| Every one of us is put together a little bit differently. | | | | Ectomorphs don't respond all that well to supplements. |
| Variances in body types, size, shape, muscularity, and | | | | Most new bodybuilders are Ectomorphs (skinny kids |
| torso/limb length allow the sport of bodybuilding to | | | | trying to add muscle). As a result of this enthusiasm, |
| enjoy a wide range of physiques on the bodybuilding | | | | overtraining is a worry for those with the Ectomorphic |
| stage. Shorter fans tend to root for the little guys like | | | | body type. |
| Lee Priest or David Henry, who barely top 5 foot tall, | | | | Mesomorph |
| yet pack a ton of muscle. Taller guys (over 6 foot) | | | | This is the classic bodybuilding physique - lean with |
| tend to root for the taller bodybuilders, rooting for the | | | | great muscle shape. Most types of training work for |
| athlete that is also facing their same dilemma of filling | | | | this body type, with seldom-used higher-repetition |
| out a long narrow frame. Just as we tend to emulate | | | | training (10 to 14 reps) being the most effective from |
| and admire the athletes that look like us, we actually | | | | time to time. Mesomorphs gain muscle easily and tend |
| have to train like them as well. Bodybuilders of differing | | | | to hold off fat, so a standard bodybuilding diet with |
| body types, or somatypes, have to train differently in | | | | moderate cardio (3 sessions of 20 minutes per week) |
| order to find the most success. Here are a few | | | | should be more than adequate. Mesomorphs rarely |
| thoughts on each body type - find which one you are, | | | | overtrain. |
| and train accordingly. | | | | Endomorph |
| Ectomorph | | | | This body type tends to gain fat easily, but muscle |
| The Ectomorphic body is highly resistant to change. | | | | slowly. The good news is that once this person diets |
| Tall and skinny, with little muscle or body fat, this is the | | | | down, he tends to have a great deal of muscle |
| classic "swimmer's physique". In terms of training, the | | | | available that the Ectomorph could only dream off! |
| ectomorph tends to prefer higher repetition training, in | | | | Training should be higher-repetition range, and cardio |
| the 10 to 15 range. In order to shock the body intro | | | | should be frequent (4 sessions of 30 minutes per |
| growth, employ a rep scheme in the 5 to 8 range. This | | | | week, even in the off-season!) Endomorphs need to |
| will recruit fast-twitch muscle fibers which are typically | | | | be extremely careful not to consume too many fats |
| ignored by trainers of this body type. Ectomorphs | | | | or carbs. Overtraining isn't a worry at all for |
| should limit cardio. Small, frequent feedings help the | | | | endomorphs. |
| ectomorph maintain enough calories for muscle | | | | Read more about the training and diet protocols |
| growth. Ectomorphs don't need to worry about | | | | employed by the bodybuilders whose body type is |
| consuming too much fat - but they often miss out on | | | | most like your own. They have good understandings |
| adequate proteins. Supplements such as creatine and | | | | of the special tips and tricks that help a physique such |
| when can help maintain some size, but most | | | | as theirs grow. Learn from their years of experience! |