Well, I’m closing in on one year at the gym. Five hundred dollars spent and I’m supposed to have a different body and different outlook on life. The keyword is supposed. Now, keep in mind for those who are asking themselves if I kept a regular schedule, if I ate the right foods, or if I cut out certain lifestyle activities in which I was accustomed. The answer is all yes. To give you a brief synopsis, I’m about 6’2″ tall, 192 pounds, with a 34 inch waist. I have a fairly athletic build all ready as I trained to become a professional wrestler in college. (Consequently, I did not pursue that dream as to settle down, get married, and have children.) My main objective (after my now ex-wife left) was to just get in the gym, stay motivated, and, possibly, trim a little belly fat. I knew I wasn’t going to be Hercules – not even close. I wasn’t in there to eventually bench press 300 pounds or push 600 pounds on my legs. That’s silly at my age. It was more cardiovascular conditioning and burning the belly fat.

So, Monday through Thursday I endured 30 hard minutes of cardiovascular exercise such as the treadmill, stairstepper, or bicycle. Then, I alternated a lower body workout (Monday and Wednesday) with an upper body workout (Tuesday and Thursday). For nine solid months, I consistently weighed 183 pounds. That’s taking a daily multi-vitamin and a protein shake per day. It’s like my body just absorbed every thing. Was there a difference in my energy level? Possibly – however, I couldn’t tell. I ate the fruits, the veggies, the grilled chicken, the fish, the protein, and, yes, for three solid months I even cut out beer and desserts.

Now, did I begin to date and feel better about myself? Sure. Did I think my arms and legs were bigger? Sure. But, I think it was all a placebo effect as my arms, chest, and legs never actually grew. So, I started doing more home aerobics and the simple exercises such as barbell curls, rowing exercises, and crunches. All basically targeting the same body areas but not on any machines.

So, this leads me to the question of the day. Are we genetically pre-dispositioned to a certain body type no matter what we do to change it? (Keep in mind, we’re not including surgery here.) Everyone on the paternal side of the family is short and stocky. I believe my height is inherited from a few great uncles on the maternal side. Although I have eventually gained ten pounds, I feel like I have subjected myself to everything in my power to reduce the size of my little “pooch”. I was miserable, to say the least, without an occasional beer (maybe two per week) or slice of pumpkin pie or coconut cake. I’m happier now. I can see my belt which matters the most and I can see everything below it which is the most important. I walk and jog for my cardiovascular exercise which, after all, is about elevating the heart rate two to three times per week for about 20 minutes. I lift my 110 pound barbell for three or four sets of exercises two to three times per week. I’m also swimming now that the pool is open at my complex. My energy level is the same. My confidence level is the same. Plus, I’m saving money and my exercise occurs at my convenience – not during gym hours. Not that I’m discouraging a gym membership but the purpose of this article is to debate whether we are bound to genetics in a physical sense no matter what we do to change it.

My answer is obviously in the affirmative that we can change our bodies slightly (non-surgically, again) but will never truly alter what we are pre-determined (possibly pre-destined) to become physically.