Body Type -- Need HELP!!!!

[LuvCardio]

Hello everyone! I am sooooo confused! I recently posted a couple questions about strength versus endurance etc. I got some great advice and some cool links to help me determine my body type.

The bad thing is now I am REALLY confused;( Every Body Test I did on-line is different!!! Several of them say I am a MESO, yet some say I am an endo/ecto and others say meso/endo??? I have a hard time believing I am a meso by looking at my sorry behind and belly in the mirror every day!

I could really use some advice on how to accurately determine this so I can customize my workouts accordingly! I think my small frame might be throwing all the tests off.

Below is a description of my pitiful, sorry stats

* Very petite frame, small bones

*5'3"

*165 lbs (gained 55+ pounds when pregnant, was 130 pre-prego)
**People can never believe I weigh as much as I do. They
always think I look smaller.... yet I don't feel it.

*Healthy/Goal Wt: 125-130 lbs

*Best shape wt: 117

*Have small upper body
2 (usually a size medium in Women's clothes, sometimes a small,
yet sometimes a large too, just depends... currently wear a
size small/medium in workout tank bras)

* Have FAT lower body, butt etc., currently wear size 10
(yeah) I was a 14 after pregnancy. I recently bought some
size 8's at Casual corner!!!! Yet I am still a size 10-12 in
jeans...

**I always have a tendancy to put on wt on lower body and also put it on in core and belly. I still haven't lost all of prego belly I am finally starting to lose in upper body and shirts are getting big.

**Currently my core and butt are the fattest. My legs and knees are flabby, butt is flabby

**I still have fat on triceps, etc even though they are getting skinnier in terms of inches

*I have a very difficult time gaining muscle mass, have small muscles and even when I get skinny hardly have any muscle mass or muscle tone!

*I have high endurance for exercise, cardio etc. yet can't lift a lot of wt. For most of Cathe's wts I do 8-10 lb dumb bells and vary on the barbell, usually in line with what Cathe does.

* I went to 2 training sessions at my club and he put me on a high carb, high protein etc. diet. He also told me to do minimum of 5-6 cardio sessions a week and 3 wt sessions minimum. He said cardio, cardio, cardio to get rid of my lovely BLUBBER!!!!! I've lost 25 lbs in the past 3 months following his plan. I have been working out 5-6 days a week since my baby was born (he's now 2.5 yrs old) and am just now losing the last of the wt The trainer told me I could have kept doing the workout program for 3+ years and wouldn't have lost wt. because I wasn't eating enough! I think I have partially lost wt. recently because I am eating more (and also because of luck)

*I also did Body for Life when my baby was 7 months old. I lost a ton of wt. but as soon as I cut back on the diet I gained it all back plus more! uuuuugggghhhhh

I have searched thru the previous Cathe threads and am still sooo confused! Any help you crazy chicks can provide will be so much appreciated.

Sorry for the long ramble... I am just trying to give you answers to some of the questions I know you will ask.

Thanks so much!
Pammer (morphed out!)

 

[Francine]

Body Types

I don't know if this will confuse you or help you(hopefully the later) I seen this on a fitprime thread posted by Samanthac
Somatypes
There are three basic body types or physiques, called somatypes. Our body build depends largely on what mix of these three somatypes we are born with. The three types are named ectomorphic, endomorphic and mesomorphic.

1. Ectomorphic: People with an ectomorphic physique are born with a smaller amount of muscle cells and have a linear appearance. These people have more difficulty in developing large muscles and are typically naturally slender. An ectomorph can strength train very aggressively and not necessarily gain a lot of muscle mass. This is often desirable for women but not for men. Ectomorphic people tend to be quiet and reflective
Example...Kate Moss or Uma Thurman.

