Body Types Hype

I'm guessing you clicked on this blog post to discover if I have all the answers regarding body types-- what ARE the different body types, how do we EAT for our body types, EXERCISE for our body types, increase METABOLISM for our body type, etc so on and so forth. Just another example of how we look outside of ourselves for all the answers regarding our very own bodies. It's an interesting concept of total disconnection. But I will humor you readers nonetheless & aim to enlighten you about your body. Let me be clear-- I do believe that EVERY body is different. Put 100 women into a room, & I see 100 different body types. That said, there are some aspects of truth to body types. Which is why even doctors want to know if you're an apple or a pear, what your blood type is, what your ethnicity is, and so on.

It is overwhelming how many "body types" types there are! I will discuss a few of them, but admittedly, I will probably be neglecting some more that exist.

First, let's start with the bodybuilding world, of which I like to believe I'm somewhat part of. Here it is common to designate oneself as 1.) ectomorph- tall and skinny usually, often can eat whatever they want, overly efficient metabolisms, struggle to gain muscle mass, long limbs, small-boned, easily tolerate high carb diets, built for endurance sports (think marathon winners), sometimes insomniacs. Women can't stand ectomorphic women-- they usually bounce back really quickly after pregnancy, too, which makes us hate them even more. Do realize, though, that these women often have very little strength and can be "skinny fat". 2.) mesomorphs- aka genetic freaks. These people are natural-born athletes; lean, muscular. They can appear cut without having to work very hard. They gain muscle easily and lose fat readily. Alas, they are extremely rare, so don't feel bad if you aren't one of them. I am NOT one of them. Clearly, I am not one of them. For me, it takes both hours in the gym and virtual starvation to have the physique I most love. Top-level professional bodybuilders are often pure mesomorphs. 3.) endomorph- this category is reserved for the rest of us. Slow metabolism, often large-framed but not always, carb-sensitive, cannot "cheat" and get away with it, shorter limbs, round body contours, wide waist and hips, fairly good strength levels (yep, that's me), hard to keep fat off after losing it, deep sleepers (ok, that's not me), often do better with higher protein intake.

Based on these descriptions, which one are YOU? You can be a combo. I'm a meso-endo, meaning I gain strength easily, but I do not lose fat easily. I have to be vigilant with clean eating and calorie-counting in order to achieve my desired physique. Most of my clients are obviously endomorphs-- they come to me because they want to lose weight, get strong, and appear & feel healthier. I have worked with ectomorphs as well, who really want to gain muscle mass or lose a little belly. Ectomorphs often are so used to fast metabolism that as they age, they don't realize that it does actually slow down, even for them. One day they wake up to a little pooch. Us endomorphs roll our eyes at their self-recriminations-- with their lithe arms and skinny thighs, we'd like to slap them for what they perceive to be "fat." But they are right-- a little pooch on an ectomorph is a sign of poor eating habits & they need to clean it up. Another problem for the ectomorph can be a lack of a derriere. I actually think half the time, this is a postural issue, as these tall-skinnies tend to slouch, anteriorly tuck the pelvis, drawing the glutes in and down. I like to work on these postural issues first to show them that they do indeed have a buttocks, then teach them how to build muscle mass to enhance it.

Obviously, there's a lot of truth to these types, which is why these are probably the most well-known. I also teach Yoga, so I've studied the Ayurvedic Doshas, or body types, as well. They somewhat match up with these bodybuilding types, sort of. According to Ayurveda (classical Indian medicine), there are 3 main body types/doshas: vata (air), pitta (fire), or kapha (earth). An individual is predominately one but can be a combination. Knowing your dosha can help you determine your diet and yoga practice. 1.) Vata- light & thin build, enthusiastic & excitable, bursts of energy, quickness, can worry, be moody, or restless, irregular hunger & digestion; needs soothing yoga, more relaxation. Generally needs sattvic food (grains, cereals, fruit, vegetables, milk, butter, cheese, honey, nuts, seeds, herbs, water) but may need tamasic foods when restless (mushrooms, meat, onion, garlic, alcohol, fermented foods, and fried foods) 2.) Pitta- medium strength & endurance; sharp intellect, likes challenges, bold, competitive, intense, tendency toward anger; warm & emotional; needs calming breathing but also challenging yoga. Generally needs sattvic foods; again tamasic foods can calm anger and intensity. 3.) Kapha- solid, powerful, physical; slow digestion, tendency toward obesity and laziness; affectionate, forgiving, heavy sleeper; needs regular, strong exercise. Generally sattvic with some rajasic foods (coffee, chocolate, tea, salt, fish, eggs, chili peppers, strong spices).

Um, yeah, I know some of this may be way out there for you non-yogis, but it's something to think about. Millions of people (I'm guessing) through thousands of years of Indian history have followed and believed in these doshas, so there must be something to 'em. I most identify with the vata and pitta, but I much prefer the rajasic foods ;) How about you?

