Are you, or have you ever been, a hardgainer?
If you've spent some considerable time trying to build a more muscular appearance but haven't had much success, you may be tempted to label yourself as a hardgainer. You may have even been given this title by your friends in the gym. Is there really such thing as a hardgainer?
You can debate all day long about the role of genetics vs. a person's environment or work ethic. Rather than trying to blame everything on your genetics, or your standard equipment, you should realize that in the vast majority of cases genetics is only one factor.
I know that some people are better at weightlifting than others. It's the same thing with just about any field you can think of. Some people have a natural gift, and others don't. However, no matter what your starting point is, your hard work and commitment will determine how far you go.
You may have to accept the reality that gaining muscle is not going to be a walk in the park for you, and you probably need to forget about those guys that seem to make progress almost effortlessly.
When you take something on, you shouldn't just think about how difficult it will be. You must look past the circumstances and obstacles and see what you'll gain if you succeed. Only then can you really determine if something is worth it or not.
It may sound like a clich, but a positive mental attitude really is critical to your success. You have to be willing to put in the work, and you have to believe that it's going to lead to the right results. Of course, you're going to need the right kind of trainer, so you want to follow a proven muscle building course from someone who's been there before. The important thing is to drop the negative attitude right away, or you'll never get very far.
If you concentrate on the difficulties, pretty soon that will be all that you can see. People who have hope in the future become creative in solving their problems, but those who are negative simply shut off their mind to solutions.
A positive mental attitude and a commitment means that you've won more than half the battle, but you still have to have the right knowledge to succeed. Make sure to learn from a proven bodybuilder who knows what it takes to succeed.