If you find that you are dieting and working very hard but barely able to keep the weight off, you should look at your body type.

Every person has unique genetic traits that affect the body shape, metabolism and fat burning.

Dr. William Sheldon, a psychologist, made extensive study of body type (somatype) in 1940, and relates the body type to temperament and personality traits. There are 3 body types; mesomorph, ectomorph and endomorph.

Mesomorph

People with mesomorph body types are naturally gifted body builder and athlete. They are naturally lean, broad shoulder and muscular. They gain muscle and strength easily and have efficient fat burning metabolism.

Mesomorph has fat disperse evenly throughout the body. They can look overweight if overeat or inactive. But, it is easy for mesomorph to burn the fats off with weight training and proper diet of high protein, high carbohydrate and low fat.

Ectomorph

People with ectomorph body types are lean and thin.  They can eat anything and yet stay slim, which is the envy of most other body types. It is difficult for ectomorph to gain weight and muscle due to the fast metabolism. Ectomorph people have to focus on eating more calories and building muscular strength.

Endomorph

People with endomorph body types have round body shape. They store fat very easily and find it hard to lose fat. The endomorph body is naturally larger around the waist and pear shape. They are sensitive to carbohydrate and have slow metabolism.

Endomorph has to train very hard and diet with strong discipline in order to lose fat and keep the weight off.

Due to the carbohydrate sensitivity, weight loss diet for endomorph should consist of 40% protein, 30% carbohydrate and 30% fat. Restrict dietary fat and saturated fat from meat. Eat a big breakfast and frequent but smaller meals in 2-2.5 hours interval to boost the metabolism.

Endomorph body tends to hang onto carbohydrate and store them as fat. Therefore, he should focus on complex carbohydrate and eat most of the carbohydrate in the first half of the day where more energy is needed. Cut back the carbohydrate in the evening and increase the protein instead.

Diet without exercise is not enough to lose weight for endomorph body type. Exercise program should consist of aerobic and weight training. Weight training with moderate weights for 10-15 repetitions to build muscle strength plus aerobic exercise 5 times a week.

Your genetic make up determines your body type. So, you cannot change it. However, your metabolism may change with age, moving towards endomorph body type. Therefore, it is important that you continue to be discipline on proper diet and aerobic exercise and keep the weight off.

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