Two months ago, my friend and I decided to start a workout plan. Every other day, we’d hit the treadmill or go outside and run 3.1 miles (the equivalent to a 5K). Over the next two months, we both experienced weight loss, but there was a noticeable difference in our fitness levels: I was improving my time, speed and energy levels significantly, while he was still around the same time and speed that he started at two months earlier. I wondered why, since we both follow the same diet plan (give or take a few snacks) and have desk jobs.
Well, it turns out that our genes play a role in how well our bodies adapt to a workout routine. A new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology suggests that genes can affect how resistant or adaptive our bodies are to fitness. So if you’ve been training for a while and haven’t seen any improvements in your fitness level, chalk it up to your parents (and theirs and theirs…).
Does this mean you should give up and sit on the couch all day? No. Although your fitness levels may not see much improvement, exercise has many other benefits (lower blood pressure, lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and better skin). So make sure you keep at it. As for my friend and me, we’re both training hard for our next 5K next month.
– Geoffrey
