Male Vs. Female

What Body Type Are You?• Ectomorph – Characterized with little body fat, and little muscle. They have a hard time

gaining weight. Think fashion models or cross country runners. While most people would love to be able to lose fat as fast as these individuals. An ectomorph who is looking to gain muscle must lift very hard and eat large amounts of food due to their fast metabolisms.

• Mesomorph - There bodies are inclined to gaining muscle mass quite easily. They are not necessarily easy gainers, but they are definitely not hardgainers either. Mesomorph body types are very athletic looking and they usually walk with good posture. Mesomorphs can build muscle faster than Ectomorphs and can also lose fat much faster than Endomorphs, as long as they eat and train properly.

• Endomorph – Typically have lots of body fat, lots of muscle, and gain weight easily. They have a much tougher time losing fat than the other two body types. The most can be made of this body type with a dedicated workout routine, and a dedicated nutrition plan.

Fact is that most people are a combination of more than one body type. Two of the most common combinations are the pear-shaped ecto-endomorphs with thin, delicate upper bodies and high fat storage in the hips and thighs, and apple-shaped endo-ectomorphs, with high fat storage in the mid-section and thin lower bodies.

What Body Type Are You? (Cont.)Fact is that most people are a combination of more than one body type. Two of the most common combinations are the pear-shaped ecto-endomorphs with thin, delicate upper bodies and high fat storage in the hips and thighs, and apple-shaped endo-ectomorphs, with high fat storage in the mid-section and thin lower bodies.

Female Hormones• Estrogen

– Function – Secondary sex characteristics– Increase HDL , Decrease LDL– Increase Cortisol– Reduces Breakdown of bone

• Thyroid Hormones– Function

– Increase Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)– Regulate protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism– Stimulate vitamin metabolism

• Cortisol– Function (Normal)

– Regulation of blood pressure – Insulin release for blood sugar maintenance – Immune function – Inflammatory response

– Associated Problems– Suppressed thyroid function – Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia – Decreased bone density – Decrease in muscle tissue – Higher amount of abdominal fat

Female Trouble Areas

• The lower abdominals (particularly post pregnancy)

• Hips• Thighs

Male Hormones• Testosterone

– Function– Promote protein synthesis – Growth of muscle mass and strength– Increased bone density– Secondary sex characteristics

• HGH– Function

– Increases muscle mass through cell growth – Promotes lipolysis (fat metabolism) – Increases protein synthesis– Stimulates the growth of all internal organs excluding the brain

• Cortisol– Function (Normal)

– Regulation of blood pressure – Insulin release for blood sugar maintenance – Immune function – Inflammatory response

– Associated Problems– Suppressed thyroid function – Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia – Decreased bone density – Decrease in muscle tissue – Higher amount of abdominal fat

Male Trouble Areas

• Abdominals

Skeletal Differences

Female• Larger hip

angle which leads to instability at the knee

• The knee is internally rotated

Male• Larger body frame which is capable of supporting more muscle mass

Physiological differences

• Females have a higher natural body-fat percentage than males do. Therefore, a “low” or athletic body fat percentage in a female will be higher than that of a male. The human body does need a minimal amount of fat to function properly; 3% for males and 12% for females.