© All rights reserved Keith Crovatt

You see them everywhere in advertising. Muscled, buffed, smooth hard bodies are promoting everything thing from cars, tools and even beer. Obviously, the marketing behind this muscle building practice works but that is not the point behind this article.

We are bombarded by the advertisements, visuals and suggestions that our lives will be forever changed if we only had that body. Build bigger muscles in 10 minutes a day and you too will look like the model. This is what is suggested. What most advertisements, self help books and weight loss systems fail to tell you is not everyone's body is the same!

Trying to grasp and capture the variation in human physical properties and appearance is also known as anthropometry or the measuring of the human being. Utilizing these bodily dimensions and then customizing products around it, is quite a common practice in fields like ergonomics, clothing design, even architecture.

This practice is not so much so in the field of fitness, health and wellness, weight loss and management, and overall optimal functioning type considerations, products and services. We have somehow overlooked, underestimated or not considered it seriously enough it seems. It can in fact hold and harbor some real secrets, cues and clues as to what to expect when we use the one to better understand and maximize the other. Quite the thought! How revolutionary is that?

A much better way to analyze our bodies is using body mass index calculations (BMI) and individual assessments directed by experts that understand your body type.

Skinny muscle people are also known as being ectomorph types. The characteristics are as follows:

• Hard time building any muscle

• Shoulders and hips are the same size (with little variation)

• Slim

• Smallish build

• Tendency to 'over-train' somewhat

• Thin

• Weight fluctuates a lot and significantly

Sound familiar? The common mistake many people make in trying to build muscles and get the buffed body is not understanding their body type will make a big difference in the results.

Some initial exercise suggestions for this body type or shape: - Heavy weight workouts

• All muscle groups need work (regularly and frequently)

• Cardio

• 2-3 exercises per body part

• 3-4 sets with 6-10 repetitions

Results: strength and muscle added top priorities and outcomes, with persistence and disciplined work

Recommended work could include: - Core Training

• Kickboxing Class

• Martial Arts

• Tae-Bo

• Treadmill

• Walking

• Work on buttock and thigh area

What to eat and how to adjust your diet somewhat to accommodate and support some of the work that you are doing on the exercise front to let the shape come to its full potential:

DO NOT: - EAT or consume lots of empty calories convenience, junk, fried or fast food

• Have trans-fats in your diet

• Skip any of your meals

DO:

• Eat lots of protein and carbohydrates(grains, granola, nuts, dried fruits)

• Fats and healthy oils (as much as 30% of total intake calories)

It follows that many feel that your body type, shape and physical characteristics and feature can oftentimes greatly affect the nature, intensity, type and duration, frequency and effectiveness of your exercise routines, workouts and regimen overall.

Body shape or type are just parts of the large puzzle in question here for either fitness training, weight loss and management and overall toning, sculpting and functioning. You will achieve superior results when the program you use matches your body type. Thin, ectomorph bodies respond very well to specific muscle building practices to produce killer muscles. Go forth, learn, lift and live the life you were given. Blessings!