Body Shape Analysis
The human body comes in all shapes and sizes. While it is true that some shapes may be more prone to health problems than others, the biggest contributing factor to health is body weight relative to height, or BMI (body mass index). Body shape is predetermined by genetics, but luckily, weight is more or less in your control. To determine whether you are underweight, normal, overweight or obese, try a BMI calculator. If you are overweight, obese or even in the high-end of normal, paying attention to where you store fat can provide insight into the most effective weight-management techniques for your individual body. A healthy weight will markedly lower your risk for chronic health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.
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Hourglass Shape
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For women, an hourglass shape means that your have a small waist with hips and shoulders of comparable width. Men who are built like football players with broad shoulders, muscular legs and a small waist are considered to be hourglass.
Hourglass figures should focus on cardio and light resistance exercises such as jogging, biking, swimming, squats and bicep curls. Keep your exercise balanced between the upper and lower body.
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Apple Shape
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Women with an apple shape have larger upper bodies, tending to gain weight in the breasts, stomach, shoulders and backside. They have slimmer thighs, hips and butt. Men of this shape have a larger chest and arms with a small waist, butt and legs.
Apple shapes are prone to excess belly fat, which is the most dangerous type of fat. Women should keep their waist below 35 inches and men below 40 inches to combat chronic health conditions. Apple shapes need to focus on keeping their weight low, which is the only way to balance the upper body. Try running, stair climbing and walking on an incline.
Pear Shape
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Pear-shape women have larger hips, butt and thighs with a flat stomach and chest. Pear shape men often have athletic bodies, with muscular hips and thighs and a smaller upper body.
Pear shapes should focus on slimming down their lower body with aerobic exercise such as walking and cycling and building the upper body with strength training like push-ups and chin-ups.
Ruler Shape
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Ruler shapes are thin, with little to no curves or muscle build- up.
Exercise should focus on building muscle in both the upper and lower body. Not a lot of cardio is needed to maintain weight, but is important for cardiovascular health nonetheless.
Personal Training
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The inexperienced exerciser may need further guidance on choosing a fitness program best suited to her specific needs and interests. If you are serious about losing weight and getting healthy, look into hiring a personal trainer for at least one session. These experts can help you feel confident in a gym, tailor the workout to your body shape and size and show you how to really work up a sweat.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit "Free Tape Measure Woman Waistline Healthy Living Stock Photo Creative Commons" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: Pink Sherbet Photography (D. Sharon Pruitt) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
