If you have embarked on a new health regimen…you may have conjured up images of yourself as you hope to appear within a few months…or better yet…a few weeks. Maybe you envision yourself with rock-hard abs, long-lean legs or a round and bootylicious butt – free of cellulite. All great goals, but are they realistic?
When working with individuals, the first thing I like to understand is what their goals are. The next thing: How motivated they are. Why? Because one’s idea of their ideal body and what they are really willing to do to get that ideal body are often not aligned…or for that matter, realistic. To think you are going to look like Heidi Klum after a few workouts is in no way, shape or form, realistic. If you think you’ll look like Jennifer Garner with a few bicep curls…that too…is unrealistic. In short, if you want hard-rock abs, it will take a lot more than a few crunches, and if you want to be extra skinny, it will take a lot more than cutting back on a few calories.
All of that said, it is important to remember that each person is different and each comes with his or her own set of genetics, metabolisms and body types…all of which weigh into the “how hard do I have to work” equation to get to your ideal body. Lastly, I’d like to mention that vying to look like a model or actress is often unrealistic just in that it is their JOB to look the way they do…and they often have the time, the staff and trainers and the support they need to be as tight and hard-bodied as they are. To get a better understanding of what it really takes to have some more of the stereotypical ideal bodies, I’ve put together the chart below. Please note that these are GENERALIZATIONS and requirements do NOT factor in metabolism, age, genetics or the uber-ridiculous one in a million individual who doesn’t have to work hard to look the way they do:
| Your Image of Ideal | Body Type & Physical Traits that are Helpful / How to Achieve |
Nutrition Requirements | Exercise Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Healthy Weight / Curvy Think: Women featured in Dove Campaigns |
Average body frame (Endomorph) Generally need to eat healthy and remain active. |
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Healthy Weight / Toned Think: Woman found in Dove Campaigns |
Average body frame (Endo/Meso/Ectomorph) Generally need to eat healthy, remain active and incorporate a basic strength training program. |
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Athletic / Muscular Think: Fitness Models / Stunt Women |
Normal to Muscular body frame (Mesomorph) Pay close attention to the balance of nutrients you consume and incorporate a solid fitness regimen that emphasizes strength training. |
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Extremely Cut / Competitive Athlete Think: Miss Fitness USA |
Muscular body frame (Mesomorph) The balance of nutrients you consume is very important. Exercise regimens are very intense and are heavily focused on strength training. |
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“Very Skinny” Think: Runway Model |
Tall, thin body frame with a very high metabolism (Ectomorph) Food intake is more important than exercise |
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Note that the endo, meso and ectomorph categorization is a generalization and that people can fall in-between these types. Personally, I prefer to be in the Healthy Weight – Toned to Athletic/Muscular categories. Where do you fall on this chart? Do you think your “ideal body” is a realistic goal?
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