A popular body structure classification system is the use of body types. Used by personal trainers, bodybuilders, and many fitness professionals, body types make transforming your body into the best it can be easier. There are three different body types: endomorphs, mesomorphs, and ectomorphs. The mesomorph body type is athletic and muscular, while the ectomorph body type is slightly muscular and has relatively little body fat. That brings us to endomorphs who struggle to control their body fat percentage, as they have a natural propensity to gain weight, coupled with great difficulty losing weight.

The hardest part is discovering that you are an endomorph. Until you find out, you’re left frustrated and wondering why your friends, who live on junk food and barely move, manage to stay skinny, while you put on a couple of pounds just thinking about a cupcake. You are an endomorph. That means you need to stop comparing yourself to ectomorphs who have naturally fast metabolisms and seem unable to gain weight and mesomorphs who are naturally athletic and excel at just about any sport. Being an endomorph doesn’t mean you can’t look good, you can look amazing, it just means you have to work harder, work longer and be more determined than any other body type.

Endomorphs have different needs than ectomorph or mesomorph body types. Endomorphs must implement a weight loss strategy that employs nutrition and exercise. While other body types can get away with dieting just to lose weight, endomorphs simply can’t. Endomorphs struggle to control their weight in part due to a slow metabolism, by restricting your calories you slow down your metabolism even more. However, exercise increases metabolism and it is imperative that endomorphs exercise almost daily. Without exercise, you will have a hard time losing weight and without exercise, you will almost certainly pack on the pounds again as soon as you stop dieting. Endomorphs should aim to exercise 5-6 days a week for 40 minutes or more. If you’ve been inactive, start slowly and build your endurance and strength, especially if you’re jogging or running, as this is a high-impact exercise. A great way to burn lots of calories, especially for endomorphs, is on the elliptical machine. The elliptical machine is very low impact and means you can exercise just as hard as if you were running or jogging, but without the stress that hitting the pavement or treadmill puts on your body.

Endomorphs are diet experts. You’ve probably tried every diet out there and found that nothing has worked. However, endomorphs should be careful when choosing a weight loss diet. Endomorphs tend to be carb sensitive, which means you’ll do better if you reduce your carb intake and eliminate refined carbs (e.g., sugar, white flour, white bread, white pasta, white rice) entirely of your diet. Building your diet around lean protein and vegetables is ideal for endomorphs, as these foods are relatively low in calories, but provide essential nutrients and are very filling.