Obesity genes are real ... but they aren't an excuse to give up

Recently, I decided to have my DNA tested through Ancestry. My family is pretty big into ancestry research and three others in my family have done the DNA test. Plus, my dad is sort of a junkyard dog so I thought I might have some secret siblings out in the world, lol.

In researching which service to use, I also found out about Promethease - a site where you can upload your raw dna data to find out all kinds of other info besides just ancestry. So I bought my Ancestry kit (which is on sale right now, btw) and waited not-so-patiently for the results, which came back this morning (they received my kit on Nov 16, so not a bad turn around time).

After reading through all the Ancestry stuff (and not finding any secret siblings, boo) I eagerly uploaded to Promethease - it takes 20 min and costs $12.

Fair warning for anyone considering using Promethease: it's both difficult and potentially scary. I recommend looking at some YouTube tutorials first.

I have a very high risk for blood clots. I found genetic markers for all the conditions I already know I have (including multiple asthma markers). I found out that I carry both genes for blue eyes. And that I carry a gene that might make me less empathetic towards others - maybe I need to change my username? lol.

And then I found close to a dozen genes that have known risk for, and link to, obesity. There was even a gene that's been found to make it harder for people carrying it to lose weight through diet alone (they had to include vigorous exercise). One gene has been studied enough that they found a low-fat diet helpful for people carrying it.

But how can it be that I have all these obesity genes and have still lost 60 lbs? Because your genes don't make it impossible to lose weight. It just means that, with this somewhat depressing genetic cocktail I have, I'll have to work harder than I thought. And it means I may never get all the way down to where I'd like to be. And that's OK.

If anything, I feel more motivated than ever to beat the hand my genetics have dealt me. And guess what - being high risk for blood clots and high blood pressure means I don't really have the luxury of giving up on my weight loss journey.

So the nest time someone blames their genes or says it "runs in their family" you can tell them that's a pretty lame excuse.

submitted by /u/super_nice_shark
[link] [comments]

from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/2DWdEjf