Strong. Powerful. Fit.
Written by: By Jared Hoffmeyer, Health Fitness Specialist
We all want to be strong and be known for our strength both in and out of the gym, but what kind of strength do you already possess? What kind of strength are you working towards? And what kind is your body best suited for? There are three major body types; endomorph, ectomorph and mesomorph. We all have some mixture of all three and the specific make-up determines what kind of movements and sports we are best suited for. Here are the three types, their strengths and weaknesses and how to train to get stronger:
Endomorph – large structure, often pear-shaped with a high tendency to store body fat.
- Lower body is strong but holds excess fat while upper body is weaker.
- Train with intensity in a 4-day hypertrophy and conditioning split to decrease bodyweight and build muscle strength.
Ectomorph – lean and long, have a high metabolism and difficulty building muscle.
- Burns carbs and fat for energy easily but struggles with bulking due to underdevelopment of fast-twitch fibers.
- Focus on compound movements with lots of volume and limit workouts to 3 days per week to keep metabolism a little lower.
Mesomorph – muscular and well-built, have a high metabolism and easily build muscle.
- Genetically gifted to add muscle and burn fat but can take it for granted and undertrain.
- Train athletically with strength and power supersets, utilize timed workouts to increase intensity.
Just because we are predisposed to a certain body type doesn’t mean we roll over and accept it. With the right training, it is possible to alter the somatotype to a certain degree. The key is to acknowledge the respective strengths and weaknesses in order to maximize results.
This month, our team of writers are bringing you important information on men’s health and testosterone and high protein/keto diets. Be sure to check out maintenance tips for men and the featured exercise of the month as well!
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