Throughout my health journey, I’ve always looked to celebrities, models, and most recently IG fitstagrams as inspiration and body goals. Unfortunately, this habit has become disheartening and unmotivating because the people I would idolize had body types that looked nothing like mine. I would look to models, like Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid, as my motivation. I’ve always been someone who was self conscious of my curves and height and wanted the “tall, super slim, and model-esque” body type. I laugh at myself now for typing that because let’s be real, my 5 foot 2 inch frame will never be a 6 foot super model. Yeah, insecurities suck.
With that, I started taking multiple questionnaires and meeting with nutritionists and fitness professionals, and after weeks of research, I learned that I am a ENDOMORPH. As introduced on Health and Style.com, an endomorph is “naturally chubby, round, with a slow metabolism” and we retain fat. The great thing about being an endomorph is that because we retain fat, we are able tolerate long periods of fasting. People claim that endomorphs are ideal body types for survival (or a zombie apocalypse) because the extra fat stores allow us to survive lack of food and keep us warm during cold weather. That is freakin’ awesome. I may not have the commercial super model long legged 6 foot physique, but my body is built to SURVIVE and THRIVE under grim conditions. How beautiful is that.
Endomorphs succeed in weight loss with workouts such as strength training and High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). When it comes to diet, the recommendation from Ace Fitness is ” A Paleo-like diet… where each meal contains protein, vegetables and some healthy fats, like avocado or olive oil. Aim for a nutrient distribution close to 30 percent carbs, 35 percent protein and 35 percent fat.”
By understanding all of this, my fitness goals became more realistic and health focused. I went from idolizing Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid to Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez, and I’m not mad about. I’m now following a diet and exercise regimen catered to endomorphs as well as healing my leaky gut syndrome.
Mentally, understanding the endomorph body type has allowed me to accept that I will lose weight slower than my counterparts, and I should not compare my progress with others. I’m surrounded with many family and friends who do not have my body type and are able to melt their body fat like butter, and that is okay. I just need to trust the process and be grateful for the body God gave me.
Lose Lose Win 