Achieving the Ideal Body: the Three Starting Points
Guys who start working out should begin their journey with some kind of plan or strategy. Just walking into the weight room and banging barbells around will not give you the same results as being more systematic in your approach.
A starting point for your journey to fitness is to know what kind of body you have, also known as somatotype. Each of us begins with different strengths, weaknesses, and goals. Know thyself is one of those philosophical principles that applies here. Let's consider the three basic somatotypes and the strategies that match each.
Ectomorph:
Ectomorphs tend to be thin and lanky in their build. Their frame is going to be little compared to the other types, with shoulders that are not as broad and chests that are not as full. A typical man of this build has a speedy metabolism and may find it hard to add mass.
This difficulty in gaining weight is the primary disadvantage of the ectomorph. These guys have to be persistent in the gym and even then they may not ever get really big. But there are also advantages to having this build: usually these trainees can eat whatever they want without getting too fat. Their natural leanness also means they show their muscles off very well--not much fat to obscure their definition.
One thing ectomorphs should do is to be sure they are consuming enough calories. They should also be sure that they are training in a way to maximize strength and mass.
Mesomorph:
This is the quintessential bodybuilder physique. Their frames will be bigger and wider than their ectomorph brethren. They are often broad in the right places (shoulders) and also narrow in the waistline. Mesomorphs tend to have full muscle bellies that make them look great. This body type is ideal for someone who wants to compete in bodybuilding. They are often good in other strength sports as well.
One could argue that the mesomorph has the best of both worlds, but they can gain if they don't watch their diet--they can't shovel down the food like an ectomorph can.
The main exercise strategy for this body type is an overall balanced approach to training. They should lift weights regularly and add a little bit of cardiovascular training to avoid too much fat gain.
Endomorph:
These guys have it made as far as building bulk and mass. They are often incredible strength athletes and excel in sports like powerlifting or even American football (linemen are going to be this body type). An endomorph that has maximized his strengths can be a sight to behold: big, strong, and powerful.
The downside is that someone of this somatotype will also easily gain fat along with muscle. This means he may tend to put too much weight around his waistline and his muscle may be obscured by fat.
As mentioned, endomorphs don't have much trouble putting on muscle. But their challenge is trying to stay lean. They will have to watch their caloric intake closely and add more cardio to burn extra calories.
Recommendation:
Which body type are you? There is some good news regardless of your answer--a program that you can adapt to your specific needs.
Please check out the Adonis Golden Ratio program if you'd like to learn more about a complete system to transform your body from head to toe. This program from John Barban is the real deal and has helped many guys get closer to the ideal male physique than they ever thought possible.