Being Big Boned Doesn’t Have to Work Against You
Being big boned isn’t a death sentence. When it comes to changing your body there is a lot you can do with what you have been given, but in the end, you are still stuck with your genetics. Good news though, you can change the shape of your body through specific nutrition, precise training techniques, and adequate rest for recovery to ensure proper muscle growth. To do this, you need to identify your personal characteristics.
There are Three Main Body Types:
- The Ectomorph – Better know as the hard-gainer
- The Mesomorph – Referred to as the genetically gifted
- The Endomorph – Known as big boned
Rarely is someone specifically one or the other of the three main body types. Many times people will be a mixture of categories, possessing traits of two or more. In light of that, there are also six subcategories to the three main ones, which are endo- ecto, meso-ecto, endo-meso, ecto-meso, meso-endo, ecto-endo. However, the point of focus on this newsletter is endomorph, those who are big boned and have a difficult time trimming down.
While we are assigned our genetics, you must remember that a number of factors influence them, such as insulin response, metabolism, length of limbs, muscle insertions, type and number of muscle fibers, joint size, fat cells, hormones, and digestive responses.
Endomorph – Big Boned
The endomorph is often referred to as big boned. The endomorph is large, has a wide bone structure, high waist, and a slow metabolism. This body type is round and soft, and has small hands and feet. The limbs are short, with the upper arms and legs larger than the lower part of the arms and legs, making the physique appear somewhat stocky.
General weight gain and muscle gain are easy, though fat loss is slow and difficult. The endomorph stores more body fat, which hides muscle gains. The goal is body fat reduction and muscle retention. The working factor to produce results is to increase the metabolism with exercise and proper nutrition.
Resistance Training
If you are big boned, resistance training should involve hitting each muscle group once a week with moderate to high intensity and no more than a minute rest between sets. The idea is to boost your metabolism. A wide range of variety in the training and changes in the routine every six weeks helps to keep the body in shock and responding. The big boned body type is best to choose three different exercises per body part and shoot for four sets in the 12 to 15 repetitions range.
In addition, shocking principles such as Weider Training Principles work well too, such as drop sets, super sets, negatives, twenty-ones, static training, etc. Always keep the body off guard with your training for continual progress.
Example of Weight Training for Those Who are Big Boned:
Monday : Chest, Shoulders, Triceps, and Abdominal (light cardio)
Tuesday : Cardio
Wednesday : Legs, and Calves
Thursday : Cardio
Friday : Back, Biceps, and Abdominal (light cardio)
Saturday : Cardio
Sunday : Off
The cardio after training is optional, however recommended for fat loss.
Cardio
The big boned endomorph needs frequent cardio sessions to help prompt fat loss. MuscleandStrength.com notes, “It is imperative that endomorphs remain active outside of the weight room. This doesn’t mean you have to live on a treadmill. It simply means you should be performing some consistent form of cardio.” Focus should be on aerobic conditioning. Engage in cardio 4 to 6 times a week for 45 to 60 minutes. Usually, the endomorph is a sugar burner and will find that doing long duration cardio at a moderate pace works well.
Another cardio variation that can be implemented once or twice a week is High Intensity Interval Training, also known as HIIT. This is just a form of cardio where you vary moderate and high intensity. An example is, walking for two minutes and then light jogging for two minutes. Keeping this back and forth cardio rotation works well. This prevents cardio-adaptation and keeps the body off guard. If cardio and training are performed during the same session, cardio should be incorporated after resistance training.
Diet
Nutrition is important for the endomorph. This body type should be cautious of high complex carbohydrate intake, although carbohydrates are needed. The endomorph should eat smaller, more frequent meals to keep the blood sugar level stable and the metabolism high. Carbohydrate rotation works well for this particular body type. It is important to NOT skip meals. Doing so will only slow down the metabolism.
Shoot for one gram of protein per pound of lean body mass and 1 to 1.5 grams of carbohydrates per pound of body weight and lower the carbohydrate amount slightly each week. Keep the fat intake at 20% and increase it slightly when you decrease complex carbs.
The best way for this body type to get the excess weight off is to eventually bring the carbohydrates down to the lower end of the spectrum. This body type should include a wide variety of non-starchy vegetables, complete protein, and some essential fatty acids. Have one simple/complex carbohydrate meal 20 minutes following training for proper muscle recovery and nutrient transportation.
Supplements
While supplements aren’t magic pills for fat loss or muscle gain for those who consider themselves big boned, they can certainly help.
Now Super Citrimax – Helps to prevent carbohydrates from being stored as fat and suppresses the appetite for mad carbohydrate and sugar cravings. Take 1 to 2 capsules 20 to 30 minutes before a complex carbohydrates meal.
Glutamine – Helps to prevent muscle loss under intense cardio sessions. Take 5 grams before cardio, 5 grams before resistance training, 5 grams after resistance training, and 5 grams before bedtime.
For any additional supplements you may be interested in such as essential fats, body fat analyzers, or protein powders, please check out My Super Store. 
