Ladies – no matter how hard you try, it just might not be possible to look like your favourite celeb. The reason for this is that we all have different body shapes. The key is to make the most of your shape and choosing the right exercise programme depending on your shape. Women’s body shapes tend to fall into the following categories: To help you decide which body type you are closest to, here are some of the main features of each. Don’t worry if you can’t put yourself into one of these categories, as many people are a combination of body types

Tube/Boyish shape – you’re this shape if:

Your figure is basically straight up and down

Your shoulders, waist and hips are a similar width

Your limbs are long and lean

Celebs who have this body type are Kate Moss and Cameron Diaz

Exercises for Tube shape body types

Enhancing your upper body will make you look curvier.  You need to do exercises that will strengthen and tone the muscles in your upper body (shoulder press, lateral raises, tricep dips and press ups).  Add shape and definition to your bottom and legs by doing squats and lunges.

When doing any cardiovascular exercise avoid any endurance work. Stick to short intervals of 30, 45 or 60 seconds bursts of jogging on the spot, skipping and or step ups. If you prefer to workout at the gym, go for spinning classes, hill sprints on the treadmill or short interval bursts on the rower.

Apple shape – you’re this shape if:

You tend to hold weight around your tummy

You have a full bust, waist and upper back

Your shoulders are broad and bottom is small and flat

Celebs who have this body type are Elizabeth Hurley and Drew Barrymore

Exercises for Apple body types

Concentrate on loosing body fat by doing cardio exercise that is endurance based i.e. at least 40 minutes.  Tone your chest, arms and upper back and really focus on your tummy and lower body as this will balance out your upper and lower body.

Core and abdominal exercises will be excellent for toning your middle section, such as basic crunches, oblique crunches, the plank and not forgetting back extensions for your lower back (which is part of your core).  Use the chest and arm exercises mentioned for tube shapes and for your upper back-seated reverse flyes, single arm rows or dumbbell pullovers are all excellent.  Doing lunges, squats and wide leg squats can enhance your lower body.

Curvy/Hourglass – You’re this shape if:

Your shoulders and hips are a similar width

You have a small curved waist

Celebs who have this type of shape are Kelly Brook and Scarlet Johansson

Exercises for Curvy/Hourglass figures

Upper back exercises such as reverse flyes or seated row and straight-arm pulldown machines will work the muscles across the back of the shoulders and muscles across your upper and middle back. To help strengthen your lower back do exercises such as back extensions. 

Combine these with exercises for your hamstrings such as body lifts, lunges and glute raises as these will help to lift your pelvis and give you a shapely bum

For cardiovascular exercise stick to continuous pace exercises i.e. jogging at a ‘working hard but comfortable’ pace for at least 30- 40 mins, power walking and swimming.

Pear shape – You’re this shape if:

As the name suggest you’re bigger on your bottom half

Your hips and thighs are wider than chest and shoulders

You have a well-defined waist and shapely prominent bum

Celebs who have this type of shape are Coleen McLoughlin and Lily Allen

Exercises for Pear body shapes

Enhance one of your best features, your upper back by doing exercises such as the seated row and single arm rows.  This will create a taller, slimmer figure.

The other area to focus on is to reduce body fat from your lower body by doing squats, body lifts, lunges etc.

Cardio exercise for your body shape should consist of hill walking, running and possibly spinning classes if you’re a fan of the gym.