Everyone has a different body type and shape-this gives our society the interesting and attractive variety of people that it has. Knowing how to work out for your particular body shape can help you to make the most of whatever you have been given, be it lean muscles or voluptuous curves.
One of the first and most common shapes is the hourglass, also known as the eight frame. This is a very curvy figure, with most of the body shape occurring in the chest, and in the hips.
These women tend to have small waists, with their trouble areas being in their hips and thighs. Cardio is the best way to address these issues, and keep everything as toned as possible.
Make sure that you include resistance training at least twice a week, so that you get the toned shape you want. The best kind of workout for this body type is usually going to be jogging, working out on an elliptical machine, swimming, or a stationary bike.
This will give you the combination of cardio and strength training that your body needs to stay in the best shape possible. Squats are a great way to tone the lower body, since the waist does not need quite as much work.
The next body type is the A frame, which means that the weight is carried in the hips, thighs, and butt, with the upper body remaining very slim. This body shape wants to avoid doing cardio exercises that will increase the muscle size of the lower body.
Try to avoid difficult cardio like the stair climber, which builds muscle in the lower body. Instead, work on slimming fitness practices, such as running.
If you are going to use an elliptical machine or treadmill, work on distance instead of resistance. Do not use an incline.
The larger you can make your upper body muscles, the more balanced your figure will appear. The next kind of body type is the V frame, which is a kind of cone shape.
With this kind of shape, the shoulders tend to be wider and more prominent than the hips. With this kind of body, you will need to work on increasing your lower body mass and tone, so that it balances out the upper shape.
If you are going to participate in cardio exercise, try to use a stair stepper to increase the muscles in the legs. Do not do things such as running, which will slim the legs and hips even further.
The next shape you may be is a ruler. This is someone who is straight up and down, without the curves that make the figure interesting.
For this kind of individual, you will need to find an exercise that will keep you lean, while accentuating different parts of the figure. Try to focus on stretching, sit ups, spinning, squats, jogging on an incline, and the use of weight machines.
The ideal sports that you can engage to will be volleyball and basketball. These sports will involve your whole body, and will give you the toning that you need.
To ensure that you build a symmetrical body shape, all of the muscle groups should be emphasized and routinely given a workout. This is a good kind of figure to have, as it ensures that you will generally remain slim.
Next, would be the apple. People who are apples tend to have a larger chest and stomach, with the main weight being carried in the upper body, including the arms.
The stepper and the treadmill on incline are great cardio to lose weight all over, while still building some muscle tone on the legs. Resistance training should concentrate on the lower body, again to build tone in the legs.
You will want to focus greatly on cardio if you are an apple, so that you can slim the fat in the upper portion of your figure. This will also help you to stay healthier, and more toned.
Some women will not fit into any of these categories, but the basic principles still apply. Regular exercise, light weights, or resistance training and a healthy low fat diet will deliver lasting results over the long term.
Today is the perfect day to determine which category you best fall into, so that you can begin working out in a way that will be the most effective for you. Talk to a personal trainer today to help you get started.
Author Resource:-
Jack Landry is a personal trainer and has authored hundreds of articles relating to physical training and ellipticals. He has been a health expert and physical trainer for over 15 years.
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