2. Endomorphic: Those with an endomorphic physique have inherited a large number of fat cells and tend to have a rounder appearance. These individuals experience difficulty in achieving muscular definition. The endomorph has a thicker body type and tends to carry more fat weight, so a program that is heavy on aerobic exercise to burn more calories would be warranted, but would still have to have some strength training component. Endomorphic people tend to be magnanimous and love to eat.
Example...Oprah Winfrey or Rosie O' Donnell

3. Mesomorphic: The third somatype is mesomorphic and people with this physique have inherited a relatively larger number of muscle cells. They usually have a triangular appearance and are more likely to develop large and defined muscles. Mesomophic men and women have the best chance of achieving chiseled abs with appropriate training. A 'meso' female may gain muscle mass easily but not want big shoulders, so they should focus on staying away from lifting heavy weights for 8 to 12 repetitions and work more with lighter weights in the 15- to 20-rep range. Mesomorphs tend to brim with energy and vigor.
Example: Arnold Schwarzenegger or Tom Cruise.

Most Of Us Are Mixed Body Types
Few women have a "pure" body type. Relatively few people can be pigeonholed as pure "ecto," "meso," or "endo." Most of us fall somewhere in between. In her book, "Bodyscopes," author Carol Saltus defines nine female somatypes based on Sheldon's (founder of the somatypes) concepts:

Balanced Ecto: A light, sharp, alert body with a narrow, shallow, rather short torso; square shoulders; very long, slim limbs; and narrow hips and pelvis.

Endo Ecto: A long, soft, willowy body that is rounder and looser than the balanced ecto and has a less tapered waistline and more prominent and curvaceous hips and belly.

Meso Ecto: A lean, muscular body with a broader, deeper chest tapering more sharply to the waist than in the balanced ecto.

Balanced Meso: A clean-cut, sturdy, athletic body with chest and shoulders strongly dominant over the belly; a low waistline with little indentation; narrow pelvis and hips; strong arms and legs that don't taper; and well-defined muscle contours.

Endo Meso: A compact, rounded, solid body with more curves and a higher, more indented waistline than the balanced meso.

Ecto Meso: A lean, lithe, agile body that is longer and slimmer than the balanced meso.

Balanced Endo: A small-boned, billowy body with soft, gently swelling curves; full, smooth shoulders; high, hourglass waistline; and deeply curved and prominent belly, hips, and thighs.

Meso Endo: More strongly muscled than the balanced endo with more firmly molded and pronounced curves.

Ecto Endo: A slightly leaner version of the balanced ecto with a high but less sharply indented waistline and narrower chest, shoulders, and hips.

Can You Change Your Genetic Body Type?
Designing a weight-management plan is an individualized venture, even if you can correctly identify your somatype. And no matter what you do, it is difficult, if not impossible, to change the body type you inherited from your parents. You can, however, move toward a more desirable body type--if you are willing to put in the time. For example, a pure, overweight endo can move toward an endo-meso by significantly reducing her fat and calorie intake and exercising for an hour at moderately high intensity every day. But it is difficult to sustain such a lifestyle over the long haul. You need to explore how much time you are really willing to put into this. You may have goal to get down to what you weighed at age 21, but you may not be willing to put in the time. It can take an inordinate amount of time for some people to stay thin.

Be Realistic
A more realistic tack is making sure your diet is primarily plant based and you are getting at least 20 or 30 minutes of physical activity four or five days a week. Additionally, all body types should weight train at least two times a week and stretch their muscles regularly to increase flexibility and lower their injury risk.

Changing your body type should be secondary to improving your health measures (such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels) and your quality of life. You can design your program based on making some changes in your appearance, but it shouldn't be your index for success

by Robin K. Levinson
Your friend in fitness~~Francine

 

[Mariela]

RE: Body Types

I have the same problem. I am not really sure what bodytype I am. Maybe a balanced ecto, but not sure. I'm tempted to post a photo of me so people in the forum can help me, but feel a little shy. What do you think? Would you do that too?

 

[LuvCardio]

RE: Body Types

I agree. I am willing to provide a photo to anyone who think they could maybe help. I could also just send them to my website where there are a ton of pics. I've also thought about hosting a website for all of us. Could be fun Everyone could just submit their pics and maybe I could find a way to require a password?

 

[Mariela]

RE: Body Types

Will you do that website? I'm going to take my picture today and probably post it today or tomorrow. I can't wait for the answers I will get. Maybe if I break the ice, others post photos too. And as far as safety...well, my husband have pictures of me in our website, anyway, and I have told personal details already... what else can I say? What do you think?