When a person says, "I want to loose weight," they are misleading themselves.
Losing weight alone does not necessarily mean that one is losing fat. One must learn to differentiate between the two. When starting a new weight loss program, the average person will lose a significant amount of weight in the short term, usually their body is adapting to the new lifestyle change and will usually lose a lot of water. This is especially true if that person is new to exercising. They will think that they are losing massive amounts of fat, when in reality they are losing mostly water weight. Shortly thereafter, once their body has started adapting, teir weight loss will slow down dramatically. They will still be losing the same levels of bodyfat; however the addition of muscle will negate any loss of actual weight. This frustates many who simply use the scale to determine success or failure. Often they will then try crash dieting, or quit altogether. That is why when thinking about fitness goals; don't think that you want to lose weight. Rather, think about wanting to lose bodyfat. It is not uncommon for someone to shed their excess bodyfat, go down in pants/dress sizes, and lose little to no body weight. Some people actually GAIN weight when all is said and done.
My Genetics:
It is true that genetics play a huge role in how we look. Everyone knows someone who naturally looks like the king/queen of fitness, yet they drink, smoke, eat like a pig, and couldn't tell you what the inside of a gym looks like. This can be very frustrating. Genetics cannot be changed, however they can be maximized. This means that people of every body type have a certain potential that they can achieve. One has to be realistic when it comes to expectations. The best thing to do is look for people of a similar height and body type before deciding goals.
Example: Someone around 5'8" and thickly set will struggle with losing bodyfat, however they have an overall advantage when it comes to getting big, and displaying a "powerful" physique. By the same token, those who
are over 6' tall and shinny will struggle more with putting on muscle, however they have an overall advantage in obtaining the "tall, dark and handsome" look. It is good to find role models when it comes to finding what you want to look like. Keep it realistic, though.
See ya in the gym.
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