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Best Ectomorph Diet for Sculpting an Athletic Body

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Summary: What does a typical ectomorph diet look like? This guide offers all you need to know about the way ectomorphs can fuel their weight and muscle growth.

Ectomorphs possess a very unique set of genetic traits. Besides being blessed with a lightning-fast metabolism, they may also encounter difficulty gaining muscle.

So, if you’re an ectomorph looking to eat well for your body type, what does a good ectomorph diet look like?

What Should Ectomorphs Eat?

You have to figure out what a healthy plate of food looks like and what a decent exercise program is for you.

What an ectomorph should eat primarily depends on their goals. Some want to maintain a slender physique, some want to increase endurance, and some are on a journey to gain more muscle mass.

Each of these goals requires a specific ectomorph diet.

Having a quick metabolism means ectomorphs gain the energy they need from carbs in a very short time. When you add an exercise regime to this, you can understand why an ectomorph might have difficulty gaining weight.

What Should an Ectomorph Eat to Gain Weight?

Gaining weight seems like a simple enough equation: you simply eat more calories than you use.

But here’s the catch: ectomorphs need more calories than most to gain weight. But it’s not simply a matter of more. It’s also a matter of quality.

Opt for nutrient-rich snacks like nuts and seeds, as well as fruits and vegetables like bananas, avocados, cauliflower, and broccoli.

Carbs deserve special attention, so they’ll be discussed in detail a bit later.

How much do ectomorphs eat?

Some ectomorphs have such a fast metabolism that they can eat pretty much anything they like and still not gain any weight.

Even though many people (especially endomorphs) will envy them for this, this can be a problem. Without a good meal plan loaded with superfoods, ectomorphs will stay slim until their metabolism drops.

A table full of healthy food for an ectomorph diet

Should Ectomorphs Eat More Carbs?

Absolutely! An ectomorph diet should consist of around 50-60% carbs, so make sure you go with high-quality carbs such as vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds designed to fuel your body in the long term.

To make sure your weight gain is stable and healthy, eat starchy carbs like brown rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and quinoa. For better muscle fiber build-up, don’t forget to include fruits and vegetables like the ones we’ve mentioned above.

These eating suggestions are especially important after a workout. A typical ectomorph workout uses up a lot of glycogen, so make sure to have a follow-up workout meal rich in carbs and proteins.

Key takeaways

Maintaining a balanced diet that contains all the necessary nutrients is essential for ectomorphs who are looking to gain weight and muscle.

This is especially true for those committed to a rigorous workout routine, as they need the right amount of high-quality carbs to build muscle.

Make sure to create an appropriate nutrition strategy for your specific body type, and stick with it to create a long-term healthy lifestyle.

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Written by

Shannon Terrell

Shannon is a former contributor writer at Mindvalley. She is a professional writer who specializes in topics related to mental health. In 2019, she published "The Guest House", a collection of creative non-fiction stories. As the lead writer and spokesperson for NerdWallet, Shannon also writes about credit cards and personal finance.
Picture of Shannon Terrell

Shannon Terrell

Shannon is a former contributor writer at Mindvalley. She is a professional writer who specializes in topics related to mental health. In 2019, she published "The Guest House", a collection of creative non-fiction stories. As the lead writer and spokesperson for NerdWallet, Shannon also writes about credit cards and personal finance.

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