Our generation is facing a silent pandemic. We are all stuck in a weird love-hate relationship with our screens these days! I mean all that sitting around won’t do our body any favour. Have you ever thought about how much time we spend sitting and looking at a screen? Crazy right?
So, I decided to take control and reclaim my health.
It’s been a journey, for sure, but I’ve learned a thing or two along the way. The most important one? Understanding how my body works. It’s not about eating right or hitting the gym (though both are important). There’s a whole lot more going on.
Wanna learn about body shape? Stick around. We are just getting started.
There are several factors that can affect our body shape. It depends on genetics, sex, age, and whether you’ve been binge-watching Netflix, or hitting the gym (or both, no judgement). In the 40s, psychologist William H. Sheldon came up with somatotypes. Simply put, these are categories of body types, based on how lean a person is, how much body fat is stored in their body, how fast they can lose weight, and so on.
Understanding different body types
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Ectomorph (The Lean Type)
Usually, the body structure is lean and slender and tends to have less fat. Me, being a person with an ectomorph body type, I struggle a lot with gaining weight in the form of muscle or fat. I am naturally thin and need to focus on a protein-rich diet, and exercises that help me gain weight. -
Mesomorph (The athletic build)
This describes an athletic body that is neither underweight nor overweight, probably the envy of all of us. -
Endomorph (The Curvy Type)
This kind of body type has fat stored in the body, and it gains weight easily. People with an endomorph body type often find it difficult to lose weight.
However, somatotypes are just one way to look at things.
Understand your body shape
There are different body shapes.
The choice of clothes varies from one person to another depending on different occasions. For instance, when going for morning runs, I like to wear clothes that stay closer to my body. It helps me stay relaxed without weighing me down. During casual walks, I prefer wearing oversized clothes.
There’s a lot of pressure out there, and it’s easy to feel self-conscious about how we look. It seems people often forget that body shapes are simply a natural part of who we are! Understanding them a bit better can help us feel more confident and choose more comfortable clothes.
- Pear/triangle: Wider hips, narrow shoulders. This body shape carries weight in the lower body.
- Hourglass Shape: Balanced proportions with a defined waist. This body shape tends to distribute weight evenly throughout the body.
- Inverted Triangle: Broader shoulders, smaller lower body. This body shape generally carries weight in the upper body.
- Rectangle: Athletic build with similar proportions on top and bottom. Tends to have a rectangular, less curvier shape with a less defined waist.
- Apple/Oval: The torso is generally rounder and carries more weight, particularly in the chest and stomach areas.
Since the day I decided to take control of my body, my preferences for workout clothes have changed significantly. I like to wear slim-fit clothes during training sessions. They hold me perfectly, and act as a compression, not too tight, not too loose - just enough freedom to move every part of my body with maximum flexibility!
Initially, I experimented with joggers but they didn’t work for me. I mostly go for shorts or tights. These are very flexible and stretchable, allowing me to move my legs, especially during stretching and running sessions. And they dry quickly too, so maintaining these gears is a piece of cake!
Your body defines you- embrace it.
Once you start understanding your body, life becomes easier. Personally, the right clothing has played a huge role in my journey. The best thing that compliments my workout routine AND my body? The right activewear.
When you feel good in your clothes, you are more likely to push yourself and reach your fitness goals. So get out there and rock your workout!
