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It's one of the most common questions in the fitness industry. How do I look like Ryan Gosling, Emily Ratajkowski, Thor, Captain America. There's one answer to all the above. Most likely, you can't.

Here's the science on how a person’s genetics will impact the way they look. And why genetics ultimately, don't matter.

How Much Muscle Gets Built Over Time

For example, research has demonstrated that people with thicker bone structure have a greater ability to build muscle.

Why?

Think about it like this, you can’t hang a lot of heavy clothes on a thin hanger right? The thicker the hanger, the heavier the clothing it can handle.

Same thing with muscle and the thickness of your bones. If you have a thinner frame, building an impressive physique may take longer. This is also backed by research (study 1, study 2, study 3).

This concept goes for all “androgenic” features. Or features that are considered masculine. For example, hairiness, how deep the voice is, how square someone’s face is.

Also, and this is a bit more science-y, the amount of satellite cells that a person has naturally will dictate how much muscle the person can build.

Satellite cells are the cells that repair damaged muscles post workout. Those genetic freaks who build muscle every time they sneeze were found to have twice the amount of satellite cells floating around their body.

How your muscles will look.

This is probably what’s going to prevent you from looking like Thor or Cap.

People have different muscle lengths and insertion points. This makes the overall physique of different people look, well, different.

And yes, this is purely genetic. Once you’re born, your muscles are in place. "Shaping" or "sculpting" them is not possible.

Here are some examples,

High Bicep Insertion (Left) Vs Low Bicep Insertion (Right)

Low Calf Insertion (Left) Vs High Calf Insertion (Right)

So can you look like your favorite superhero? Maybe. But probably not. The celebrity or Instagram influencer you want to look like is a different person than you are. Even if you did the exact same workout, ate the exact same food, did the same amount of physical activity, and slept the same amount, you would have two different physiques.

This is why I encourage people to look for fitness content that is based on research and science. For the most part, the celebrities and influencers giving fitness tips are basing their advice on one thing, what worked for them. And with the right genetics, and, let's say, supplements cough, they can get away with doing subpar workouts and still see results. 

BUT DON’T BE DISCOURAGED!!!

The good news is, you don’t have to look like some celebrity to have an impressive physique, and you don’t need to be some genetic freak either.

Your genetics are your genetics and were determined when you were in the womb. And because there's nothing you can do about it, you should put none of your mental energy into it.

You have to put in work at the gym and in the kitchen day in and day out. Your goal should be becoming the best version of yourself. Not the next Aquaman. Just keep going. You'll look up one day and people will be asking how they can look like you.

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