Genetics and Weight Loss...

Hey fitness friends! ONLY 3 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY BOOK, CONFESSIONS OF A FIT GIRL... HOW I LOST OVER 90 POUNDS AND KEPT IT OFF! IS AVAILABLE!!!! Shameless plug, I know, but I had to get it out there! Lol! I'm super excited!!! And the buzz it's been getting so far has been great so I'm hoping & praying for success! :)

Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let's get straight to the subject of this post: genetics and weight loss... How much do genetics play a part in your overall weight loss success? Are they really a factor? This is something that has been on my mind for awhile now so I decided to write a blog post about my thoughts on the matter. So without reading any further, what are your thoughts? What's your opinion on the subject?

Genetics DO determine your body shape.

My opinion? While genetics play a minor role in your weight loss, they're never a deciding factor on how much weight you can or cannot lose. I'll give you an example, take myself for instance, I'm genetically a curvy woman, meaning I've always had more of an hourglass shape. No matter what size I've been or what number was on the scale, this has always been the case for me; my basic shape has remained the same. This is what you call genetics. Most of the women in my father's side of the family, whom I take after, who are also built this way, are very overweight. Since I was also heading down that road before I decided to take control and lose the weight, I always thought there was no way that I could ever be as small as I am now. This is the thinking that I think a lot of women (and men too!) fall into. But my opinion, unless you have some type of genetic disease or disorder that causes you to lose or gain substantial amounts of weight, genetics play no part on the amount of weight we gain or lose. That's right, you heard me. Now I know there are those who disagree with me, but let me explain.

While genetics may make it easier (i.e - someone with a very high metabolism who can eat almost anything, in large quantities even, and never gain weight) or harder (i.e - someone who comes from a bigger framed family; short & stout, curvy, pair shaped... etc.), genetics have no baring on your weight loss success or failure. It really all depends on you and how hard you're willing to work. The word "genetics" is not your free pass to explain why you're overweight. If I'm talking to you, please hear me when I say you've got to get that way of thinking out of your head! If you don't, whenever you come to a stumbling block in your weight loss journey, genetics will be your excuse, justifying in your mind a reason to just throw in the towel and give up.

My advice? Exercise, eat healthy, work hard and then see where you end up before pulling the genetics card out and throwing it on the table.