Somatotypes - your body for life

Know your body type and treat it right

3 basic body shapes

Somatotypes were first classified in the 1930s. A link was claimed to exist between personality and body type.

While this link has been widely disregarded in more recent times, the somatotype classification into ectomorph, endomorph and mesomorph is well accepted.

For both fat loss and fitness, it is wise to know your somatotype and eat and exercise accordingly to get the body you really want.

The ectomorph

Tending to slim and even underweight. The ectomorph somatotype puts on neither fat nor muscle very readily, needing to eat small meals often.

Low carbohydrate diets are not advisable for the ectomorph, nor is too much emphasis on aerobic or cardio workouts.

The endomorph

Tending to overweight. The endomorph somatotype puts on fat more readily than muscle.

Low fat and low to medium carbohydrate diets are best, with a moderate to high protein intake.

The endomorph somatotype benefits from plenty of cardio workout routines with some resistance training fitness workouts.

The mesomorph

body for life The ideal body for life, being well proportioned. The mesomorph puts on muscle easily, whether it be lean or mass muscle.

Any nutritious and balanced diet will suit the male or female mesomorph, but you may wish to specifically tailor your diet to your chosen workout routines to get the most out of both.

A balance of aerobic exercise and resistance training is ideal for a mesomorph to get or stay in shape.

Not many people tend to be one particular body type only. You will tend to one body type above the others, but "pure" ectomorphs, endomorphs and mesomorphs are rare.

Change your body shape

Your body for life is dictated to a degree by the somatotypes classification you were born with, but it is entirely possible to sculpt distinct changes to your appearance with any number of balanced and healthy diets and targeted workout routines.

A pear shaped endomorph can build up shoulder width with weight training. An apple shaped endomorph can carve out a shapely waist with the right diet and exercise.

A naturally pencil shaped ectomorph can develop sexy curves or a deep and wide chest, developing a superior body for life with the right diet plans and workout routines.

A mesomorph, well a mesomorph can just slim on down and tone up muscle all over, because their proportions are always in balance.

Recommended Reading

The most comprehensive, detailed and thoroughly useful program you will find on correct diet and exercise for all 3 somatotypes is Tom Venuto’s Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle.

As a bodybuilder Tom is a tiny bit obsessed with body fat percentage.

However, as a highly regarded fat loss coach, he has developed an excellent program for people of all somatotypes in all walks of life.

Find out more about Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle at Tom's Burn the Fat site or read my detailed review of his program here.

If you are a male ectomorph looking to gain muscle with targeted workout routines, Vince DelMonte’s No Nonsense Muscle Building is worth investigating.

He was a champion endurance athlete, all skin and bone, now he is a very sexy and well muscled fitness model.


Go to Lose Fat Get Fit homepage from Somatotypes You can lose fat. Get fit with a sensible diet plan for losing weight with practical and simple weight loss tips. Lose weight and never be fat again.

Go to Endomorph Body Type The endomorph body type has the highest body fat of the somatotypes. Now good news. Muscle mass is readily gained with a good weight lifting workout and cardio.

Go to Ectomorph Body Type The ectomorph body type has the lowest body fat and muscle mass of the somatotypes. A high carb diet is beneficial for lean or mass muscle gain.

Go to Mesomorph Body Type The mesomorph body type is the most envied somatotype classification but both overweight male bodies and the female mesomorph fatty exist in abundance.

Go to Dressing for Your Body Type So you can be dressing for your body type you have to know what not to wear. The right choice of clothes can slim down your body, create a positive body image and lift your mood.

BTW, do you or one of your friends or family suffer from bad breath? It could be tonsil stones, which are easier to fix than you think. You don't need surgery, you can get rid of tonsil stones and breath easy!

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