Recently I've been studying spiritual body types. Often, our childhood experiences with our parents can affect the way we gain weight as adults. For example, anger toward the father is stored in the thighs and a stubborn unwillingness to forgive in the hips. If you have extra weight in your stomach and arms, you could be angry about being denied love or emotional nourishment. You see, every emotion manifests as a physical symptom. Here's a simple chart to help you.

We also have physical body types, obviously. Some body types remain lean and thin, while others gain weight easily. Each Body Type has a different metabolic rate and unique hormonal characteristics. Some body types remain lean and thin while others gain weight easily. Remember that you can't change your body type or bone structure, but you can certainly change how your weight looks on you and how much weight you gain.

The body types are as follows: Thyroid, Ectomorph Ectomorphs are slim and angular. Their shoulders are the same width as their hips. They have long fingers, necks and toes. Their facial features are sharp, and the shape of the face is triangular. Their skin tends to burn easily. They may be sensitive to extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, due to their lack of body fat. Their hair is fine and grows quickly. They have a very difficult time putting on muscle or maintaining their weight. They can eat basically whatever they want and not worry about it. They tend to crave caffeine and nicotine and enjoy them with fewer side effects than other types. They aren’t prone to cellulite. Lucky dogs!! Workouts for Ectomorphs could include Kickboxing, Running, and High Impact Aerobics. Avoid junk food and DO NOT skip meals or diet. Feel free to eat bread, rice, pasta, etc. All the stuff everyone else wants to eat but can’t, so ENJOY it! Be sure to incorporate protein into your diet. You will need about one ounce per pound of body weight. Famous Ectomorphs include Kate Moss, Nicole Kidman, and Brad Pitt.

Gynaeoid Gynaeoid bodies are curvy with good sized breasts, large buttocks, curved hips and thighs, but small tapered waists. Due to excessive hormones (female power!), Gynaeoids are prone to fat deposits around the hips, thighs and buttocks. (This is why I don’t wear bikinis!) Their comfort foods are chocolate and refined carbohydrates, which will increase their sensitivity to oestrogen, leading to more cellulite. They should replace these foods with fruit and fruit sorbets, and foods that reduce the estrogen dominance. They do well with plant hormones (phytoestrogens), which have a balancing effect and help to reduce oestrogen dependent weight gain. FemmePhase contains many phytoestrogens including Black cohosh, Dong quai, Licorice and Wild Yam, which help to balance the hormonal disorders that contribute to weight gain. Phytoestrogens reduce the excessive estrogenic effect in the body which leads to weight gain around the hips and thighs. Chromium Picolinate helps to reduce cravings for fats and sugars and gynaeoid woman will benefit from this. A low fat diet can help with fat loss from the breasts, shoulders and arms, but not from the butt and thighs. Toning exercises like Pilates and Yoga are perfect for shaping the legs and hips. I went to yoga recently and I was sore in places I didn’t know I had muscle! Kickboxing is wonderful for curvy girls! I am a good example of a Gynaeoid body type and so are Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren.

Lymphatic, Endomorph Endomorphs are round and soft. They usually appear heavier than they really are. The arms and legs of an endomorph are short in length and taper. This may give the appearance of being stocky. The hands and feet of an endomorph are comparatively small, and the upper arms and thighs are more muscularly developed than the lower parts of the arms or legs. This body type has a high waist. Their skin is soft and smooth. People might say they have baby skin. The head is large and the face broad. Endomorphs have a very slow metabolic rate. Weight gain occurs over the entire body very easily and cellulite is common. They tend to crave dairy products such as cream, cheese, ice cream, and chocolate. They should avoid dairy products which can overload their lymphatic system. They should limit their fat intake to 20% of their total calories and load up on fiber and water. Try to snack on fruits and veggies. To keep their metabolism going, they should eat 5-6 mini meals a day. Workouts like walking uphill, Tae-Bo, and Kickboxing will help. Famous Endomorphs include Britney Spears, Ricki Lake , John Goodman, and Kate Winslet.

Android, Mesomorph Mesomorphs can work out more than other body types. They usually have broad shoulders, a large rib cage and strong muscular limbs with narrow pelvis and hips. The bones and muscles of the head are prominent. Features of the face are clearly defined, such as cheek bones and a square, heavy jaw. The skin of the mesomorph is thick and the mesomorph tans well. The hair is heavy in texture. They gain muscle easily and can get “ripped” rather quickly. They gain weight in the abdomen & upper part of the body. Slight cellulite can appear on the abdomen, trunk and upper buttocks. Circuit Training, Stairmaster, Running, Jumping Rope, and Advanced Yoga are workouts than can help the Mesomorph. Make sure carb levels are high enough to fuel workouts and eat lots of protein. Healthy fats from avocados, nuts, and olive oil are important in their diet. They can have a higher intake of fat than other body types. Famous Mesomorphs include Madonna, Sylvester Stallone, Gabrielle Reese, Anna Kournikova, and Jennifer Aniston.

Body Type Combinations Most people cannot be easily classed as one of the four main body types. Just look at what suites you best. Women will have Gynaeoid traits mixed with other body types as well. This body type guide is here to help you, not define you.