I bet you've been really hoping we'd talk about your core one of these days! Our midsections are usually our "trouble areas", whether it's because we carry too much weight there or because we have weak core muscles that are wreaking havoc on the way our bodies feel. On this episode, we're doing a thorough overview of your core... top to bottom, inside to out. 

You're going to learn all about:

• The muscles that make up your core
• Your core's primary job
• The hands-down best core exercises 
• And what does blowing up a pool toy have to do with it? 

We also touch on Diastasis Recti, how to fire back up deactivated core muscles, and common mistakes I see with core training. 

Resources from this episode: 
Strong Mommas Coaching Program (registration opens September 5th!) 
FREE Strong Hips and Core 2-Week Program download
Video of how to do a perfect plank 
Video of side plank variations for all abilities  
Video of proper breathing technique 
Yoga with Tim (Scott's favorite yoga instructor!) 
​

Coming full circle in our body typing series, we finally come to the Endomorph.

An Endomorph is naturally more broad and thick than the other body types, even at their absolute fittest. They excel at powerlifting and weightlifting in general, usually dominating the other body types at Olympic lifting competitions and even the Crossfit games. But the Endomorph has some metabolic challenges to overcome to be their healthiest and fittest self. 

On this episode, you're going to learn all about:

• Insulin response and carb tolerance,
• Why we end up with Ecto's and Meso's thinking they're an Endo instead, 
• Healthy vs. Unhealthy Endomorphs, 
• How to train and eat in order to "prime the fat-burning pump", 
• And why you might not need to know your exact body type to see real results. 

​At the end of this episode, we'll be answering these questions from some listeners:

1. "What if I don't know what my type is, but I do have some goals...what should I do?" 
2. "Is somatotyping similar to blood typing for fat loss?" 
3. "Can I still see results and have success if I don't eat and train perfectly for my body type?" 

Resources from this episode: 

• Psalm 139:14 - "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." 
• (Downloadable!) Healthy Meal Plans for each of the different body types  
• The Strong Mommas Coaching Program (registration opens back up September 1st!) 
• Article: Eating Right For Your Body Type
• Article: Embracing Your Design 

As we continue to explore the uniqueness of our own individual body types, we come next to the Mesomorph Body Type. 

A Mesomorph is naturally muscular and compact. Think of soccer players, bodybuilders and sprinters. They pack on muscle easily, have a relatively easy time controlling body fat levels, have a medium to large bone structure and tend to be naturally strong. When they slim down, their muscles really “pop”. 

On today's episode we'll talk about:

• Healthy vs. Unhealthy Meso's
• Why some meso's falsely assume they're an Endomorph
• The one nutrition component that can be manipulated to maximize a meso's body
• Training styles that meso's truly excel at
• The aspect of fitness that meso's should never neglect
• The ecto-meso hybrid and the endo-meso hybrid

My hope with uncovering and learning the different body types is that as you learn the specific ways that we’ve all been created uniquely, you’ll learn to love your own body more…for its strengths and specific abilities.

Resources from this episode:
​

1. BRAND NEW! Mesomorph Meal Plan (Four full weeks!) 
2. Article: Eating Right For Your Body Type
3. Article: Embracing Your Design 

There's something in us that craves to be understood...to be known for what makes us different and unique. It's why we flock to personality and, more recently, DNA testing. We delight in knowing that God created us with a specific design. 

Unfortunately, in every culture a "desirable" set of traits rises to the surface. In America, over the years there has become a certain set of traits, skin color-personality-IQ-body type, that has somehow been placed up on the pedestal of peak desirability (as a woman). And if we don’t have those particular traits, we feel we are less deserving or less valuable.

But this thinking (that a certain set of traits is more valuable than others) is a product of sin and sinful thinking. And the truth is that we all bear God’s own image in our own unique ways. 

As we explore the uniqueness of our own individual body types, it's important to understand that God had a purpose and a plan for creating you the exact way that you are. And He never intended for you to try and change it, but rather to maximize it and use it for His glory. 

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How we were created in the "likeness" of God and what that means for us,
• The way that body typing is an effort to describe the variety of us as humans, 
• What "somatotyping" is

We're also exploring the Ectomorph Body Type:​

• General descriptions
• How Ectomorphs excel
• Healthy vs. Unhealthy Ectomorphs
• How to eat and train as an Ectomorph to maximize your potential

Resources from this episode:

1. Genesis 1:26, Jeremiah 1:5, 1 Corinthians 12
2. Ectomorph Meal Plan (coming very soon...stay tuned!)
3. Strong Mommas Coaching Program for building strength & muscle mass (registration opens September 1st, 2019!)