Finding the Best Workout for Your Body Type

The pear-shape tends to have a smaller top half and a heavier-set bottom. Straight-body types have very few or no curves. On the other hand, curvy-body types are similar to that of an hourglass, while athletic-body types have broad shoulders and narrow hips.

Pear

The goal is to balance the overall proportion of the body. This requires exercises that will tone the arms, build the shoulders and focus on the upper body. Examples of exercises for a pear-shaped body include: push-ups, shoulder presses, dead-lifts, and rows. In addition, high-intensity cardio should be used to reduce the amount of fat on the hips and thighs.

Straight

Your focus is to add more shape to your butt and to taper your waist. To escape the straight-body shape, pushups, weighted squats and lunges, crunches and oblique twists are the way to go. As for cardio, high-intensity workouts such as running and interval training are also recommended.

Curvy

Your goal is to do a full body workout that tones and shapes your arms and legs while lifting your chest and butt. For example, lunges, bridges, and squats target the lower body while push-ups, planks and tricep dips target the upper body. To maintain a shapely waist, be sure to incorporate oblique exercises as well. Low-intensity cardio such as yoga or swimming are also recommended.

Athletic

Your focus is to shape your butt, tighten your core, and shape your legs. To do this, perform weighted lunges, squats, kettleball exercises and planks. Moderate intensity cardio such as jogging, cycling or the stair-stepper is the perfect form of cardio because it emphasized the legs.

So remember, while weightlifting helps to shape, tone and build muscle, cardio (and a healthy diet) are also a necessary part of achieving your fitness goals.