Know your body type and base your fitness regimen on that for best results. All fitness trainers would agree on this.
If you know what body type you are, it’s easier to figure out an effective exercise regime. That’s not just our opinion. The best trainers in the world agree. Broadly, there are three types into which most bodies fit: Pear, Apple, and String Bean.
Also Read: Women and Heavy Weight Lifting: Pros and Cons
The best way to determine your body type is to stand in the mirror without your clothes and assess yourself based on the guidelines below:
- Pears tend to be smaller on top and have smaller shoulders. They tend to be bigger on the bottom and have larger thighs and a wider waistline and hips.
- Apples tend to have wider shoulders than hips and tend to gain weight around the middle.
- String Beans tend to have a small frame, with long limbs and a petite upper body. They also typically have a high rate of metabolism and find it hard to gain muscle.
And because different body types react differently to the same amounts of food and exercise, workouts should be different too. Here are some quick guidelines on effective workouts. Although, it is important to remember that it is best to consult with a qualified trainer before you start intense workouts, especially with weights.
Also Read: Why do women require strength training
Pears: An effective work out for Pears would include something that builds muscles on your upper body to balance out the heavy lower part to give you that hourglass figure (Think Jennifer Lopez). Strength training to build muscle in the arms, chest, and shoulders is recommended. Combine this with some aerobics, and you’re good to go.
Apples: Apples naturally have an athletic body. So, the best work-out strategy involves an attempt to work off fat all over the body, with an emphasis on the mid-section where Apples tend to pack their weight. Trainers recommend that you include lots of variety in your workout so that your body doesn’t overdevelop one set of muscles. And to beat the mid-section fat, cardio is your mantra. So, make friends with that elliptical trainer and the cycle.
String Beans: Since gaining muscle is your problem area, a workout for String Beans must include weight training to build muscle in the biceps, shoulders, triceps, chest, back, and legs. Keep cardio to a minimum. You don’t want to lose the muscle that you’re trying to build.
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