[quote]bushidobadboy wrote:
Professor X wrote:
bushidobadboy wrote:
DoubleDuce wrote:
So, how does the OP know whether he is an ectomorph or an endomorph/mesomorph that doesn’t eat enough? Personal experience. You have to try and experiment before you can even apply the label. Once you have figured out your body, you could assign the appropriate label. It’s just silly.
Actually I agree with this too. Unless you are a fatty who just cannot lose weight, or a naturally broad-shouldered dude who can eat what he wants and stay lean and full, then although the chances are that you are an ecto, you shouldn’t label yourself as such until you have a good few years and a lot of understanding (from experimentation and reading/learning) behind you.
BBB
At which point this label serves what purpose? I read your list above about random physical variables, but again, that is simply how all humans are. No one specific way of doing things is right for all people. That’s just life.
We are against these labels not because we are against any form of scientific classification, but because people who are poorly informed (those who recognize very few of those variables) use these labels as a crutch.
Every freaking skinny dude on the site claims they are a “hardgainer” or “ectomorph”…as if there are no pro bodybuilders are huge football players who used to be skinny as well.
These terms are not doing most of these people any good and neither is dankid’s very elementary understanding of them.
To use the term ectomorph (or indeed any term) as a stereotypical label is always a bad idea IMO.
But to use the term after several years of understanding you own body through experimentation, as a way of defining some of your essential physiological characteristics, is not necessarily negative, as long as you are not using it as a crutch.
“Know thyself” someone once said. If you appreciate that your body possesses certain characteristics and that these characteristics place you predominantly in the territory of ‘ectomorph’, then I see no real harm in using that label when describing yourself to others, for ease of understanding.
For example, my body loves to burn off muscle. It is a constant struggle for me to maintain my mass. My body does not accumulate fat easily; I don’t have to work hard to stay lean. I associate these two characteristics with being an ectomorphic body type. I’m OK with that and plan around it, not letting it hold me back from realistic goals.
BBB
EDIT: I too am against these labels, when misapplied. However it seemed in this thread that some were denying the very existance of somatotyping, which to my mind is ridiculous.[/quote]
To be clear, I wasnâ??t arguing against itâ??s existence. Mostly Iâ??m arguing against itâ??s usefulness (I also have a problems with their inexactness).
I think to the guy that really pursues the sport, you start out not knowing, and through trial and error figure out themselves. At which point looking back on the data to apply the label is not useful to your training (except as you point out as a short hand way to communicate with others).
I also think itâ??s useless for a newb to try and apply the label to themselves and use that to dictate training, before theyâ??ve figured themselves out.
Everyone is different. You have to adapt to yourself. Everyone should take a look at the same variables when they are having the same problems regardless of somatype. Not gaining? Is it diet, volume, sleep, ect. The progression of questions doesnâ??t change based on â??somatotypeâ??, (the answer may sometimes).But to rule out some of these questions based on your â??typeâ?? would probably lead you astray as much as it would help.
I just donâ??t really see itâ??s use anywhere.
What do you call a carb intolerant ectomorph that eats a lot of carbs? Endomorph.