So now let's jump forward in history to the present. Of late, the most popular body type diets revolve around either blood type or gland dominance. Here's a quick look at both, based on what I've seen online. In no way do I claim to be a certified pro!

Gland/Hormonal Dominance . . . okay, so I invented this term based on how the body types are designated: adrenal, liver, ovary, and thyroid. The idea here is that body shape is affected by hormones. Learn how to best address these hormonal issues & you will more successfully lose weight & keep it off, according to Dr. Berg's website http://www.findyourbodytype.com/. Here's the gist: 1.) Adrenal-types do not handle stress well and it translates through the body as saggy tummies, round faces, double chins; constant cravings, weakened muscles, even arthritis. 2.) Ovary-types are obviously females. Fat tends to be in hips, belly, and saddlebags. They can have menstrual problems and tend to crave dairy (ice cream, butter, milk); tendency to have cellulite. 3.) Liver-types are often men. Think "beer belly" and you've got the appearance in mind. Thin legs, protrusion of the gut, crave deep-fried foods. Can develop symptoms of liver problems, like jaundice, high blood pressure, high cholesterol. 4.) Thyroid-types gain weight all over. They may notice problems like hair loss, cold feet, constipation. They crave carbs, carbs, carbs.

Of course, in order to learn how to address whatever body type you perceive yourself to be, you must show forth some cash. Once you've purchased the info, and followed the plan designed for your body type, you should meet great success. I have not tried it, so I cannot say, but I'd guess that any plan that creates a deficit in your calories and teaches you to eat clean will elicit positive results. If you're at your wit's end, this may be a good option for you to try. Report back to us how you do with it-- I'm curious to know. I do believe in the premises set forth here-- it explains why some of us are sweet-cravers while others only want salt; why some of us store fat in the belly while others have it on the hips/thighs; etc.

Blood type diet . . . have you heard of it? Well, I'm getting tired of typing & summarizing, so here it is straight from the good doctor's mouth, er, webpage:

"Type O-People with type O blood fare best on intense physical exercise and animal proteins and less well on dairy products and grains, says Dr. D'Adamo. The leading reason for weight gain among Type O's is the gluten found in wheat products and, to a lesser extent, lentils, corn, kidney beans, and cabbage, Dr. D'Adamo explains. Ideal exercises for Type O's include aerobics, martial arts, contact sports, and running.

Type A-Those with blood type A, however, are more naturally suited to a vegetarian diet and foods that are fresh, pure, and organic. As Type A's are predisposed to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, "I can't emphasize how critical this dietary adjustment can be to the sensitive immune system of Type A," says Dr. D'Adamo. Type A's prefer calming, centering exercise, such as yoga and tai chi. 

Type B-Type B's have a strong immune system and a tolerant digestive system and tend to resist many of the severe chronic degenerative illnesses, or at least survive them better than the other blood types. Type B's do best with moderate physical exercise requiring mental balance, such as hiking, cycling, tennis, and swimming. 

Type AB-Blood type AB, the most recent, in terms of evolution, of the four groups and an amalgam of types A and B, is the most biologically complex. For this group, a combination of the exercises for types A and B works best, says Dr. D'Adamo. 

Blood type, with its digestive and immune specificity, is a window on a person's probable susceptibility to or power over disease, according to Dr. D'Adamo. For example, Type O's are the most likely to suffer from asthma, hay fever, and other allergies, while Type B's have a high allergy threshold, and will react allergically only if they eat the wrong foods. Type B's are also especially susceptible to autoimmune disorders, such as chronic fatigue, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. Type AB's tend to have the fewest problems with allergies, while heart disease, cancer, and anemia are medical risks for them. 

With arthritis, Type O's, again, are the predominant sufferers because their immune systems are "environmentally intolerant," especially to foods such as grains and potatoes which can produce inflammatory reactions in their joints, says Dr. D'Adamo. Types A and B are the most susceptible to diabetes, while types A and AB have an overall higher rate of cancer and poorer survival odds than the other types. 

While you cannot change your blood type, you can use knowledge about its nature to implement a dietary plan biologically suited to your makeup, says Dr. D'Adamo, who supplies copious details on eating plans for all four types. "Most of my patients experience some results [within two weeks of starting the diet plan]-increased energy, weight loss, a lessening of digestive complaints, and improvement of chronic conditions such as asthma, headaches, and heartburn."

Sufficiently confused & overwhelmed yet?? And I bet I've missed several others. The point is this: 
1.) We all have different bodies.
2.) And yet we all have rather similar bodies. (i.e., we're all human)
3.) No matter what body type we have, we need to eat clean, healthy, and the appropriate amount for the size body we'd prefer to have.
4.) Our bodies WANT to move. They want to dance & run & skip & walk & twist & feel lithe, young, and strong. So MOVE them that way.
5.) Understanding your body type can be useful. It can also be detrimental. Use this info to spring yourself into action  and it is useful. Use it as an excuse to feel sorry for yourself and it is detrimental.
6.) LOVE your body. It's the greatest gift you have. No matter the type . . .