50+ Lifestyles

Genetic Jackpot

By Logan Anderson, BA, CPT, CIFT
Owner of All Strong Fitness LLC

March is officially upon us! This means warmer weather, colder drinks, and more time outside is inevitable. This is good news for all of us in the midwest who have been hunkered down patiently waiting to break out of the shell that cabin fever has brought onto us.
March also brings the holiday of St. Patrick’s day. Often, when we think of St. Patrick’s day, ideas of the Irish and the luck that partners with them is the first thing that comes to mind. (A tall glass of Guinness being a close second.) Luck is something that people often attribute to the overall success of others in numerous different aspects of life. Being that the luck of the Irish is at the forefront of the month, it would be fitting to talk about luck in regards to your overall health as well. But can you really be lucky when it comes to being healthy? Let’s take a look at luck in regards to health, and how you should frame your mindset about it.

Do you know someone who can eat whatever they want and won’t gain any weight? Do you know someone who has smoked a pack of cigarettes every single day, and still seems to be thriving in life at 90 years old? How about someone “drinks like a fish” at the pub? These individuals, when looking at their health trajectory, often get touted as “lucky,” seemingly able to defy all public health recommendations and remain physically intact. Are they really lucky? Or do they know something we don’t know?

The simple answer to the question is that yes, they are lucky to some degree. The reason behind this is due to the term “genetics.” You’ve probably heard the term genetics used loosely about health throughout your life, either contributing someone else’s pristine health to “good” genetics, or blame your poor health from “bad” genetics. Genetics itself is simply describing the field that studies heredity, how traits are passed from parent to child, and essentially what makes you who you are. When someone has “good” genetics that allows them to eat whatever they want, smoke a pack a day, or drink pints of beer with seemingly no effect, the cells in their body simply don’t get affected as much as your typical individual. This is something that can not be controlled, and is due to either the good, or bad genetic makeup your parents either day, there simply are individuals who can neglect their health and still win. This isn’t because neglecting your health is actually what is keeping them healthy, but rather due to the fact that they will be fine regardless of what they do.

When you compare yourself to someone like this, you can become envious and frustrated with what they have and you don’t. This is a poor mindset to have, and will set you up for a life of poor health. Rather, we should take control of our own health and do what we can to improve it.

Instead of constantly scrolling on social media of individuals who have “good genetics,” getting frustrated because we aren’t like them, and giving up on being healthy, we need to look at the things we can do. You very well could have genetics that favor putting on more body fat than someone else. You very well could have genetics that predispose you towards mental health issues. The sooner you can take an honest look at your health and realize what cards you have been dealt, the better off you will be. If you can accept that maybe you don’t have the best genetics to keep you healthy, you can take action in your life. Notice that you gain weight easier than your friend? Perhaps you won’t be able to enjoy as much dessert as them at dinners. Find it harder to keep your strength as you age, compared to your exercise partner? You might need to do a little more exercise compared to them.
It isn’t your fault that this is the case. It is, however, your responsibility to deal with it. Think about how your genetics have shifted your mindset towards making improvements in your health. Is your mindset self-defeating, and focused on what genetics others have and you don’t? The time to change is now!

For more information please contact Logan Anderson, owner of All Strong Fitness LLC. He can be reached at (563) 210-3701 or by email: allstrongfitnessllc@gmail.com.