When it comes to diet and exercise, what if you’ve been doing it all wrong—or, at least, wrong for your specific body type? Having spent almost two decades in the fitness and nutrition industries, I know one thing for sure: Each of us is unique. We all have different body types, blood types and genetic dispositions that create a unique metabolism.
The type of body you have affects how you feel when you eat certain foods and do certain exercises. Even though your best friend or partner or sister insists that their lifestyle choices work, those may actually be the worst things for you to do. Before you can do right by your body, you need to find out your body type and learn to identify which foods work best for you.
The starting point? Take the test: Are you an Apple or a Pear?
Find Out Your Body Type By Answering The These Questions:
ARE YOU AN APPLE?
- Do you store body fat in the upper arms, chest and back?
- Do you have bra fat or a beer belly?
- Do you crave salty, fatty foods?
- Do you have a family history of heart disease and diabetes?
- Is your waist circumference over 35 inches (female) or 40 inches (male)?
If you answered YES to 3 or more of the above, you are a classic “apple” shape.
Characteristics of Apples: You typically have steady energy throughout the day but tend to have an insatiable appetite.
Strategies For Apples:
- Your metabolism needs foods that will calm your adrenals to help with your appetite such as maca, whole grains at every meal and foods that are rich in calcium.
- The majority of your intake should come from plants.
- Your protein sources should be fish, chicken, nuts and seeds and legumes for an increased metabolism (NOT a thick steak).
- Your best exercise is yoga to keep you breathing and calm. Use light weights (not heavy) and do light cardio exercise for less than 45 minutes per day.
- Do you store body fat in the buttocks and upper thighs?
- Do you have cellulite?
- Do you crave baked goods, sweets and caffeine?
- Do you have a family history of hormone or thyroid issues?
- Is the lower half of your body significantly larger than the top half?
If you answered YES to 3 or more of the above, you are a classic “pear” shape.
Characteristics of Pears: You to tend suffer with fatigue during the day and need caffeine in the morning as well as a sweet treat at 3pm to keep you going.
Strategies For Pears:
- Your metabolism needs foods to stimulate both your adrenals and your thyroid for easy body fat loss, such as animal sourced protein and healthy fats coming from nuts and seeds.
- Focus on protein coming from red meat, bison, salmon and eggs.
- You need to limit fruits, wheat products and sugar to restore your metabolism. AVOID sugar like the plague!
- Your best choice for exercise is heavy weights but do NOT overdo cardio.
Kathy Smart is a registered nutritionist, Holistic Chef, best-selling author, personal fitness trainer and the Founder and owner of Live The Smart Way. Known as North America’s Gluten-Free and Healthy Living Expert™, she has been featured around the world as the leading expert in SMART living. She is a Chatelaine Magazine recipe developer and writer; national bestselling cookbook author, and is a featured expert on Dr. Oz. For More great tips and articles visit www.livethesmartway.com or talk to Kathy @Smart_Kitchen.