Because thin females and muscular males are seen as the
ideal in our society and because we have come to believe
that body size and shape are totally under a person's control,
most people enter diet and exercise programs with unrealistic
goals and expectations. If you continually strive to achieve
a socially imposed ideal, you will never be free of your
insecurities or your self-consciousness. You must truly
realize and then learn to accept that we are not all meant
to be fashion-model size.
Our body size and structure reflects not only our eating
and exercise habits but also our genetics. The role this
latter factor plays in determining weight seems to vary
greatly between individuals. We are all born with a certain
body type inherited from our parents. Although hardly anyone
is a pure body type, there are three different applicable
categories: ectomorphs, mesomorphs, and endomorphs.
Body Types: Ectomorph, Mesomorph, Endomorph
Ectomorphs have a light build with slight
muscular development. They are usually tall and thin with
small frames and narrow hips and shoulders.
Mesomorphs have a husky, muscular build.
They often have broad shoulders, and their weight is concentrated
in the upper body, making them look compact or stocky.
Endomorphs are characterized by a heavy,
rounded build with shoulders usually narrower than their
hips. They have a round, soft appearance and are more often
overweight or obese.
When we understand and appreciate our bodies, we are able
to work with them, not against them. Although many of us
are a combination of two body types, we cannot become what
we are not. However, everyone can improve their appearance
and their health and performance levels by implementing
the principles of a safe and effective eating and exercise
program.
Even if you have a genetic predisposition to being overweight,
the way you live is what ultimately determines whether you
become fat. Genes clearly play a role, but they certainly
don't determine what you're going to have for dinner or
how often you exercise. Chances are if you're living an
unhealthy lifestyle, you'll become fat and unhealthy.
All of us can't be thin. But every single one of us can
be healthy. By focusing on what you're eating and how much
you're exercising, you'll be able to achieve optimum health
and fitness, even though you may not achieve society's ideal
of thinness. Accepting yourself does not mean that you're
hopeless and that it's okay to do nothing. It means that
you feel good and care about yourself, and that you want
to be the very best you can be, regardless of your genetics,
regardless of society's standards.
To achieve this level of optimum wellness, you must have
a positive self image. This means that your feelings about
your body are not influenced by events in your daily life.
For many people, life's problems are projected onto their
body. "If only I were thinner--or more muscular, I
would have made the team, gotten the job, been chosen. .
. . If only I were thinner--or more muscular, I could meet
more people, find the right guy/girl, be happy." This
self-defeating habit is reinforced by the images we see
in advertising; your body becomes an easy target for everything
wrong in your life.
When you have a positive self-image, you value and respect
your body; you are also more likely to feel good about living
a healthy lifestyle.
No matter how much genetics predetermines how you store
and lose fat, the body you've been given will still respond
positively to being appreciated and treated well. Focusing
on fun physical activity and eating healthy foods will help
you feel good whatever your size. Developing a healthy,
positive image of yourself is the first critical factor
in your fitness success. Having a strong sense of self-worth
provides the basis for making rational and affirming decisions
about your health. Good luck, stay positive, and enjoy all
the wonderful benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle!
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