Ever been jealous of the tiny girl who seems to eat and eat and never gain weight? Or maybe you are that tiny girl and you can’t seem to build any muscle? Maybe you build muscle so quickly, you have to be careful not to bulk up?
There is a reason behind this because we each have a different body type and knowing your body type and how to work with it can greatly help you to shape up faster.
There are three basic kinds of body types:
Ectomorph
Mesomorph
Endomorph
Each of these has its own unique set of general visible characteristics. And in addition, each has its set of internal characteristics-the stuff that’s not so obvious like metabolism. Knowing about these different body types, their unique qualities and how they operate and respond to weight training and diet can help you achieve your goals no matter what kind of body type you happen to be.
The ectomorph is the naturally thin so putting on weight or muscle is a huge challenge and many times harder than a body type who is trying to lose weight. . Typically, an ectomorph is very lean and has a small frame, more or less a flat chest, skinny shoulders and a fast metabolism. These are the people who seem to be able to eat just about anything they like without putting on weight, in fact, they are known to burn an incredible amount of calories while they sleep! In order for an ectomorph to get the results they have to take the time to understand their body type and what it requires in order for them to put on mass. The focus is not just on lifting weights but also on making sure they are taking in enough calories to be able to build muscle. They should also give their muscles plenty of time to recover between training sessions-more time than other body types-and do more weight training than cardio.
The endomorph is the naturally athletic body type. They tend to be stronger, larger-framed and rectangular-shaped with well-defined muscles. These are the people who sometimes make putting on muscle look almost effortless. That’s really not the case though-it just seems like some of them don’t have to exert themselves very hard. The reality though is that for most endomorphs, gaining muscle mass is a lot easier than for an ectomorph. On the downside-it is also a lot easier for an endomorph to put on fat than it is for an ectomorph, so they’ve got to be careful or they can quickly lose their gains and go from athletic to chubby in no time. For most endomorphs, an ongoing regimen of weight training and moderate cardio is the best mix.
The mesomorph is the third body type. These people tend to be shorter (but not always) and generally have thick arms and legs. They are the ones who are naturally strong-especially in the legs. Mesomorphs are usually able to put on muscle relatively easily. Powerlifters, strongmen and competitive bodybuilders are often mesomorphs. Unlike ectomorphs though, the mesomorph metabolism runs a lot slower-meaning that it’s also a lot easier for them to put on fat. A mesomorph who wants to remain lean will have to be sure to mix in plenty of cardio with their weight training.
Many people fall into the above 3 body types, but some can be a mix of two. It is important to focus on the fact that we are all different shapes and sizes and focus on being healthy and in optimal condition. Knowing your body type helps you to accept your shape and work with it in a productive way. If you are an mesomorph and are trying to be an ectomorph, it isn’t going to happen! Setting unrealistic goals will lead to frustration and disappointment.
Regardless of your body type it’s important to remember not to blame anything on your genetics-you’re not condemned to looking a certain way simply because you happen to have a particular body type. Armed with the knowledge of your body type and understanding its unique characteristics you can achieve your goals, whatever they may be.
