One thing we can all figure out quickly after a trip to the gym, a day on the beach, or a walk through the mall: People come in ALL shapes and sizes. Diet, exercise, lifestyle, and genetics all play a part in our bodies and how easy (or hard) it is to get into the shape you want it to be. If you want to take your exercise and fitness plan to the next level, finding how just what kind of metabolism your body has can be very beneficial.

Metabolism is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. It’s a pretty complex process, where the calories in what you eat and drink are combined with oxygen, releasing the energy your body needs to function. By figuring out what your metabolic type is, you can customize your workout and diet to use your metabolism to your best advantage.

There are three basic metabolism types: ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph – definitely words you probably don’t use in your normal, day-to-day conversations. But learning the types of body you were born with will help your fitness plan in the long run. This will give you the knowledge on what types of food to eat, what is the best training program, and how to lose weight and stay healthy.

But there’s one thing to remember: don’t pigeon-hole yourself. Most people fall into two of the three categories, so don’t stress if you see traits of more than one type in your own body. Just go with the ones that fit your body best.

Ectomorphs

Think that one skinny friend who tends to eat whatever she wants without putting on a pound. That’s an ectomorph. Ectomorphs are typically slender with small joints and a light build. They have a narrow frame and fast metabolism, meaning they’re often able to overeat without gaining much weight. If you fall under this metabolic type and are looking to maintain a healthy weight while getting stronger, it’s key to get enough protein and often recommended to eat smaller meals more often. Also, if you’re not already, be sure you’re incorporating strength training into your weekly workouts.

A typical ectomorph will have body characteristics like these:

• Thin, lean body
• Flat chest
• Small shoulders
• Not muscular
• Fast metabolism
• Prone to periods of hyperactivity
• Hard to gain weight

Mesomorphs

Mesomorphs typically have an athletic, medium build and can gain muscle easily. Unfortunately, they also gain fat easily too, so they need to be careful not to overeat—which many tend to do because they take their naturally athletic body for granted. Mesomorphs should get a decent mix of strength training and cardio, and try to cut back on their carb intake if they want to lose weight.

A typical mesomorph will have body characteristics like these:

• Athletic
• Medium-sized body structure
• Strong
• Broad shoulders
• Gains muscle easily
• Responds well to exercise
• If they have extra body fat, they tend to carry it in the lower body

Endomorphs

Endomorphs have a larger bone structure and more overall body fat — evolutionarily speaking, you’re better at storing nutrients than the other two types. Endomorphs generally have thicker arms and legs with a round body. It can be hard for an endomorph to lose weight, but not impossible! They typically have strong leg muscles and weaker upper body muscles.

A typical endomorph will have body characteristics like these:

• Round body
• Medium to large joints + bones
• Gain muscle and fat easily
• Strong leg muscles
• Find it hard to lose weight
• Fatigues easily
• Slow metabolism

Did you see yourself in one of these body types—or perhaps a combination of two? Using these tips is a way to maximize your weight loss potential and help you make the most of your genetic makeup.

You can do additional metabolic testing at any Live Lean Rx location. It’s a quick, comfortable 10 – 15-minute breath-by-breath analysis test conducted at rest. We capture the number of calories that you are capable of burning while in a rested state and provide you with an actionable report that you can use to improve your exercise and nutritional regimens. Additionally, you will learn what percentage of carbohydrates vs. fats you are using while at rest.