Your body and Lifestyle Choices

Body Types

    The media often portrays that there is only one ideal, acceptable body type. This is not the case, as your body type is greatly influenced by your genes. Though there are many shapes and sizes, most body types can be characterized into 3, ectomorph, endomorph, and mesomorph. 

Ectomorph, Endomorph, and Mesomorph

    An Ectomorph body describes those with less body mass, a slender build, and less muscle size.  The image on the far left represents a male, ectomorph body. The endomorph body is drawn by the figure on the right. These body types usually have larger body fat and larger bones. In the middle is a male mesomorph body, which is muscular and most likely well-proportioned. Each body type has unique and distinguishable characteristics.

Souza, Lunden. “Body Type Workouts,” Runtastic, 2018 11AD, www.runtastic.com/blog/en/body-type-workouts/. Accessed 28 June 2020.

Body Composition

Keep in mind that being physically fit could still make a person susceptible to diseases and health conditions. This could be avoided by having regular check-ups with a doctor.

People who are overweight, however, are more susceptible to type 2 diabetes, heart conditions, kidney disease, and more. To ensure a longer life & healthy lifestyle, one should try aiming for a lower body fat %. Specifically, these benefits include higher metabolism, stronger bones, lower risk of cardiovascular disease, etc.. 

Preventing & Treating Injuries

    When exercising a lot, it's probable for an injury to happen at least some point in one's life. Human's make mistakes all the time, nobody is perfect. Prevention is still possible, if one performs a warm-up before exercising, and a cool down after. These transitions will keep the human body from overworking itself. 

    For example, slow stretches and slow jogs prior to transitioning to more extreme workouts. When the human body feels like it's pushing itself at its limit, a person may begin to start cooling down. An example of a cool down is cycling on a bicycle for 5-10 minutes slowly. If needed, a person should take breaks when needed & drink water consistently. 

    Common injuries include muscle strains, muscle sprains, blisters, and shin splints. Muscle strains and sprains occur when a muscle has been stretched too far. If this occurs, it's recommended to rest, put ice on the wound, wrap the area with an affected bandage (compress), and elevate the affected area. Blisters are pockets of fluid usually located on the hands or feet that occur from burns/surface friction. Drying, bandaging, and cleaning the blister will do more good than puncturing it. Almost everyone has experienced having shin splints. A simple remedy is to take a break from whatever physical activity the person is doing and putting ice on the splint.

Module 5

Sources: “Log In to Canvas.” Ccsd.Instructure.Com, Canvas, 2020, ccsd.instructure.com/courses/1361626/pages/module-5-overview?module_item_id=15747184. Accessed 8 July 2020.