It is evident that some characteristics are inherited from our parents, and regrettably, our capacity to develop muscles beyond a certain point is not an exception. This is not to argue that deliberate training and hard work won’t produce a good physique; rather, it simply indicates that some people will be more blessed than others with an abundance of the desired physical traits. Even though not everyone has the physical attributes necessary to succeed as a champion, you can still make a lot of progress with the material you do have.
Your somatype, or natural body shape, can be used to predict, to some extent, how responsive you will be to physical stimulation. In general, three body types are identified:
- Endomorphs – these individuals tend to be squat with a round torso, thick neck and short limbs.
- Mesomorphs – these individuals tend to be musclar with broad shoulders, powerful chest and limbs and little body fat.
- Ectomorphs – these individuals tend to be slim and are usually tall with little muscle and body fat.
The ideal bodybuilding physique is more mesomorphic in nature, with broad shoulders, narrow hips, and medium-length arms and legs. The ability to build muscle is also influenced by two other inherited characteristics: muscle fiber density and neurological efficiency. Neural efficiency describes the connection between the nervous system and muscles, whereas fiber density defines a muscle’s size potential. This is significant because, with maximal effort, genetically endowed people can activate as many as 50% of the muscle fibers in a given muscle, as opposed to 30% for the average person. This makes it possible to encourage growth in more ways.
It’s actually a good thing that there’s no simple way to gauge neurological efficiency or fiber density because it keeps us all motivated to work hard in our training and keep getting better. While a very small percentage of people possess the genetic make-up necessary to excel, the majority of us can still make significant progress toward achieving our own objectives.
