What's Your Type

Monday! Hello, how are you doing? I hope you had a fantastic Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Today is a great day to pick up from where you left off last week. Now you can push the pedal to the metal and blaze to your goals this week.

I want to spend some time reviewing body types. Spring is here and the sun's out. That means shorts, spring dresses, and polo shirts. You may be concerned with how you look in your clothing. When you are working out, it helps to have an idea of what your body type is.

TYPES So, you are tall, skinny, with a narrow frame, small joints, and long limbs. This is traditionally a ectomorph body. You may look skinny, yet carry a lot of body fat. This has been called skinny fat.

Next, if you have a strong build, wide shoulders, narrow waist, and low body fat you are traditionally a mesomorph. Usually athletic with the ability to build muscle, lose and gain weight easily.

Finally, if you have a good amount of muscle and fat with small shoulders, shorter limbs, and larger bone structure you traditionally a endomorph.

Now, do not worry if you do not fit exactly into these because you can have parts of both. How about if you have a slimmer ectomorph upper body with a heavy endomorph lower body. These people have extra fat in the hips, thighs, and buttocks. Think about the shape of pear.

How about if you have a large belly with a thin lower body? You store more fat in the abdomen. This fat storage is around the internal organs and is linked to type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and high cholesterol. Think about the shape of an apple.

MEASURES

A good measure is body mass index which is calculated by height and weight. A score of 25 or more says you are overweight. A score of 30 or more says you are obese. Keep in mind, this doesn't measure your body fat directly.

NUTRITION TIPS

Make sure you control your trans fat which seem to boost belly fat. Make sure you are eating vegetables, fruit, whole grains, lean fish, chicken, eggs, beans, and low fat dairy.

Have a fantastic week! Reference:

What Your Body Shape Says About Your Health, Melinda Ratini, WebMD