Are you beginning to believe that you are not getting the results you want from your workouts? Don’t tell me that you are comparing yourself to someone else! If so, you should not do it, there are many variables that intervene in the results.
The truth is that there are literally dozens, if not hundreds of variables that will affect the result of a training program, and that are independent of any type of routine.
If some of these variables, at least the most important ones, are broken down, we could know how to combat them, accept them or reinforce them to achieve a more efficient training with better results.
And why is it important to know the variability factors that affect a workout? Well, for many things: it avoids illogical frustrations when comparing results, it helps to focus on finding the points to improve, and it gives you a more exact idea about your own limits.
So, do you think if we start and go on to analyze the basic variables that affect our training and muscle development?
The main variables that affect your training results
Age
Age is always a limiting factor as we age, and much more physically than psychologically. It is to take into account that anyone over 35 years of age is at the initial point where they begin to see and feel a decrease in their physical development.
The truth is that age is a variable that affects the outcome of any training program.
This is why training must be adjusted to suit the age of each practitioner.
Does this mean that you will not get the results you expect? Not at all, you just have to make some adjustments and put together a routine in a smart and knowledge-based way.
If you do it well, you will allow you to design a specific program that better adapts to your body, thus managing to more efficiently combat this barrier or limit that is age.
The gender
Gender is quite variable obviously. This has determined many of the end results produced from a strength training program.
Men have a favorable profile thanks to a greater secretion of anabolic hormones, which translates into a greater predisposition towards muscle development, strength, speed and power.
For this reason, the training program must be structured to meet individual gender needs to achieve the desired objective.
This does not mean that women can develop slim bodies or with greater amount of muscle mass, but see all the Fitness girls that are emerging on the network and have incredible bodies.
The race
Race is a controversial factor but it also influences the results obtained. For example, North Europeans dominate strength sports, African Americans dominate sprinting, East Africans are the best long-distance runners, etc.
A person’s race provides a significant percentage of a person’s general physical potential reserves.
For this reason, the best training program is one that is based on highlighting our innate condition and not one that is only based on weaknesses. Obviously, it also depends on our objectives, so we must be clear about our weaknesses if we want to strengthen them.
The training times
Someone who started training last week will obviously have different potential for advancement than someone who has trained consistently for a decade.
The volume of loads, the frequency of training, the intensity, the selection of exercises, and even the physical capacity will be totally different when facing a certain training program.
Those who have been training for a long time, they look great, but the progress in their training is less and less and more difficult to achieve.
Those who have just started training will not see themselves as a person who has been training for a long time, but their progress will be faster and more noticeable.
The environment
A person’s environment greatly affects the changing aspects of his physical ability.
Lifestyle, availability of time, what the person does outside of their training sessions, access to appropriate training facilities (even if training alone at home or outdoors), availability of food, education, etc.
There is a huge difference between someone who has a flexible schedule and working few hours than someone so busy that they even deprive themselves of a commensurate sleep, for example.
Keep this in mind when comparing your results with someone else’s.
The genetic
The last variable we are going to look at is genetics. This is related to race and goes even further as it is specific to the individual.
Some people are slimmer, while others are naturally bulkier.
There are those who never excel at any type of sport, while others are naturally good, even with less training volume.
This is a combination of environment and genetics. Genetics is what causes a person to have narrow hips, long legs, and a large percentage of fast-twitch muscle fibers; making them very effective in sports such as sprinting for example.
conclusion on training variables
As you can see, there are many variables to take into account when doing a sport, or training the body in the gym.
However, this does not mean that you cannot do one task or another or obtain the results you expect, you will simply have to adjust your workouts to compensate for the weaknesses, which you have based on these variables.