Genetic Potential....How Do You Know?

[Winchester]

I constantly hear people talking about reaching their genetic potential. But no one ever says how you'll know. How do you know when you've reached your genetic potential? Probably a dumb question but with the variables involved I wouldnt think theres a definate answer, just an estimate.

 

[Swellin]

I think we use the term "genetic potential" to encompass a certain situation but in reality it is a misnomer. By adding AAS/slin, you are not doing anything on a gentic level, so you are still enhancing your body without finding a limit to that potential. Only when Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) & slin fail to produce for you would you be introducing hg/igf, at which you might conclude that your gentic potential had been reached. But, I digress......

Of course, we really mean how much you can grow without the introduction of AAS/gh/IGF/slin. I would imagine (just my thoughts...no numbers and/or proof) that less than 1% of the people who have ever used these substances did so upon reaching their natural limits (instead of genetic potential).

For each of us, the answer would be different. Applying a VERY broad brush to this one......saying that no matter what changes you make to your diet and supplementation (after consulting a sports nutritionist) and no matter what changes you make to your training regimen (after using multiple professional trainers with specific knowledge about the sport) you plateau and can achieve no more gains. At this point, I would think you have reached your natural limits.

I can't imagine what type of timeframe this would actually take given that most of us don't live this thing 24 hours a day for 7 days a week. Most of us have jobs and families which preclude such a situation in the short term. For the rest of us, this should really take many, many years.

 

[GymLift]

I constantly hear people talking about reaching their genetic potential. But no one ever says how you'll know. How do you know when you've reached your genetic potential? Probably a dumb question but with the variables involved I wouldnt think theres a definate answer, just an estimate.

I may be responding to something different than you question because in my mind your genetic potential is your potential without AAS, insulin, etc. Perhaps everyone disagrees, but so be it.

Your genetic potential is 243 pounds, but realistically it is only 221. Mine is 262/239.

Seriously, you ask a good question but there isn't really a perfect and simple answer I don't think.

Usually when we tell somebody about their genetic potential, it is obvious that they are nowhere NEAR their genetic potential (I'm 160 lbs and can't gain any more size without gear, blah blah blah) so the actual genetic potential is a moot point.

All the fun is in pushing your own limits to try and figure out just what you own genetic potential is.

 

[Winchester]

I just see a lot of people on hear tell others to wait until they hit their genetic potential naturally and then use AAS. Its easy to tell them that, but what if that person has hit their limits and has done everything but their numbers are still very low ?(weight, height, etc..) by others standards?

I agree with the theory but I think it shouldnt be so vague. I dont think anyone can say what their genetic potential is for sure. It'd be better to tell them keep lifting and when you hit a plateau in gains keep lifting for a few years after that and if nothing continues to happen, and your diet and training is right, then you've hit it. But how appetizing does that sound?

 

[0nyx]

i dont think there is a cap on genetic potential . i am sure your body will still continue to grow and change, but i think its when the rate of this growth and changed has slowed down dramatically, people would call that a genetic potential. when you get to the point , you will probabl realize it. a few months go by, and very little change :S

 

[luquillo78]

When gains are too small it takes more time to grow a certain weight. But our "useful" lifetime for lifting and growing is limited. For example, I'm 27 years old right now. I'll continue natural because I'm having good gains (2 lbs per month). I'm 157 lbs, 5'8''. I know that over 175 lbs I'll start having very small gains because I have a small frame. So with 175 lbs I'll have a lot of lean mass. At that point I'll start using Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) because I know if not, I'll loose many years (and get old) trying to reach an imposible 200 lbs... It would be different if I was 20 years old. I would wait to grow natural because I'd have a lot of time yet and my hormones would be producing a lot.
I think that experts advicing on the forum should take much consideration on age. Of course also on heigth. Some just say "wait until you're 200 lbs..." but it's different 200 lbs if you're 5'8 or 6'3...

 

[Mudge]

You will never really know. You time your meals the best you can, you eat the right things at those right times, and you lift hopefully with knowlege of your own body. So you do the best you can, and when you are confident in your knowlege but you aren't making gains anymore - then you are probably close to your sticking point.

Then again, guys that read magazines for 2 weeks often think they know it all.

 

[Winchester]

ok so basically there is no physical measurement. Its when you taken all the right steps naturally until you plateau with little to no gains.

I just see a lot of people post for the first time on here and state their stats and everyone tells them to wait until they hit their genetic potential. But really all people are telling them is to exhaust all resources, mainly through lifting and diet knowledge, until they can't progress that much further. I think people should state that instead of "wait until you hit your G.P. and then think about using AAS"

 

[LeanMeOut]

I think we use the term "genetic potential" to encompass a certain situation but in reality it is a misnomer. By adding AAS/slin, you are not doing anything on a gentic level, so you are still enhancing your body without finding a limit to that potential. Only when Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) & slin fail to produce for you would you be introducing hg/igf, at which you might conclude that your gentic potential had been reached. But, I digress......

Of course, we really mean how much you can grow without the introduction of AAS/gh/IGF/slin. I would imagine (just my thoughts...no numbers and/or proof) that less than 1% of the people who have ever used these substances did so upon reaching their natural limits (instead of genetic potential).

For each of us, the answer would be different. Applying a VERY broad brush to this one......saying that no matter what changes you make to your diet and supplementation (after consulting a sports nutritionist) and no matter what changes you make to your training regimen (after using multiple professional trainers with specific knowledge about the sport) you plateau and can achieve no more gains. At this point, I would think you have reached your natural limits.

I can't imagine what type of timeframe this would actually take given that most of us don't live this thing 24 hours a day for 7 days a week. Most of us have jobs and families which preclude such a situation in the short term. For the rest of us, this should really take many, many years.

Great post Swellin

 

[GymLift]

ok so basically there is no physical measurement. Its when you taken all the right steps naturally until you plateau with little to no gains.

I just see a lot of people post for the first time on here and state their stats and everyone tells them to wait until they hit their genetic potential. But really all people are telling them is to exhaust all resources, mainly through lifting and diet knowledge, until they can't progress that much further. I think people should state that instead of "wait until you hit your G.P. and then think about using AAS"

Yep.