Genes make up so many parts of who we are and how we appear such as what eye color or hair color we will have. Our body shape is always going to end up being something like those we are related to, not always directly in proportion with our father and mother and even being obese is something that has been linked to genetics.
What I have learned about fighting genes versus simply using genes as an excuse.
I don’t care what your genetics and family history may say you are prone to be, whether they say are you going to be overweight or if you may become an alcoholic I think that every single person has the power of change within them for some family history and bad genes so to speak.
The summer after I graduated high school I felt invincible, I had graduated high school I was an adult – no one could bring me down. The only problem with my invincible attitude is a little something I didn’t realize way back then, no human being is invincible. I learned this lesson when I got my first {and only} DWI {driving while intoxicated} at age 18 just one month after my graduation. I am thankful that I was only in trouble because I blew a .05 at age 18 {underage for drinking alcohol} and that no one was hurt, I wasn’t in any accidents, simply was pulled over for failure to yield so the officer said. I now am 110% against drinking anything and driving, can not do it!
Long story short, I had to go through a DWI course and then meet with a licensed drug and alcohol counselor person. When that person evaluated my crime, my history of teen drinking and my family’s alcohol consumption history he told me I pretty much had a 99% chance I would become an alcoholic! If anyone knows me personally they know I don’t go for the 99% I will become an alcoholic, I go for that 1% different person. I love a good challenge.
I took time and of course I still drink and have since then but I keep a watchful eye on my drinking and if I start consuming too much too often I stop, why? Because I am reminded of that day I sat down and was told I basically had a 1% chance of not becoming an alcoholic and I was determined to be that 1%. So I am living proof that family history and genetics are not an excuse to do stupid things!
If you have overweight family members and are high risk of being overweight {like myself} then all that means is you have to endure watching what you eat and making sure you have a daily exercise routine to keep that weight maintained. I fight with my weight all of the time and if I put my height and weight onto a chart, I am considered slightly obese yet most wouldn’t peg me for that when they see me in person. It’s difficult to fight those fat cells that want to take over my body as they have with family in the past, but it’s another battle I will win!
So please no more blaming everyone else for your own problems, sit down and take the blame for whatever it is that you have been doing in your life. DO not blame genetics, DO NOT blame family history – BE THAT 1%!
You can do it! Move forward to a better, healthier, more positive YOU!
