In other words, experts believe that your body type affects how well you can lose weight.
Each and every one of us, as humans, are completely unique.
We all have unique traits that form our genetic makeup.
So you might think that it's important to find your exact body type and apply weight loss methods that will help you to lose weight faster.
Here Are The Different Body Types for Men and Women
Defining your body type is called somatotyping.
Here is the definition of somatotype: “A category to which people are assigned according to the extent to which their bodily physique conforms to a basic type (usually endomorphic, mesomorphic, or ectomorphic).”
The underlying principle of somatotyping says you cannot change your body type through weight loss, weight lifting, strength training, eating less, or even over eating.
For instance, the experts say your body type stays the same no matter what you attempt to do.
A Deeper Background on Somatotyping
In order to better understand how your weight loss efforts are affected by your body type, let's try to better understand where somatotyping came from.
According to Somatotype and Constitutional Psychology, somatotype is a taxonomy (definining and naming groups of organisms) that an American psychologist developed in the 1940's.
William Herbert Sheldon categorized human physiques into 3 categories:
- Ectomorph
- Mesomorph
- Endomorph
Notice the “morph” at the end of each body type category. “Morph” comes from the Greek morphos which means: form, shape, structure.
So, let's find out more about each one so you can see which category you fall into and how it can help with weight loss.
Definitions for the 3 Body Types
Some of these definitions are surprising so check these out and see if you fit into any of these categories.
#1: Ectomporh
An ectomorph is characterized as being naturally thin and lean. They may be called: “skinny, lanky, weak, fragile, slender, tall, or even delicate.”
#2: Mesomorph
A mesomorph is characterized as being lean and muscular. They may be called: “athletic, rugged, hard, ripped, macho, or strong.”
#3: Endomorph
An endomorph is characterized as being round and heavy. They may be called: “fat, short, large waist, pear shaped, or even slow.”
If you're like me, you will have trouble fitting into one of these categories based on the definitions above. They are vague and don't really explain too much.
A good picture, though, is worth a thousand words:
Now, you might have a better idea of which category you fit into.
But let me be clear, most people aren't going to fit into ONE of any of the categories.
For instance, I am most likely a mixture of mesomorph and endomorph but at some points in my life you might even call me an ectomorph.
So fitting into ine category is sometimes very difficult based on what you've learned so far.
Let's Go A Little Depper Into These Body Types and Weight Loss
I want to give you in-depth information on each body type and how this affects weight loss according to the experts.
The Ectomorph
These people can eat pretty much whatever they want and they seem to never gain fat. They stay slim all throughout their life.
You may see them eating junk food often and think: “How do they stay so thin?”
I have some friends that are this way. I could never eat so much junk food and stay the way they do.
The issue with this, though, is they are most likely very unhealthy even though they are not obsese or overweight. All that junk food will affect your body in harmful ways.
You might say their metabolism is very high and it helps burn off all of those calories.
Here is a quick list of ectomorph characteristics:
- Very fast metabolism
- Difficulty in gaining weight
- Naturally thin, slender, or slim
- Overactive and can't relax
- Very high energy levels
- Relatively weak with low strength levels
Most likely, ectomorphs aren't worrying about weight loss but they can gain fat throughout their life from eating bad foods.
Sometimes, as they age, they might start getting a belly that begins to bulge out ever so slowly.
Ectomorphs, most likely throughout their life, will be looking for ways to gain weight. So just as some people are always looking for weight loss tips, ectomorphs are looking for ways to gain weight.
They soon find out that the best way to gain weight is to build muscle. So they start weight lifting as a hobby. But they also find it difficult to build muscle and they are not very strong relatively compared to the other body types.
The Mesomorph
Most likely, a mesomorph will never be looking for weight loss tips or information about weight loss. These are the people who are muscular and athletic looking throughout their life.
They do need to watch what they eat, though, as they can begin to gain body fat as they age.
I also have many friends that are the mesopmorph body type. I have to work harder than them to get the same results with weight lifting because they gain muscle easy and lose fat easy.
Sometimes you might think when you see them not working so hard but looking better: “This isn't fair. It's so easy for them.”
Here are some characteristics of the mesomorph:
- Naturally lean and muscular
- Wide shoulders
- Fast burning metabolism
- Athletic and good at many sports
- Burn fat easily
- Good at bodybuilding
Mesomorphs can sometimes get great results with weight lifting and not really do anything correct. They simply can afford all types of mistakes because they build muscle easily and lose fat easily.
The best bodybuilders will most likely be mesomorphs. They may not be as strong as the next body type, though.
You might see running backs or linebackers in football described as mesomorphs while tall and skinnier wide receivers as ectomorphs and offensive lineman as endomorphs.
But let's take a closer look at the next body type.
The Endomorph
If you're an endomorph, you most likely store body fat easily. And once you store that body fat, you will most likely have the most difficulty losing fat.
This means you must be much more careful with your diet and food choices because you can gain fat so easy.
But, you also make better food choices throughout your life because you are “affected” more than the other body types. So inside your body, you may be healthier even though you are larger than the other body types.
Because of this, being an endomorph may be a great thing. I have some endomorph within me, and I have done just fine throughout my life.
Making better food choices throughout your life is an advantage of being an endomorph.
Here are some more characteristics of an endomorph:
- Naturally overweight or even obese
- Slow metabolism
- Large waist
- Gains body fat easily
- Difficulty losing weight
- Sensitive to carbohydrates
- Stronger than other body types
- Round body shape
Many endomorphs may have tried low carb diets before because of their “sensitivity” to carbohydrates.
Dieting does not work very well for endomorphs without an exercise program. Cardiovascular exercise to burn body fat and lose weight is often required for any results.
