How Do I Determine my Body Type?
How Do I Determine My Body Type?
Look at yourself in a full length mirror. Be prepared to answer a few questions too. Do you have trouble gaining weight or have you always struggled with losing it? What is your body shape? Are you a pear or an apple, or maybe a ruler? Have you been called names like “big-boned” or “skinny as a rail” all of your life? Do you have a fast or slow metabolism? These questions hold the answer to determining your body type. Read the following descriptions and decide which one most describes you. Then read on for some fitness advice to help you make the most of your body type.
The Endomorph
Most endomorphs have been told they are big all over. The endomorph is big boned with large thighs. Weight is frequently gained in the stomach area. Endomorphs have a high percentage of body fat and round faces. They have a slow metabolism and usually need to watch their weight. While they build muscle easily, they also lose fat slowly, making it hard to appear smaller. You probably know it if you are an endomorph. You probably have an apple body shape and have always struggled with your weight.
If you are an endomorph, your main fitness goal will obviously be to lose fat. Your fitness plan should consist of lots of cardiovascular exercise. Start by walking 30 minutes a day and build up to at least 60 minutes. Interval training will burn even more fat and increase an endomorph’s metabolism. Interval training can be very simple. Just increase the intensity of your workout for a period of a few minutes, several times during the workout. Start small and increase the time of the increased intensity as well as the number of times per workout. While cardio is king for the endomorph, you will still need to include muscle toning exercises. Try light hand weight workouts or pilates. Pilates strengthens the core, which is a problem area for many endomorphs. You will also gain great posture and flexibility with pilates.
The Mesomorph
The mesomorph has well-defined muscles and a narrow waist. They build muscle easily and usually have an athletic overall look. The mesomorph has a fast metabolism and usually doesn’t hold a lot of extra fat. If you’re a mesomorph, you probably lose any extra fat easily while retaining muscle. Most mesomorph women have an hourglass body shape. The mesomorph is blessed with a great natural physique, but still must maintain a healthy lifestyle through exercise and a healthy diet or they can lose that much-envied look.
The mesomorph will respond well to most fitness programs. Any cardiovascular activity will produce great results with this body type. If you’re a mesomorph, your goal should be at least 4 cardiovascular sessions each week and 2 strength training sessions. Flexibility training should also be incorporated into exercise sessions for the mesomorph. The mesomorph should focus on staying motivated to exercise. Many times they will fall away from exercise because they have such an easy time maintaining a good body weight and shape. Everyone needs exercise in order to stay healthy, so mesomorphs must continue to stay focused.
The Ectomporph
Have you been called “skinny as a rail” your whole life? The ectomorph is thin and doesn’t gain muscle easily. If you’re an ectomorph, you probably have small shoulders and a flat chest. You may be somewhat lacking in the curve department. Ectomorphs usually have a ruler shape and are frequently very thin. Your waist is not well-defined. You burn fat quickly and never struggle with being overweight. As a matter of fact, any struggles are with gaining weight. You probably don’t have much muscle definition, which seems to be more of a problem with male ectomorphs. The ectomorph has an extremely fast metabolism.
Ectomorphs should concentrate more on muscle strengthening workouts. Weight lifting is great for this body type and should be the main focus of the ectomorph’s fitness program. The ectomorph has trouble gaining strength, so strength training is needed for easier everyday life. Cardiovascular exercise is still needed for better heart health, but moderate intensity programs are all that’s needed.