Determining what type of body you belong to can be liberating. It can help you better understand your body composition, the efforts you need to make to gain muscle, the sports that suit you, the foods that will help you stay in shape and achieve weight loss, etc.

No matter how hard some people try, genetics will always be one step ahead of them. You can’t beat your body type when it comes to fitness or weight loss. Eating healthy is an essential aspect of fitness, regardless of your constitution.

You can improve your health and weight loss and get rid of the barriers you face by understanding your body type and knowing how to eat to help you be optimal.

Our body type not only defines how we look, but also provides information on how our body responds to food intake. It also determines the characteristics of your hormonal and sympathetic nervous system (SNS). It has also been identified that a person’s body type can also define their metabolic capabilities and differentiate them from other people when it comes to processing different types of food and gaining or losing weight. Which means that it is an important factor that can be used to optimize your health goals.

Body types consist of three main categories: Ectomorph, Endomorph, Mesomorph.

Most people may appear to possess characteristics of more than one of these categories, but that is probably due to the years of training and physical care they put into their health and body. And they could also be a mix of two different body types due to their parents.

Let’s see now what these body types mean and what is the ideal diet in each case.

1. Ectomorph

People belonging to this type are thin and thin, which means that they have thin limbs and a slim, narrow body. These types have a high metabolic rate that makes them resistant to weight gain. But that also means they have a hard time putting on muscles. Ectomorphs can get away with eating excessive amounts of food without gaining weight, and they also have no problems with weight loss. Naturally, they have little body fat. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need to exercise or lead a healthy lifestyle, we all do.

What to eat

If you fall into the ectomorph category, you should aim for higher carbohydrates and less fat. Carbs work great for this guy. Proteins should also be consumed but in moderate quantity. The fats consumed must be of good quality. Some examples are walnuts, avocado, chia seeds, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil.

For ectomorphs, some experts have suggested that distributing nutrients in these proportions is ideal: 55% carbohydrates, 25% protein, and 20% fat.

2. Endomorph

Endomorphs sometimes feel like they are the unfortunate body type, with one being I often seem like a challenge to get results and it seems like we always have to work harder than the other two body types to achieve minimal results.

Endomorphs tend to be fuller, rounder, and tend to store a lot of fat. The shape of our body is round and the joints are long. We have great bone structure and some people in this category sometimes find it a bit more challenging to lead an active lifestyle. This could be due to the challenges and frustrations of not getting the success they want as fast as they want compared to the other body types.

Like endomorphs, our metabolic rate is characteristically very low and this promotes fat storage and the tendency to gain weight. This can be daunting and frustrating for people with this body type and it is understandable why some people get tired and lazy.

But that’s not the right answer either, once you create a plan that includes understanding your body type, it’s easier to get results and achieve overall success on your weight loss and fitness journey.

Knowing your body type will remove all the confusion and misinformation that has added to the frustration that people are experiencing and will keep things simple but successful. No diet or controlled eating patterns will give you the success that you can achieve by learning and understanding our body types, eating for that body type, and exercising for that body type.

What to eat

An endomorph would need to consume good quality fat and protein. When it comes to carbohydrate intake, it is difficult but very doable for endomorphs to put more emphasis on good fats and proteins while incorporating some good low-glycemic carbohydrates.

Hence, a breakdown of 25% carbohydrates, 35% protein, and 40% fat. In simple words, considering eating more fat and protein and less carbohydrates is a great place to start and may need to be adjusted based on the results.

3. Mesomorph

This type of body is considered genetically gifted. Mesomorphs are lean, muscular, athletic, and naturally active, making them great for sports. Their bodies are proportionally built, consisting of medium-sized bone structure and considerably lean mass. People belonging to this body type can easily gain and lose weight by changing their diet and activity level. Due to high testosterone, mesomorphs can easily build muscle.

What to eat

If you are mesomorphic, you should consider eating a balanced diet. Which means dividing the proportions of meals into 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein and 30% fat. The ability to gain muscle and weight easily means you must focus on effective weight management throughout your life.

Taking a trip without a map or directions is the same as not knowing your body type, but hoping for results or success in your weight loss or fitness journey. We often don’t appreciate what our body does for us without asking us until it stops doing it for us. Getting in shape, losing weight, and achieving health is simple but not easy to do.

But we can make it simple and easier by understanding the subject that is our body. In this way we will have the information, we will understand the needs and we will obtain the advantage to achieve what we want.