Fitness Genes - DNA Testing

Use your genetics to get fit!

What is Fitness Genes?

Fitness genes is using your DNA blueprint & providing you with results of how your body responds to diet & exercise. Like I mentioned in my last post on fitness; everyone has their own genetic makeup & some will be slightly more fortunate than others. This doesn’t mean you can’t achieve the results you want.

Genetic specialists, Dr Dan Reardon & Dr Sam Decombel, founded Fitness Genes in 2013. They have a full team of specialists in science & personal training.

How does it work?

If you decide to go ahead with having your DNA analysied you will need to decide which system plan you would like either fat loss, starter plan, muscle building or a celebrity trainer plan. Each varies in price so your looking at approximately anywhere between £150-£289. To see each plan & what it offers see the below link.

https://fitnessgenes.com/shop/?featurefatloss=1

I decided on the fat loss plan, which was £170. Once I placed the order I received a kit with a barcode & instructions as to how to sign up in order to register my kit.

The kit consists of a single tube where you are required to spit into it. When you spit into the tube you need to ensure your saliva reaches the line & it’s not the bubbles. You will find you need to keep spitting until you can see the clear line between the actual saliva & bubbles. Once you have completed this you need click & press the lid that has a stabilising liquid in it. Once the stabilising liquid has entered the tube you will need to give it a good shake. Your sample is now ready to be sent off in the box provided.

An email will be sent to you once your sample has reached the lab & you will also be given an estimated date as to when your results will be ready.

Results

Once your results are ready a notification email will be sent to you. You then log onto your account & it will present the 40 odd variations of your genes. Be prepared the report is extremely long! The team at Fitness Genes are always constantly researching in gene variations so any new updates will be updated on your account.

Just to give you an idea of what to expect here is a short snap shot of my results. I won’t go into too much detail as you can imagine there is a tremendous amount of information.

Ace Gene – Gene for Endurance

My results showed I had one gene copy of power/strength & one for endurance. This means I have a good balance of endurance & strength. I can’t complain with this result!

AKT1 – Gene associated with Aerobic exercise response

My results showed that when in an untrained state (basically when I don’t carry out any exercise) I would have increased levels of body fat & poorer insulin function. In nutshell I need to ensure I’m always exercising! However my gene variation also means when do I exercise I respond well with better insulin function.

Clock – Sleep

Strangely enough there is gene that determines your sleep pattern. My result states that I have a disturbed sleep pattern; which is very accurate! I do suffer from disturbed every night where I find I’m waking up at least once in the night for no apparent reason. I find I have to be heavily exhausted to sleep right thru the night.

FTO- Gene Appetite

You’re either lucky or unlucky with this one. In my case I’m not so lucky a tendency towards having a big appetite & always wanting fattier foods. I now know why I’m always craving fatty foods, however I control this by reaching out for the healthier fats. My result also indicates that I have higher levels of the hunger hormone known as ghrelin in the system. This means my brain responds differently to ghrelin & to pictures of foods, which leads to an increased appetite. All I can say is thank god for my strong willpower! Solution to this is exercise!

I could go on with my results but other findings were that the genes for my oxygen levels were the same type found in athletes & my muscle can clear lactic acid quickly meaning its takes longer for my muscles to fatigue. There are some advantages to my genes & some that don’t favour me. The key is to use the good ones to your advantage & finding solution to reduce the negative effects of the unfavourable ones.

Exercise & Nutrition

A nutrition plan to match a fat loss program is also provided. Please note that nutrition programme is designed to go hand in hand in with that specific program.

The plan will also tell you what type of training suits your genetics. Mine stated that HIT training was best suited for fat loss & high volume resistance training for increasing lean muscle & strength. It also gives you a set of HIT workouts along with an abs & core plan. The workouts given are broken down by 3 different levels, which consist of beginners, intermediate & advance. So even if you’re a novice you can eventually work your way up to the advance level. Each workout states how it should be carried out, when, reps, sets & tempo so you can obtain optimum results.

The Coco Chick Review

If you’re struggling to lose weight or struggling to achieve your optimum goal then this is a great insight. I decided to go ahead with the DNA testing, as I wanted to more about my body & how it functioned.

I’m currently training with my PT Matt who has seen my results & it has allowed him to slightly change up my training. If your planning to hire a PT arming them with these results will help them design a programme that is right for you from the beginning instead of trail & error.

I have started using some of the abs & core along with the HIT workouts provided on there. Sometimes there is so much you can do I feel its best to do one thing at a time. Currently I have supplemented my own workout with the abs & core programme suggested.

Overall I think it’s a great insight as well as this you can also email the team if you have any further questions. After reading my results & seeing the work done by the likes of UP fitness; its made me realise that achieving the body you really want is all about science & fine technique. I do believe there are bigger things to come with the advancements in DNA research to help society with weight loss.

If you’re interested in Fitness Genes & wanting to have your DNA tested please click here.

Coco Chick xxx