Ecclesiastes 10:15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Knowing what to do is good but knowing HOW to do it is better. We know the complex nature of the human body but understanding the kind of body type you possess would help determine the best exercise and diet plan for you.
WHAT IS YOUR BODY TYPE?
We are all created different but just as beautiful. Typically, there are three dominant body types:
1) Ectomorph
2) Mesomorph
3) Endomorph
Your genetics predisposed you towards one of the above body types and you cannot change that. However, with dedication to your training and also eating right, you can get closer to another body type but you should understand that your daily exercise, diet habits, lifestyle and even metabolic changes through pregnancy or menopause can skew your body type. If you are uncertain where you fit in, just think about how you look like in your late teens or early twenties.
1) ECTOMORPHS: Simply put, these are people who seem to eat whatever they want and never gain any weight because they have a fast metabolism, they are usually thin and lanky, they have smaller bone structure with shoulders that tend to be narrower than their hips. Just think of the endurance athletes or your typical model. Typically, the goal of someone with this body type is to gain weight.
As an ectomorph, your exercise should focus on resistance or endurance training. Your workout should focus on strength and hypertrophy (building muscle). Some of the workouts include squats, push-ups and pull-ups. Go for short cardio sessions 10-20 minutes, twice weekly. You can treat it as your warm-up to avoid burning too much calories or muscle mass. When it comes to diet, ensure you have a fine mixture of carbohydrate, protein and fat.
2) MESOMORPHS: This set of people have a medium bone structure and an athletic body, they are considered to have the “good gene” because they have an efficient metabolism which means it is easier for them to gain muscle or even to lose fat if they keep to an active and healthy lifestyle. It is relatively easy for them to maintain their weight.
As a mesomorph, you can gain weight! But once you get back into eating well and exercising, the excess weight comes of easily.
In your workout sessions, you should focus on strength, size and endurance. Avoid focusing only on one type of training. Your workout goal should be to lose fat and increase muscle tone.
3) ENDOMORPHS: As an endomorph, you possess a soft, rounder body. You have a stockier bone structure with larger mid-section and hips. You can gain fat easily but struggle to lose weight, your metabolism is naturally slower and you have to pay more attention to what you eat in order to get fit.
As an endomorph, if your metabolism is sluggish, you need to eat the right food to fire up your metabolism. If you live a sedentary lifestyle, you need to incorporate simple exercises as part of your daily routine. You need to do the right thing for your body and not blame it on genetics.
As part of your training, resistance training is key but you need to include endurance training in order to increase your metabolic rate and help you shed fat.
These are the three dominant body types, you may find that you do not fit perfectly into one category but a mixture of two body types. Hence, you may be:
- an Ecto-Mesomorph (lean and muscular)
- a Meso-Endomorph (strong but undefined muscle)
- an Endo-Mesomorph (skinny-fat; you are naturally thin but gain weight when you do not exercise or eat wrongly)
What is your body type?
What are your goals?
Remember, there is no magical route to achieving your health and fitness goals. If you have been eating well and exercising but not getting the results you desire, you might not have been doing it correctly according to your body type. You have to keep trying different methods, observe how your body responds and stick with the one that is suitable.
Just like every valuable goal, there are no shortcuts! Fix your eyes on the goal, learn and be consistent.
SOURCES:
- Askthescientists.com
- Everydayhealth.com
- Joanna Soh’s channel
- mdlinx.com
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