If you are just starting out on a body building program it is useful to determine what body type you are to know how well you are going to respond to an exercise program and weight training and any modifications you will need to your training program. Often it is as simple as looking in the mirror, and studying your overall body shape to see what type you fall into.

If you are tall and skinny then this would often mean you would be classified in the group known as endomorphs. These are classically hard gainers and if you fall into this group and have already started a training program you will know that no matter what you do, it is difficult to put on any weight or muscle.

The biggest advantage with this group, however, that it is also difficult to gain fat as well as muscle. The advantage of this is that once you do start to put on muscle it will be lean muscle with very little fat which will give a good ripped look. In this scenario you do not have to actually put on as much muscle as you will look bigger due to the higher definition.

The mesomorphs are the next group of people. Often they are naturally more muscular, short, squat and heavier. I have come across a lot of these people who say they only have to look at a weight and put on muscle.

For mesomorphs a less intense workout program will often result in excellent lean muscle mass gains. However, the danger is also increasing fat tissue, and therefore it is vital to have a higher proportion of protein in the daily calorie intake than the endomorphs.

Endomorphs, should, ideally consume at least 2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight a day as well as increasing general calorie intake to stimulate a body building or anabolic state.

Excellent gains can be achieved by both body types but those with ectomorphic bodies will have to work harder in the gym to stimulate muscle growth and will also have to increase calorie intake. With mesomorphs it is important to be careful about increasing fat levels and often, many will find they end up cycling between bulking up and losing fat.