Whats your Somatype?

Until about a year ago, I had always thought the different body types were apple, hourglass and pear shapes.  Fortunately, I was enlightened by a gym friend and former body builder that there are different body types that deal more with our muscle mass and less with where we happen to carry our fat.

Ectomorph            Mesomorph             Endomorph

I think the above picture is a pretty fair representation of the three somatypes, but its not etched in stone. Its important to remember that everyone is different and there is middle ground. I'd say I'm more on the endomorph end of the spectrum (which explains why me and running don't mix very well), although I think I'd like to be somewhere between an endomorph and an mesomorph...  (stupid genetics! Well I do have a slightly boxy head... LOL)  If you're not really sure where you fall from looking at these pictures maybe this lovely explanation from brianmac.co.uk will help.

Endomorph

A pear shaped body (check!) A rounded head Wide hips and shoulders (check!) Wider front to back rather than side to side. (ummm... yea i guess so..) A lot of fat on the body, upper arms and thighs (check, check and check!)

An endomorphic individual typically has short arms and legs (check!) and a large amount of mass on their frame. Their mass hampers their ability to compete in sports requiring high levels of agility (noooo!!!) or speed and perform sustained weight bearing aerobic activities such as running. Sports of pure strength, like power lifting, are perfect for an endomorph. They can gain weight easily and lose condition quickly if training stops.

Sports Benefits

• Size benefits sports where bulk is useful, provided it can be moved powerfully
• Tend to have large lung capacity which can make them suited to sports such as rowing (bleh!)
• They can increase muscle mass much more easily than ectomorphs

Mesomorph

A wedge shaped body (I think my wedge goes the other way) A cubical head (kinda) Wide broad shoulders (not really) Muscled arms and legs (i wish) Narrow hips (uh no) Narrow from front to back rather than side to side. (i wish) A minimum amount of fat (i wish)

A mesomorphic individual excels in strength, agility, and speed. (jealous!) Their medium structure and height, along with their tendency to gain muscle and strength easily makes them a strong candidate for a top athlete in any sport. They can sustain low body fat levels and find it easy to lose and gain weight.

Sports Benefits

• Respond well to cardiovascular and resistance training
• Can sustain low body fat levels
• All muscle groups can be used to derive positive training adoption
• Dependent on the sports' needs they can easily gain or lose weight

Ectomorph

A high forehead Receding chin Narrow shoulders and hips A narrow chest and abdomen Thin arms and legs Little muscle and fat

A predominantly ectomorphic individual is long, slender and thin, and therefore power and strength sports are perhaps not suitable as their slight build leaves them susceptible to injuries. While they can easily get lean and hard, their lack of musculature severely limits their chances in sports requiring mass. Ectomorphs dominate endurance sports and gymnastics. They can archive low levels of body fat which can be detrimental to health and for females in endurance sports it can result in a cessation of periods and iron deficiency.

Sports Benefits

• Light frame makes them suited for aerobic activity like gymnastics
• Smaller body surface area also enhances their suitability for endurance activity
• Their body is better at thermo regulation, important in endurance based sports

So whats your Somatype? And how accurately does it describe you?

Live and learn,

Candydiva04