking of genetics and shit, stuffing their faces, never once putting in any physical effort.
I remember thinking upon seeing and hearing this big dude, 6’3″, 280, BIG BONE STRUCTURE, big hands, griping about the genetics of the kid who played starting running back? on the football team (small, maybe 5’8″ 145), and thinking…
“Why don’t you get your fat ass into the weight room for a couple hours every day, then run 20 minutes of bleachers or stairs afterwards every session, and see what your genetics truly look like!”
See I went from 212 to 178 as a freshman, and ended sophomore year at 174.
By the end of junior year I was around 230 after having went from 195 to 215 in ten days the second wrestling season was over.
Big changes by my own hand.
At 14yo 212lbs I remember showering up, soaping the moobs I had at the time, and thinking to myself all these negative thoughts like “how could I ever even bench 225, more than I weigh, with my arms”, feeling like a disgusting fat body, and thinking my genetics were fucked…
While soaping my moobs I decided that moment that I’d put in the work, and find out if my genetics were truly screwed. I’d put in the work to change it regardless of payoff.
“I’ll train til the day I die! If my genetics truly are that bad, I’ll die happy still a disgusting fat body knowing I fought, continued to fight, and never stopped fighting to change it! Or I’ll change it.”
The shower that evening was a pivotal moment in my life.
Whatever the circumstances, whatever the “genetics”, whatever whatever.
Hahahahaha, train anyway.
Persistence & Tenacity