I’ve not seen women protest anything as strongly as the idea of resistance training. Unfortunately their reaction is based on a lot of misinformation and myths about resistance or weight training. Despite all the research that has been done on the subject, and all that has been said and written about the health and fitness benefits of resistance training, a lot of women continue to avoid it. One of the main reasons is their fear of becoming bulky or too muscular.
I’ve said it before, that women don’t have to worry about building huge muscles, because their biological make up won’t allow them to. Women simply don’t have enough testosterone in their bodies. But that is only partially true. One woman may engage in intense weight lifting and see little or no results, whereas, another doing the same routine may bulk up significantly. And that is one of the reasons I’ve opted out of group training scenarios in favour of personal customized training, because the one size fits all approach does not and cannot work in the fitness business. We’re all different, with different body types, and genetics, which you may be surprised to know, plays a major role in your ability to achieve your fitness goals.
Not everybody responds to the same training in the same way and the reason for that lies in our deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA.
Two chains of four chemical bases (abbreviated A, T, C and G) make up DNA and are what cells use to “manufacture” proteins; proteins being the building blocks of muscle. So because of our DNA we are naturally pre disposed to respond to resistance training in different ways. Some people still argue it, but it is widely believed and accepted that athletic performance and ability is genetic. You either have it or you don’t, and that is why some of us excel in certain activities and others of us don’t.
It is our genetics that determines the type of muscle fibre we each have, as well as our ratio of testosterone to estrogen; how fat is stored in our bodies and what type of body we have. Its great to have photos of your favourite body builder or fitness celebrity hanging on your gym wall, but chances are you’ll never look exactly as they do because of your body type.
All of us basically fall into one of three categories of body types. Ectomorph, Mesomorph or Endomorph. Ectomorphs are typically lean or skinny. Because their metabolisms work at super high speeds it is difficult for them to gain weight. In order to gain any weight they need to consume a tremendous number of calories, and will most likely require supplements and really intense workouts to gain muscle mass, but they will register strength gains as a result of resistance training.
Mesoporphs generally have a large bone structure, big muscles and are predisposed to having an athletic physique. They respond a lot better to weight training and will pack on muscle a lot faster than the other body types. The downside is that they can pack on body fat as quickly as they can pack on muscle.
Endomorphs gain fat quickly and are usually shorter with thicker arms and legs and generally have great upper leg strength. Because they gain weight so easily, they would have to shed the fat before registering any change in shape from resistance training.
In addition you may find that you have a combination of these body types, but knowing what body type you have will help a great deal in setting your caloric intake and determining what kind of training to engage in to achieve your goals. It will also help you to set realistic goals and keep you from being disappointed or quitting prematurely. Regardless, you should learn to accept your body and avoid comparing yourself to others and just focus on looking and feeling your best.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR; Kendal Burton is a Certified Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor & Sports Nutrition Specialist. For more health and fitness tips “friend” us on Facebook, or join our free fitness community atwww.edgepersonalfitness.com. If you have any questions, or a topic you’d like us to address email us at mail@edgepersonalfitness.com. You can also win a 90 day makeover by participating in our video challenge.
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