When you talk about toning up your body, you need to know your body type. Because of your genetic makeup, you are predisposed to respond to exercise in a particular way.  Among other things, genetics determines your ratio of testosterone to estrogen, types and distribution of muscle fibers, where body fat is stored and body type. 

There are three basic body types (and 4 sub body types for women).  You will fall under one or a combination of these body types.  The three basic body types are: 

Mesomorphs – Mesomorphs tend to be muscular with large bones and thick joints.  Due to more muscle mass, mesomorphs usually don’t have weight problems unless they overeat and undertrain. 

Endomorphs – Endomorphs are more rounded, voluptuous or sometimes chubby.  Their bones and joints are not as large as mesomorphs but larger than ectomorphs.  Endomorphs tend to have more body fat and need regular weight and cardio training and good nutrition. 

Ectomorphs – Ectomorphs are slim or linear in shape.  They often lack muscle tone and sometimes have postural problems of the vertebrae (scoliosis is an example).  Therefore, weight training is very important.  Ectomorphs often have to eat more just to maintain weight (we all should have that problem)!  

Mesomorphs respond to weight training by building muscle mass much faster than ectomorphs, even though they are following identical programs.   And endomorphs generally need to lose body fat to see changes in shape as a result of strength training.  As you can see, it is critical to have your training program tailored to your individual needs and goals.

Women’s Body Types

Body types for women can be further broken down into 4 types:

Type 1 – A woman with a thin, linear shape.  Muscle mass needs to be built on the entire body.

Type 2 – You have thin arms and legs with excess fat in the mid-section of your body.  You need to burn abdominal fat and build muscle mass in the other parts of your body.

Type 3 – You are petite in your upper body and heavy in your lower body.  Build muscle mass in your upper body and burn fat in your hips, thighs and butt.

Type 4 – A woman with wide shoulders and a narrow waist.  This body type tends to gain weight evenly throughout the body.  A full body Her Fitness Hut “Fat Blaster” Program is needed.

You probably know where your body stores the most fat.  When you train, don’t neglect the other areas of your body.   For instance, it is critical to stabilize and strengthen your body’s core first.  This will aid you when you train other areas of your body.

It is a good idea to start your training program with 3 days-a-week of full body circuit weight training (including bodyweight exercises) tailored to your body type.  This type of training has been proven to effectively burn fat and improve heart function.  Combine circuit weight training with 4-5 days-a-week of interval cardio exercise and you will burn even more fat.  Slow, steady-state cardio has been shown to redistribute weight in women from the upper body to the lower body.  Almost no woman wants this weight shift!

Be sure and download My Fitness Hut’s Special Report, “10 ‘Must Know’ Fat Loss Tips!”