Also called biotype, constitutional biotype, morphotype or morphological appearance, we are always talking about “body type”. It is the body constitution, where fat tends to accumulate. To simplify, when we try to figure out which model we belong to, our brain is scanning through macro physical shape we know and comparing us to find identifying similarities.
Putting the right labels
Western society tends to classify by marital status, job, welfare, religion and hobbys. The Endospheres team is inclusive and not for labels, but some positive distinctions are good to be done, such as the somatotype ones, but just because they help us living better!
The web is crowded with tests to find out to what kind of body type we belong, but of course our advice is always to rely on nutritionists or experts who can analytically and professionally identify the biotype. A curious approach to this subject will make us discover things that will improve everyday life!
Why is so good to know what kind of body type I have?
- To understand the clothes that fit best. To choose sizes correctly, also into online stores.
- To follow a correct diet. It’s critical to appreciate yourself from a purely aesthetic point of view but, as we have heard since the dawn of time, what we eat determines our health.
- To find the right workout. With perseverance and commitment everything can be achieved, but wouldn’t it be better to get results as soon as possible? Discovering yourself means going for customed workouts.
Thumbs up for the Body Neutrality
Have you already heard of body neutrality? This philosophy is the evolution of body positivity…even if it was born before! It was in 2015 when life coach Anne Poitiers suggested that we should not focus on the body (neither our own nor that of others) and not even on its aesthetic value alone, but move on to its functions. By adopting a neutral vision. This thinking is perfectly related to the familiarisation with one’s own somatotype. Aligning with the body type allows the physiological activities to function better.
Somatotypes
How many times to the gym have we found ourselves with similar training cards to those of our gym-mate even though we have very different somatotype? The psychologist and physician W. H. Sheldon divided human beings into three body types:
Ectomorphy
This is the classic long-limbed, thin, has few muscles and a fast metabolism.
Mesomorphy
It has broad shoulders and a narrow waist, usually referred to as the muscular type. The trunk is firm and fat levels are low.
Endomorphia
The waist is wide and the bone structure strong. It is predisposed to store fat. Later, the French scientist Jean Vague, further declined this classification into two constitutional biotypes: android (apple-shaped) and gynoid (pear-shaped), two macro categories that broadly approximated men and women.
Apple-shaped body
Android bodies tend to accumulate fat in the upper body, and are therefore prone to love handles and a distended belly. Their limbs remain mostly lean. You should therefore focus on cardio, short and intense workouts, or at least no longer than 50 min. Would you like to get some inspiration for a couple of targeted workouts?
Pear-shaped body
For this body type, there are exercises that should be avoided: those strengthening the muscle mass in the legs (burpees, jumps, squats…). Exercises with a barbell resting in the pelvis area can also impede blood flow. A few ideas to put into practice:
Match the right treatment
Even when choosing the treatment to match the somatotype-based diet, we must be pretentious.
Once you have found the right diet, the ideal workout (and therefore the most suitable clothes) all that remains is to add a booster, the icing on the cake.
Thumbs up to draining massages, herbal teas and some extra pampering. Endospheres is ideal for:
- – redistributing fat cells
- – restoring stagnant body fluids
- – reducing localised inflammation.