Does Being Skinny Mean You Are Fit & Healthy?
May 07, 2023
"Have you lost weight?" I asked my lovely client who was in her early sixties. "Please no! Don't say that! I hope not, it means the cancer may have returned." She was a breast cancer survivor of several years and apparently one of the first symptoms she experienced was weight loss. She was visibly panicked by my comment and I felt terrible to have caused her such distress. We concluded it was the new top she was wearing and she hadn't lost weight at all. That was many years ago now and the cancer hadn't returned but why does our culture dictate that being skinny is to be applauded? It also apparently means you are strong fit and healrhy. Let's smash the skinny myth and other stereotypes and help you identify your own body type so you can reach your full fitness potential as you age.
Skinny Means Fit & Healthy
A woman I know is obsessed with being skinny. In her late 40s she is also unfortunately influencing her 3 young daughters to believe that fat is very bad and skinny is the ultimate. This woman may be skinny but she has a list of health issues as long as your arm. Osteopenia, regular debilitating migraines and knee pain that will eventually require surgery are just some of her issues. She is physically unfit, doesn't exercise and couldn't walk for more than 15 mins without becoming exhausted and in pain. She does, however, take comfort in the fact that she is skinny and is therefore far superior to any larger sized women in her opinion. Let's just bust this myth right now. Skinny can, but does not ALWAYS mean a person is strong fit and healthy. While there are many skinny people who are strong, fit and healthy, it is a body type and doesn't automatically mean that being skinny ensures you will enjoy good health and fitness. Elderly people who are bedridden lose their muscle mass rapidly and sadly become "skin & bone." We lose muscle mass as early as our 30s so maintaining muscle mass as we age is essential. and my online Pilates program is ideal for this in your 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond.
You Can't Be Overweight and Fit
Many women who do sports such as water polo, wrestling and hockey for example are large. Society would consider them to be fat or overweight yet they are incredibly fit and usually healthy to withstand the demands of their training. One of my strongest and fittest Pilates clients has a black belt in karate. She is carrying extra weight but doesn't have health issues and exercises 5 to 6 times per week . She follows a strict, healthy diet to complement her training. She has tried to lose weight but is naturally a large framed person and even if she drops a few kilos she keeps reverting back to the same weight. Her mother has the same body type which my client has clearly inherited. Even though there are health concerns with being overweight not everyone who appears to be overweight is at risk. If you are naturally large and you exercise and have a healthy diet you are better off than the skinny woman I mentioned above. My great aunt was a large woman who always said she was big boned. She lived to be 99 years old and died peacefully in her sleep. She said she grew up in the era of lots of healthy butter, sugar and flour and viewed anyone who was too skinny with suspicion. Basically, it's impossible to judge the state of anyone's health by their physique. Let's look at the 3 body types and see how this knowledge can help you gain maximum benefit from your own exercise routine.
What Are The 3 Somatic Body Types?
1. Ectomorph: Ectomorphs are typically characterized by a thin, lean physique, with long limbs and a small bone structure. They tend to have a fast metabolism, making it difficult for them to gain weight and muscle mass.
2. Mesomorph: Mesomorphs are typically characterized by a muscular, athletic physique, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. They tend to have a naturally lean and muscular build, making it easier for them to gain muscle mass and strength.
3. Endomorph: Endomorphs are typically characterized by a softer, rounder physique, with a wider waist and hips. They tend to have a slower metabolism, making it easier for them to gain weight and body fat.
Can You Have Characteristics Of More Than 1 Body Somatype?
Yes, it is common for individuals to exhibit a mix of body somatypes rather than fitting neatly into one category. In fact, most people have a combination of two or three somatotypes, with one usually being more dominant than the others. This means that your body type may not fit perfectly into one of the three categories (ectomorph, mesomorph, or endomorph), and you may exhibit some characteristics of multiple somatotypes. Understanding your unique combination of somatotypes can help you tailor your diet and exercise routine to achieve your health and fitness goals more effectively.
How Can Knowing My Body Type Help Me?
Knowing and understanding your body type can help you work with what you have to establish and maintain a good balance of strength and flexibility when you are planning your exercise program. For example, if you are an ectomorph and build muscle mass quickly, the downside of this is that you will also lose muscle mass much more quickly than other body types. If you are aware of this you can ensure that you maintain your strength by being consistent with your Pilates or strength training so you don't leave yourself vulnerable to injury. Mesomorphs find it easier to maintain muscle strength even if they don't exercise for a period of time. I had a mesomorph male client who wasn't able to weight bear for 6 weeks post-surgery. When I saw him at the 7 week mark, remarkably, he didn't appear to have lost any muscle mass at all. Endomorphs are described as "big-boned" like my great aunt and put on weight easily and then struggle to lose weight. Physical activity is highly beneficial to help speed up a slower metabolism as is attention to diet. My unique online Pilates program is ideal for people of all body types as I cater to individual needs.
As you can see it's impossible to look at someone and make judgemetns about their health and fitness based on their appearance. Skinny is not aways healthy and can be caused by diseases such as cancer, thyroid issues and eating disorders for example. While being overweight can put you at risk of disease too, sometimes it's just not possible to reduce your weight due to external factors such as body type, medications, hormonal imbalances and thyroid issues for example. That's why it's best to maximise what you have by ensuring you have a healthy diet and plenty of high quality movement and exercise like my unique online Pilates program. Practicing Pilates can ensure you stay fit and healthy and reach your full physical potential so you can enjoy life well into your retirement years. If you would like to be part of my unique online Pilates community and reach your full fitness potential as you age, click HERE to read about what options I have available. Alternativley, contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions. I'd love to help you begin your Pilates journey and help you to stay strong, fit and healthy well into your retirement years!
If you are ready to take control of your own health and fitness then download your free copy of my detailed guide.
Learn more about what sort of people benefit from Pilates and how it can help you too. I separate the myths from the facts and share actual case studies of my clients who have achieved life-changing results from my unique Pilates program.
