Knowing your body type is imperative for choosing the right foods and exercise program. Your body type also influences the diseases you are susceptible to. Basing the foods you eat on your body type is especially beneficial in terms of losing weight. Knowing your body type helps you avoid foods that will not assist you in meeting your health, fitness or weight loss goals. This is especially true for bodybuilders and athletes.
Somatotype
The three basic body types, identified by American psychologist William Sheldon in the 1940’s, are endomorph, ectomorph and mesomorph. Each body type has distinguishing characteristics and attributes that differ from each other. You may find that you are all one body type or a combination of two.
Endomorph
Endomorphs are round, soft and curvy. This body type tends to easily gain weight but has a difficult time losing it. However, they are able to build muscle very easily. Endomorphs fare well with diets consisting of several small meals spaced throughout the day. This improves their metabolism. If you’re an endomorph you should eat lean proteins and green vegetables. This body type is the more carbohydrate sensitive of the three. Because of this, endomorphs should avoid refined sugars, processed foods, and simple carbohydrates altogether and only eat complex carbohydrates immediately following exercise. The endomorph body is less likely to store the carbohydrates as body fat directly after exercise.
Ectomorph
Ectomorphs are slim with a low risk of gaining body fat due to their high metabolism. If you’re an ectomorph, your meals should always include protein and starchy carbohydrates along with vegetables. Focus on adding nutrient-rich foods high in calories like nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Five or six meals a day with 30% of the calories coming from fat will prove beneficial to the ectomorphic body.
Mesomorph
Mesomorphs are naturally fit and muscular, yet you still need to exercise and eat a proper diet for your body type. You gain and lose weight easily and grow muscle quickly as well. Eat a balanced diet with protein, healthy fat and complex carbohydrates. Have five to six meals per day. Your diet should include foods like tuna, chicken, steak, legumes, peanut butter, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Member Comments