There are no perfect body types or shape, only real ones with real benefits and issues. Because every body type is beautiful.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on January 17, 2020. It has since been updated.
When we think of getting into shape and getting healthier, most of us rely on standard diets or workout plans. You hear about this latest diet fad from your friends at work and decide to try it, but it doesn't seem to have any effect whatsoever on you. You sign up for the gym because an article in the magazine advised you to, but you seem to have lost more money than weight. For some people, it may have worked and for others, not. That could be because you were doing things that are not tailored to suit your body type. Every person's body is different, and hence, so are its requirements.
Knowing about our body type will help us understand its needs, how to work out for it, dress for it, and the right diet. A certain system called somatotype can be the answer to finding out your body type, although there are many different ways of doing it. In the 1940s, psychologist Dr. William Sheldon developed this theory and connected people's temperament to it, though he couldn't find a link there, according to Youbeauty.com. However, the distribution of fat and muscle in our body can determine our body type. After all, people have different kinds of bodies. Some are thin, some skinny, some athletic, and others are bigger.
There is no shame attached to any of the body types, but if you are not happy with your level of fitness and want to change that, knowing your somatotype might help. There are three distinct body types - ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph. Here is your body type based on the features you have:
If you are an ectomorph, your shoulders would be narrower than your hips and you might have difficulty gaining weight, whether it is muscle or fat. Your fitted jeans might be looser around the butt and your forearms are on the smaller side. This body type is skinny by default making your body look long and narrow. You could also have thin wrists so much so that if you hold your wrist between your thumb and middle finger, the two fingers would overlap. You would have a fast metabolism and a small bone structure. This body type is known as "hardgainer" in fitness parlance, according to CaliberStrong.
If you have the ectomorph body type, you might have to eat more calories than the other two types if you want to gain muscle. If you plan to go for a workout regime, then focus on heavy weightlifting and less cardio, especially if you are finding it hard to gain muscle. Three days of strength training and two days of low-intensity cardio should be enough for you, according to Coachmag.
If this is your body type, you would have a medium build and a rectangular/wedge shaped-body, with wide shoulders that would roughly be the same width as your hips. You would mostly have a lean and hard body type, according to Mport.com. When you wear fitted jeans, it would most likely be snug around your butt. It might be easier for you to gain muscle and you would have strong and muscled arms and legs. You would also be strong. You would also have a wide wrist so that when you grip your wrist with your thumb and middle finger, the two fingers would hardly touch.
If you are this body type, it is easier for you to stay lean and muscular than the other types. You would also not need to eat too much or too little to gain or lose weight. For a workout regime, you can do some moderate strength training with some cardio.
This body type generally has a hard time losing weight but with some working out, it's not hard to gain muscle. Usually, an endomorph body type is someone short in height too and with a round body. They would have a bulky physique and gain both fat and muscle easily. You would have shoulders wider than your hips, and a pair of fitted jeans would feel tight around the butt. You would generally have thick forearms and wrists. If you try to grip the wrist with the thumb and middle finger, they won't touch.
During your fitness journey, it is important to find a diet and workout habit that doesn't add extra weight. It is easy for your body type to gain excess fat so try adopting a diet that leads to the right caloric deficit until you are at the desired weight. Couple this up with some high-intensity cardio and moderate weight training.
References:
https://caliberstrong.com/body-type/
https://mport.com/blog/know-your-body-type-somatotype/
https://www.coachmag.co.uk/lifestyle/4511/ectomorph-endomorph-or-mesomorph-what-is-your-body-type
https://www.youbeauty.com/fitness/somatotypes-and-body-type-guide/
Disclaimer : This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
