Weight Loss for Endomorphs

Weight Loss for Endomorphs

A popular system for classifying body type is to use body types. Used by personal trainers, bodybuilders and many fitness professionals, body types make it easier to transform your body into the best it can be. There are three different body types: endomorphs, mesomorphs and ectomorphs. The mesomorph body type is athletic and muscular, while the ectomorph body type is slightly muscular and has relatively low body fat. This brings us to endomorphs, who have difficulty controlling their body fat percentage because they have a natural tendency to gain weight coupled with great difficulty losing weight.

The hardest part is finding out that you are an endomorph. Until you know this, you're frustrated and wondering why your friends who live on junk food and barely exercise manage to stay slim while you gain a few pounds just by thinking about a cupcake. You are an endomorph. This means you need to stop comparing yourself to ectomorphs, who have naturally fast metabolisms and are unable to gain weight, and mesomorphs, who are naturally athletic and excel in almost every sport. Being an endomorph doesn't mean you can't look good - you can look incredible - it just means you have to try harder, work longer and be more determined than any other body type.

Endomorphs have different needs than ectomorph or mesomorph body types. Endomorphs must implement a weight loss strategy that includes both diet and exercise. While the other body types can get away with dieting alone to lose weight, endomorphs simply cannot. Endomorphs have difficulty controlling their weight in part due to a sluggish metabolism. By restricting your calories, you slow your metabolism even further. However, exercise increases metabolism and it is imperative that endomorphs exercise almost daily. Without exercise, you will have difficulty losing weight, and without exercise, you will almost certainly put the pounds back on once you stop dieting. Endomorphs should aim to exercise for 40 minutes or more 5 – 6 days per week. If you've been inactive, start slowly and build your endurance and strength, especially if you're jogging or running, as this is a high-impact exercise. A great way to burn lots of calories, especially for endomorphs, is the elliptical machine. The elliptical machine is very low impact, meaning you can train as hard as if you were running/jogging, but without the stress that the pounding of the pavement or treadmill puts on your body.

Endomorphs are diet experts. You've probably tried every diet and found that nothing worked. However, endomorphs need to be careful when choosing a weight loss diet. Endomorphs tend to be carbohydrate sensitive, meaning you'll do better by reducing your carbohydrate intake and completely eliminating refined carbohydrates (e.g. sugar, white flour, white bread, white pasta, white rice) from your diet. Building your diet around lean proteins and vegetables is ideal for endomorphs because these foods are relatively low in calories but provide important nutrients and are very filling.

Inspired by Alex St John