Fitness and Muscle

When I first started weight training there was so much information from different workouts, to supplements that I felt a little overwhelmed.  There was so much conflicting information that I spent alot of wasted time in the gym, as I didn’t know which direction I was going.

One important thing I discovered, that finally pointed me in the right direction was an article I read on different body types.  I realised that because I was an ectomorph, I was tackling my workouts from the wrong angle.  I assumed that the more training I did the bigger I would get, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

By finding out my body type, I was able to understand how my body worked and this really helped me in my quest to build muscle.  Here I’ll take a look at the three body types and what they mean for you:

Ectomorph

• Thin
• Small Frame
• Fast Metabolism
• Lean Muscle Mass
• Trouble Gaining Weight

Ectomorph’s find it difficult to gain weight and bulk up, so need to eat alot of calories.  Your workouts should be short and sharp, with the focus on big muscle groups.  Plenty of rest between workouts is recommended.  Eating protein before bed is recommended to prevent muscle breakdown during the night, and supplements may also be beneficial.

Mesomorph

• Strong and Athletic
• Gains Muscle Easily
• Rectangular shape
• Well Defined

A combination of weight training and cardio should be benificial for a mesomorph.  Variation when weight training should yield greater results.  Combining heavy basic movements with body specific exercises is best.  Light cardio may also be needed as mesomorphs gain fat more easily than ectomorphs.

Endomorphs

• Round Physique
• Wide Bone Structure
• Slower Metabolism
• Gains Fat and Muscle Easily
• Wide Hips Narrow Shoulders

Endomorphs gain weight easily, much of which can be fat so need to incorporate high intensity cardio into workouts.  Workouts should be sharp, with little rest between sets.

Many people will fall into two categories such as ectomorph/mesomorph or mesomorph/endomorph, but once you know which body type you are, you can tailor your workout to suit your specific body type needs.