How to Change Your Body Shape

Everyone has a different body shape, which depends mostly on genetics, as well as diet and exercise routines. Ever dream of having an hourglass figure that your best friend maintains? Or perhaps you yearn for a flat abdomen and slim hips? Changing a body shape can be achieved with appropriate exercise and diet. The six basic body shapes are Hourglass, A frame, H frame, V frame, Ruler and Oval shape. Each shape may require a different exercise to make necessary changes.

Instructions

1. Change the body to an hourglass shape with resistance training that includes squats, leg presses and lunges. Cardio exercise should consist of jogging, biking, jumping jacks, swimming and low impact aerobics. Drink eight glasses of water a day and eat right to obtain the hourglass shape.

2. Avoid strenuous cardio exercises if you want to change an A frame body shape. Cardio can increase the size of the muscle on the lower body. Instead, use the treadmill or an elliptical with a slight incline and practice resistance training. Most of the body weight concentrates around the butt, hips and thighs. Upper-body muscles may make the lower body appear smaller in size.

3. Practice lunges, squats and leg presses to help change the shape of an H frame body. This body type is considered athletic and appears square shaped. To minimize the abdomen, participate in cardio exercises using a treadmill, a stepper or taking a brisk walk for at least 30 minutes a day. Lower body resistance training is needed to bring the body in tune with the broad shoulders that are usually found on H frame bodies.

4. Increase the leg size with squats and leg presses to change a V body shape. Shoulders are usually a couple of inches wider than the hips with this type of shape. Practice cardio using the stepper. This form of exercise will change the shape of the legs and hips by adding extra weight and muscle to the areas needed most.

5. Practice resistance training and cardio exercises to add muscle and curves for a Ruler shaped body. The resistance training should be tense using the shoulder press, bench press, lat pull-downs and squats. Focus on building muscle and not losing weight. Eat three to five well-balanced meals a day. Changing this body shape may require training each muscle group weekly.

6. Work out using the treadmill to change an Oval shaped body. Also known as the "apple" this body shape is usually found on a person who is short in height, has thin legs and a thick midsection. Focus on weight training for the legs to create a balance with the upper body. To help change the shape of the lower body, practice leg presses, squats and barbell lifts.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult a physical trainer or a doctor if exercises produce pain and swelling.

References

• How To Exercise for Different Body Shapes
• What Shape Are You?