Best Workouts for Your Body Type

Thinkstock

You’ve signed up for the gym, but now what? Your most efficient and effective exercises are based on your body type.

Whether you’re a skinny-winny ectomorph, a fit and firm mesomorph or a soft and feminine endomorph, there are workouts that work best for your body type. 

Your first move? Stop nitpicking. No matter your body type, approaching your workout with a positive mindset is the best way to get the body you want. 

QUIZ: What's Your Body Type?

Start by setting personal goals. Focus on your favorite features. “Think about what you love, and accentuate that,” suggests Katrina Hodgson, personal trainer and co-creator of ToneItUp.com. “Work your curves. If you think you have a big butt, work that even more so it’s more sculpted.”

The right workout helps you feel comfortable and confident in your body. Read on to find specific tips for your body type.

Patrick Lane/ScEyence StudiosAn ectomorph somatotype

Exercises for Ectomorph Body Types
Ectos tend to be tall, with slender limbs, and little excess fat. They can eat everything but the kitchen sink without seeing an extra pound (so unfair!), but neglecting proper nutrition and exercise is often their biggest pitfall. If ectos don’t take care of their bodies, they can become “skinny-fat,” meaning most of their body mass is fat—even if there’s not much there! 

Common complaint: Ectos are often worried that exercise will make them too skinny (oh, to have that problem). Actually, building muscle tone will give your body shape and substance, even if you’re slim.

Best asset: Your body has very little fat, so if you stick to a strength-training routine, you’ll see big rewards as muscle tone develops.

Nutrition tip: “Complete meals with a carb, fat, and protein are best,” suggests Melissa Groeger, a personal trainer in New York City. To repair muscle, grab a quick protein fix right after you work out. Snack on walnuts, a cheese stick or edamame to help your muscles recover.

MORE: Somatotypes and Body Type Guide

Best cardio exercise: Ectos are built for cardio (long distance running is your forte), but too much cardio makes it impossible for you to keep any meat on your bones. “Avoid long runs if you want to add muscle tone,” suggests Hodgson. “They’ll just make you smaller and leaner.” Instead, try a spinning class or high-intensity interval training—short bursts of speed with cool-down walks in between.