Eating for Your Body Type

The best way to achieve the body you want is by eating for your body type and embracing the figure you already have. You may have heard some people say that anything they eat "goes to my thighs" or that it "all goes to my stomach." These two people have different body types and by eating the right foods they can minimize the amount of fat that goes into a certain area.

The first step to eating for your body type is to figure out what your body type is. There are three basic body types that most people tend to lean toward:

Ectomorphs This is the scientific term for the body type that has been popularly labeled as the chili pepper. These individuals have long lean arms and legs and are generally tall and thin. These lucky individuals have a difficult time gaining weight and are far and few between. Many ectomorphs make great ballet dancers, runway models, long-distance runners and basketball players. Remember, though a very small percentage of the population has this body type.

Mesomorphs This is the scientific term for the body type popularly labeled as the apple. These individuals are generally muscular, shorter, and have stocky arms and legs. They have no trouble gaining muscle, but do typically find it difficult to lose weight. Mesomorphs have particular trouble losing weight around their abdomen. They're likely to excel in sports that require a lot of power such as soccer, softball, vaulting in gymnastics and sprinting events in track and field.

Endomorphs This is the scientific term for the body type popularly labeled as the pear. These individuals usually carry more weight in general, and carry the bulk of their weight in their lower extremities. No matter how much they diet and exercise these individual's bodies resist losing weight. Scientists say this is a survival mechanism from ages ago when people had to sometimes survive long periods of famine.

Individuals with this body type will want to eat foods high in healthy fats in order to maintain a healthy body weight and musculature. Foods such as fish, olive oil, nuts, lean protein and complex carbohydrates, such as fruits, veggies and beans are all good options. Here is a sample meal plan for ectomorphs:

Breakfast

• Two egg omelet and a quarter cup each chopped mushrooms, bell peppers and shredded mozzarella cheese
• Two slices turkey bacon
• One-half whole-wheat bagel with one teaspoon margarine made with canola oil

Snack

• One quarter cup each raisins and almonds

Lunch

• One cup black bean soup
• Spinach salad: two cups spinach, one third cup sliced mushrooms, one sliced hard-cooked egg, one slice crumbled turkey bacon, one tablespoon Parmesan cheese and two tablespoons vinaigrette dressing
• One whole-wheat roll with half teaspoon margarine made with canola oil

Dinner

• Four ounce grilled salmon fillet brushed with one teaspoon each honey and light soy sauce
• Half cup cooked brown rice
• Six asparagus spears brushed with one teaspoon olive oil and one eighth teaspoon pepper and grilled
• One cup mixed green salad with one tablespoon chopped walnuts and one tablespoon Italian dressing

Mesomorphs should eat more healthy fats and less carbs, since carbs are the real culprit of belly fat – the mesomorph's problem area. These individuals may want to consider low-carb diets, such as the Atkins diet. Here is a sample meal plan for this body type:

Breakfast

• One egg, scrambled with one quarter cup spinach and two tablespoons mozzarella cheese
• One ounce lean ham
• One slice whole-wheat toast with half a teaspoon margarine made with canola oil

Snack

• One small apple
• One tablespoon peanut butter

Lunch

• Cobb salad: Two cups mixed greens, half a tomato, two ounces sliced cooked skinless chicken breast, one hard-cooked egg, one eighth an avocado, one tablespoon reduced-fat feta cheese tossed with two tablespoons reduced-fat Italian dressing
• Six whole-wheat crackers

Dinner

• Three ounce sirloin steak marinated in one tablespoon each light soy sauce and orange juice and grilled
• One small baked potato, with skin, topped with one tablespoon each light sour cream and chives
• Half cup steamed broccoli with one teaspoon olive oil

Since endomorphs have the hardest time losing weight, these individuals should aim to eat a balanced diet low in fat and carbs. Here is a sample meal plan for this body type:

Breakfast

• One packet instant oatmeal
• One medium banana
• Half cup orange juice

Snack

• Six wheat crackers
• One mozzarella cheese stick

Lunch

• Sandwich: two slices whole wheat bread with one teaspoon light mayonnaise, two ounces lean deli roast beef, one slice reduced-fat cheese, lettuce and tomato
• Five baby carrots
• Ten celery sticks
• Half cup grapes

Dinner

• Four ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast, grilled and topped with a salsa made of half cup black beans and one quarter cup diced tomatoes
• One cup steamed green beans
• One cup mixed green salad and two tablespoons shredded low-fat cheese tossed with one tablespoon low-fat dressing
• One whole-wheat roll

Whether you are an endomorph trying to lose weight or an ectomorph trying to gain muscle, knowing you body type and how to eat for it can give you a real advantage in staying healthy.

• What Can I Eat On a Detox Diet
• Top Ten Worst Foods
• Fruits and Vegetables that Lower Blood Pressure
• Fast Food Statistics
• Healthy Food Myths Quiz

• The Lemonade Diet
• Weight Watchers Points Calculators
• 1200 Calorie Menus
• Weight Watchers Points
• Weight Watchers Restaurant Points

• waist-to-hip-ratio-defines-body-type
• 1500 Calorie Diet
• Free Guide to Healthy Eating
• What Foods Make Only Your Butt Bigger
• what-is-my-body-type