The Excuses Caper

This “I’m-a-victim-of-my-genetics” crap I hear all the time gets me riled.

It’s a get-out for lazy people.

Okay, I’ll give a little ground on that. There is such a thing as body type and you need to be realistic about what you came into the world with. But aside from that, stop moaning and get busy lifting.

As someone who specialises in getting actors in shape for roles, I’ve overseen numerous transformations that began with the star racked with doubts as to whether he could get in shape in time. But we always get there because we train smart, we train hard and we redefine what the body and mind are capable of.

Here are a couple of body-part-specific pointers to get you thinking – and growing:

Shoulders won’t grow?
You think you’ve tried everything, but what about working with the principle of proportion? That means getting your waist super-tight and your back a little bigger, while giving your probably neglected rear deltoids some serious attention. Bam! The effect will be that your shoulders appear broader.

Pipe-cleaner pins?
If you’ve got spindly legs, stop whining, lay off the biceps and get your ass squatting. And that means building up to a heavily loaded barbell. Because I’m sorry, in the end, that’s what it will take to make those twigs grow.

Fat Albert’s gut?
Come on! Assess your diet. Scrap late-night feedings.
Portion control. Back off from the high-GI carbs. Pour any soft drink or fruit juice down the drain.

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