What are your thoughts on genetic limits? (bodybuilding, bikes, biceps)

[Gatsby1925]

I am getting into bodybuilding, and something that comes up frequently, especially amongst naturals, is genetic limitations. Now, I do want to get bigger, and possibly get up to 18 or 19 inches ripped arms, but after seeing this, I admit to being a little discouraged:

The WeighTrainer - Maximum Muscular Bodyweight and Measurements Calculator

I did my height (5'6") and chose a bodyfat of 10 percent, did the measurements and I got a maximum muscular bodyweight of 178.3 lbs and a max bulked weight of 185.4 lbs. My max measurements are a 45 inch chest and 16.3 inch biceps. I have pretty small wrists and ankles.

So to those who are a bit more familiar with genetic limitations than I am: what are your thoughts on this? Is a genetic limit and actual hard limit, or is it just a huge plateau that needs an extra push?

[td333]

That's data based on a sample of individuals. There are likely outliers.

[1208]

Dude it will take you years and years even to get to that point, which is only a rough estimate in of itself. Plus there's always steroids once you have reached your natural peak, that's what a lot of people end up doing once they can't get any bigger naturally. Also, you will be huge at that size and bodyfat anyways.

[spacelord75]

First of all, you need to forget genetics while pursuing your goal. In a sense, you are already defeated before even trying if you allow some study to disrupt your goals. Genetics is much more complicated than using bone size and other measurements, so the best way to find out is to throw yourself head-first into training with an obsessive single-mindedness and see what happens.

[grmi66]

Just train and see where you land. Don't use genetics as an excuse until you are a super elite athlete and competing. At one point I used to race bikes at the elite level. Trained like a pro and got pretty close. The difference between an elite amatuer and a pro was genetics. But I had a great experience knowing that even though I was not a pro I was still a better cyclist than 99% of the population.