Keeping Gains

[JBarron]

How do you figure a rough estimate of what your body frames genetic potential is.

Is there a way to figure out (roughly) how much muscle and lean mass your body can hold naturally (off cycle)?

[G4R]

Do you mean before you ever start a cycle, or inbetween cycles?

[Big]

that's a very good question. some people gauge it by their parents, but I don't find that accurate at all. I drastically exceeded my parents naturally. I've seen guys say "my dad was 5'7" and 140lbs, so by reaching 5'7" and 155lbs I had reached my natural potential." not so fast, how likely is it that their dad had near perfect diet and training?
I think to really know, it takes years of training and dieting to perfection, noting (with an open mind) what works for you. most guys will need expert advice when it comes to both training and especially diet, as many of us think we eat properly when we don't. only after those areas are perfected, gains are measure and then level off, may we know if we are at our natural potential.

[JBarron]

Do you mean before you ever start a cycle, or inbetween cycles?

let's say in between cycles.

[JBarron]

that's a very good question. some people gauge it by their parents, but I don't find that accurate at all. I drastically exceeded my parents naturally. I've seen guys say "my dad was 5'7" and 140lbs, so by reaching 5'7" and 155lbs I had reached my natural potential." not so fast, how likely is it that their dad had near perfect diet and training?
I think to really know, it takes years of training and dieting to perfection, noting (with an open mind) what works for you. most guys will need expert advice when it comes to both training and especially diet, as many of us think we eat properly when we don't. only after those areas are perfected, gains are measure and then level off, may we know if we are at our natural potential.

Great answer, I was looking for something like this. I was literally comparing my genes to my dads. I told him a week ago I wanted to be around 200lbs 7-8% bf. I'm currently 185lbs 8% bf. He told me "son, you can't get that big your body just isn't built to carry that much muscle"

It got me thinking pretty hard, but I began to seriously doubt what he said. At 6'0 I should be able to someday with hard work and proper diet and training be a lean 200lbs of muscle.

[G4R]

Couldnt put it any better that Big did.

[ThatGuyYeahHim]

JBarron - i got to 180 naturally before starting a course. It took 10 years of training (started at 110)... and im only 5'6.
Obviously youre family are quite slim but im sure your body can get to 200 and support it. Can be lots of hard work training and eating all the time and if your body wants to be at 185ish then thats just where it'll drop to as soon as your diet slacks a little etc. I usually stay around 170 unless im eating 6 solid meals a day plus snacking on beef jerky and boiled eggs. lose the jerky and eggs and i cant get to 180. Body just says no!

[BiggerByTheDay]

x2 to what Big said.

Also, although my father has been juicing since his early 20's, he weighs at least 80 pounds solid muscle (obviously) than his brothers at 6'5. Although I do not know what his genetic weight range is/was, he came from the average skinny and tall family. Like I mentioned, his obvious drastic weight difference is from gear therefore I cannot give much experience. I will say this though, from my own dieting and natural weight gain, just recently might I add, I am far bigger than my brothers, my father's brothers, and any of my family members when they were my age. Like Big said though, most people could easily slam past their "natural" peak, or assumed genetic peak, with the proper diet/experimentation of routines and years of dedication. Good question though bro, I was thinking about this recently myself. I started at 135 pounds at 6'0, now 175 (20years old), and my father was about the 20 pounds heavier than me at 6'3 when he was my age. From his mid 20's to 30's he weighed over 250 lean. So there is a lot of hope for us "small framed" guys. Good luck in your endeavors bro.