What Body Type and Workout Style Are You?
You may be asking yourself, what do these two things have to do with each other? Well, these concepts go hand in hand. Many people are sharing their workout routines to inspire others on social media. There's an expectation that following others workout routines will give results like theirs. If you are the same body type, then your results might be similar. But, different body types have different exercises that suit them more. Let’s take a deeper look into this.
The Different Body Types
As you may know, your body type is different from anyone else's. Duh! According to Healthline, the most common type of body types are:
Rectangle or “straight”
Triangle
Inverted triangle
Spoon
Hourglass
Top hourglass
Bottom hourglass
Round
Diamond
Now, if you're asking, why the heck these names are so random, I’m right there with you. I have no clue who thought of these names for each body type, but they are describing the shape of the body. Each different body type is beautiful in its own way! These are not the scientific terms for the body types, so don’t call someone's body a pear!! Let me go further in-depth about what each of these entails.
Rectangle
The rectangular body type refers to the “waist measurements being the same as your hip or bust. The shoulders and hips are about the same width” (Healthline). This body type is the more “athletic build”.
Triangle vs Inverted triangle
This body type got the name ‘triangle’ from having shoulders and a bust that is narrower than your hips. This also includes slim arms and a defined waist. Compared to the rectangle body type, the triangle is more curved along the hips. The inverted triangle refers to if the shoulders and bust are larger than the hips.
Spoon
The Spoon body type is similar to the Triangle, yet, the body type may be slimmer than the triangle. The spoon includes hips larger than bust and a defined waist. The Spoon body type may have some extra weight in the upper arm and thighs.
Hourglass vs Top Hourglass vs Bottom Hourglass
The hourglass figure consists of equal sizing of the hips and bust. The waist is more narrow than the hips and bust. The upper body and lower body are also considered to be proportionate. The Top Hourglass is the same as the hourglass, but, the bust size is usually larger than the hips. The bottom hourglass is the same as the hourglass figure, but the hip size is larger than the bust size.
Round
They say if the bust is larger in proportion to the rest of your body, you have a more round figure. Another characteristic of this body type is that the hips are narrow and the midsection is more full.
Diamond
The diamond body type refers to a broader hip proportion than the shoulders. It also includes a narrow bust, and a more full waistline. They also tend to carry some weight in the upper quad thigh area, as well as a lean arm shape.
What Types of Workout Styles Are There?
As you may already know, there are tons of ways to workout. The two basic types of body type workout methods are aerobic and anaerobic.
Aerobic exercises “promotes the circulation of oxygen through the blood. This includes an increased rate of breathing” (MedicineNet).
Some advantages of aerobic exercises are increasing strength and stamina. It also strengthens the heart, and stays a steady weight.
Anaerobic exercises are “activities that break down glucose for energy without using oxygen. Generally, these activities are of short length with high intensity” (Healthline).
Advantages to these types of exercises are the boost in metabolism as it builds. It also maintains lean muscle. You also burn more calories as you get more lean muscles.
Both types of exercises help with the 5 components of fitness. These include Cardiovascular Endurance, muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, and body composition. A strong workout routine includes these variables within it.
In case that confuses you, let me simplify it for you! “Aerobic means 'with air' and refers to the body producing energy with the use of oxygen. This involves any exercise that lasts longer than two minutes in duration. Anaerobic means 'without air'. It refers to the body producing energy without oxygen” (Nuffield Health).
Workout, Workout, Workout
Now you have a grasp on the difference between Aerobic and Anaerobic exercises. Let's start making decisions on different body type workouts. When creating a workout plan, it’s important to keep in mind how active you are (not how much you think you are). You don’t want to do exercises the wrong way because that forms bad habits. Let’s review each type of exercise.
Let me start with cardio. Cardio is both aerobic and anaerobic exercises depending on what you are doing. There is HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training), which is an anaerobic exercise. This is because you are using a lot of energy in a short amount of time. If you walk, jog or swim, that is an example of aerobic cardio exercise. You are getting your heart rate up over a longer period. Cardio exercises help with Cardiovascular endurance, body composition, and muscle endurance.
Next is strength. Strength training is an anaerobic exercise. It requires a short burst of energy for a short period. This also improves muscle strength and endurance. Strength can include bodyweight, free weight, barbell, machine, or metal bar exercises.
Pilates and yoga is a great form of anaerobic exercise. It not only helps with the mind, but it helps with the body too. The body does not always need intense movement to stay strong. Pilates and yoga help with flexibility, muscle endurance, and body composition. Stretching a muscle by doing this type of slow movement allows your muscles to grow stronger.
The Importance of a Full Body Workout
No matter what different body type you are, it is so important to workout full body. This doesn’t mean that you need to lift heavy weights every single day (which there’s nothing wrong with that). What I mean is that we need to maintain the proportion of our bodies. It is great to work out your legs and core. But, doing that without doing anything for your arms will not be proportionate. Even doing exercises such as a high plank works not only the core but the arms too. This is a compound exercise. Compound exercises are a great way to work the full body without focusing on one muscle group. Healthline says the benefits of compound exercise are as followed:
burns more calories
improves muscular coordination, flexibility, and strength
increases heart rate
A great example of this is doing a lunge row. Why not save some time by adding an arms exercise into a leg exercise?!
Should I Avoid Doing Workouts that Don’t Suit my Body Type?
No matter what your exercise routine is like, movement, in general, is good enough. Follow the fitness programs/influencers that you want to! Learn from them! But, keep in mind that the results they have may not be the results you get, and that’s okay. Each individual's body type is different. Each body asks for different types of exercise to make you feel your best. Don’t focus on the type of exercise that makes you look your best. Focus on the different body type workout that makes you feel your best. For more tips on body type workouts, visit “11 Motivational Fitness Quotes To Get You Up & Working Out”.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/women-body-shapes#fruit-metaphors
https://www.medicinenet.com/aerobic_exercise/definition.htm
https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/anaerobic-exercise
https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/article/what-is-aerobic-vs-anaerobic-training
https://www.spps.org/Page/18206
https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/compound-exercises