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Genetics Aren’t Your Destiny
A Bite-Size Read for Your Health and Waistline.
In the endless pursuit of the “perfect” body type or shape or size, as is often the conversation leading into a new year, we, as human beings, often seek confirmation or validation of progress through the scale, using a tape measure, BMI, etc. In my world, as a health coach, while many of these metrics are inherently flawed and there is truly no such thing as the “perfect body,” I know how frustrating it can be when it feels like the results we desire aren’t happening. In those moments, I often hear people say, “ugh, this is genetic and maybe there’s nothing I can do.” I posit, this is false.
Most of us are at least somewhat familiar with genes, the blueprint of our genetic makeup, as being responsible for human structure. I agree, you can’t change your genes, but you can change your epigenetics! Let me explain…
Genetics is the study of genes while epigenetics is the study of how the manifestation of genes change. It is true, we cannot change our genes. And there are, in fact, genes or genetic variations that make some people crave fatty or sugary foods. But when we think about inheritance, what we get from our families, it’s more than just our genes. We also learn about lifestyle and habits. It’s the lifestyle piece that’s the difference maker in epigenetics.