The best food choices must be made at all times in order to keep weight loss to a maximum.
Weight lifting really accelerates results for endomorphs because they are already strong and enjoy lifting heavy weights. Building muscle isn't difficult for endomorphs.
Which Body Type Are You?
For many people, including myself, it's difficult to find your exact body type.
Why is this so?
As I said in the beginning of this page, it's very difficult to classify humans into these 3 groups because everyone is so unique.
I will use myself as an example.
– I have very small joints. I can touch my fingers when I wrap my thumb and index finger around my wrist.
– I have muscles that attach further away from my joints which makes me stronger due to leverage but not appearance of muscles at joints not so great.
– My shoulders are broad and wider than my hips.
– My butt is not large at all and all pants are loose around my butt.
– My forearms are large and muscular.
– My chest is huge and muscular.
– I've had to work really hard on my calves to get them to look even with the rest of my body.
– I've always tended to carry extra body fat but not too much.
– I will gain body fat easily if I eat too much junk food.
– My body has some roundness to it, but weight lifting has helped me achieve more of a square and rugged look
With all of that said, it appears I am a mixture of mesomorph and endomorph but I also have some ectomorph qualities as well due to the smaller joints.
So, do you see how it's very difficult to classify anyone into these 3 categories? You may fit very well into one of the categories but most likely you do not.
The Importance of Finding Your Body Type
I wrote this page so you can understand body types when you hear others talk about them, but now I want you to understand why they are not important.
I know that you don't need to know your body type in order to get great results with weight loss, fat loss, and building muscle.
Everyone Should Be Eating The Best Foods All The Time No Matter Your Body Type
My beliefs are that everyone should be eating the same healthy foods no matter what body type you might be.
For instance, some experts will say that endomorphs should cut back on refined carbohydrates because they gain weight too fast when eating those foods.
Well, I say: “No one should be eating refined carbohydrates.”
Ectomorphs and mesomorphs will also do MUCH better without eating refined carbohydrates. No one needs them. Some experts will say that ectomorphs need refined carbohydrates to gain weight. I say: “No they don't.”
Anyone that recommends refined carbohydrates is playing a very dangerous game as they are no good for anyone.
Natural foods are not refined carbohydrates. Refined and processed foods are man made foods produced for the sole purpose of making more money.
The WLC System Adapts to Your Unique Body Type for Weight Loss
The WLC System adapts to your body type anyway.
You will measure results and make adjustments based on those results. This means the system adapts to you no matter your body type.
Finding your body type is not important when using the WLC System.
As I told you about myself: “I don't fit into any one body type category.”
Always Make the Best Choices No Matter Body Type and Weight Loss Will Be Maximized
All foods that you choose to eat need to be the healthiest choices possible. The healthiest choices are all whole foods in their most natural state.
For example, ectomorphs can easily add more calories to their diets for gaining weight by eating more nuts and seeds. These foods are claorie dense foods.
The WLC System teaches you how to do this because you measure your weight gain each week. If you are not gaining weight, you simply add more healthy foods like another couple of handfuls of walnuts to your diet plan.
If you're an endomorph attempting to lose weight, you will measure results each week to ensure you are losing body fat without losing muscle mass. If you didn't lose as much body fat as you wanted one week, you will add another couple of cardio sessions to your workout plan (as an example).
Body Types and Weight Loss is Totally Bogus
This is why I say body types and weight loss is a bogus topic and something I don't really use:
“Every person is 100% without a doubt unique and you can't make weight loss recommendations based on a group of 3 that everyone is supposed to fit into.”
Grouping people into categories is dangerous because we were all designed so uniquely and differently.
For instance, a long time ago, I thought I was all ectomorph so I ate anything I wanted. Bad move. Fat gain everywhere. Then I figured out I wasn't in the ectomorph category. The same type issue of classifying people into these 3 groups will occur with many people.
You do not fit into any one body type group.
It's fun to think we fit into a body type and the weight loss tips that go with that body type will help us reach our goals faster, but it just doesn't work that way.
Your Body Type Changes Throughout Your Life
Your body also changes throughout your life. Your metabolism changes. What you choose to do with your life will change your body.
For instance, if you choose to lift weights using the WLC System, you will not be overweight as you age and you will build muscle and your metabolism will stay high.
If you choose to watch more TV and sit on the couch every night and eat potato chips, you will get fat and unhealthy and your metabolism will slow more and more each day.
The more important thing you can do no matter what your body type:
Exercise and eat healthy foods all the time.
Body Types and Weight Loss Do Not Matter for The Food Choices You Make
If you're a mesomorph or ectomorph, you might not get fat eating junk food BUT it doesn affect your life negatively.
Your mood, your internal organs, your energy levels, and more are all affected negatively by eating junk food.
So don't base your food decisions on whether or not you are gaining fat.
Unhealthy foods are never a good thing. Don't eat them.
Building Muscle and Body Types
The WLC System helps you to find the best weight lifting style for you.
For example, you might need more overall volume in your workouts than another person. You might need higher intensity weight training to build muscle.
But building muscle works the same. You simply increase the weight you are lifting from a small amount to a much higher amount over time while eating plenty of healthy foods and your body will build muscle.
You make changes along the way to see which changes help you build muscle faster. The WLC System teaches you how to do this.
Conclusion for Body Types and Weight Loss
I hope you now see why body types and weight loss aren't so important.
Everyone is different and the WLC System will guide you to the perfect system for you and your unique body type.
Remember, we are all unique so we don't need to be grouped into 3 types or 5 types or any number of types.
You are unique. Find the best plan for you by using the WLC System.
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