“It’s genetics.”
That sentence has ended more gym journeys than injuries ever did.
I heard it growing up. I believed it for years. And for a long time, it was the most convenient excuse not to even try. When people talk about gyms in Barbados, many think results belong to a lucky few. The rest of us are told to accept what we were given.
I did not accept it.
WHEN “IT’S GENETICS” BECOMES A COMFORT ZONE
Every time I admired someone’s physique, the answer was the same. Genetics. No explanation. No plan. End of conversation.
After hearing it long enough, I convinced myself there was no point joining gyms in Barbados at all. I looked at my family history and decided the verdict was already written.
That belief did more damage than genetics ever could.
THE MOMENT I STOPPED BLAMING MY DNA
At some point, frustration turns into curiosity. I started asking better questions. Not “why am I not built like them?” but “what am I not doing yet?”
That was when I learned something important. Genetics influence you. They do not command you.
Discipline, structure, and environment matter more than most people realise. Especially the environment. A good gym changes how you think before it changes how you look.
WHY MOST GYMS FAIL THE MIND BEFORE THE BODY
Not all gyms in Barbados are bad. But many are not built for mindset.
Crowded floors. Limited machines. Rushed workouts. People watching. Comparing. Judging. Even the strongest motivation disappears in the wrong environment.
I needed a gym where I could grow without pressure. Clean. Calm. Well equipped. Not overcrowded. A place that makes you want to return tomorrow.
That combination is rare.
THE SHIFT FROM LOOKING GOOD TO FEELING STRONG
Yes, I wanted to look good. We all do. That part is honest.
But the real change happened when health became the priority. Energy. Strength. Mental clarity. Confidence that came from consistency, not comparison.
Once I focused on how I felt, discipline stopped feeling forced. The gym became a partner, not a reminder of what I was not.
WHY THE LEELA VIDA WILL EXIST FOR PEOPLE LIKE US
The Leela Vida Oceanfront Gym will be built for people who were told “it’s genetics” and believed it.
It will be a gym in Barbados where you are not judged for where you start.
A place designed to support growth, not pressure.
Limited membership. Clean space. Calm energy.
A community of people focused on progress, not perfection.
The Leela Vida Oceanfront Gym is being designed to offer a clean, calm, and motivating environment unlike many other gyms in Barbados
There are many gyms in Barbados. This one will focus on mindset first.
Because transformation starts there.
CHANGING THE STORY YOU TELL YOURSELF
You may not change your genes. That is fine. You will change your habits. Your environment. Your discipline.
That is where power lives.
The Leela Vida Oceanfront Gym will exist so nobody ever feels dismissed, uncomfortable, or out of place again. It will exist for people ready to replace “this is not for me” with “this is possible for me too.”
That shift changed my life.
Now I am building a space where it will change yours.
Why do people believe genetics decide fitness results?
Because genetics sound permanent. Many people hear it repeated and stop trying. In reality, consistency, environment, and discipline shape results far more than family history, especially in gyms in Barbados where the right setup makes a difference.
How can the right gym help break the genetics mindset?
A supportive gym removes pressure and judgment. Clean spaces, good equipment, guidance, and limited crowding allow people to focus on progress. This environment helps members replace “this is not for me” with “this is possible for me too.”
Will beginners feel comfortable starting their journey?
Yes. The goal is to create a gym in Barbados where beginners feel welcome from day one. Progress starts with mindset, and a calm, motivating space helps people show up consistently and build confidence over time.
Source