Pear shaped...Help!!

Hi,

I am looking for suggestions of exercise to try to shrink my pear shape a bit.  I know I am always going to be shaped that way but i'd like to be a little smaller in the behind/thigh/hip area.  Can anyone give me suggestions of something that has worked for them?

Thanks!

Howdy!!

I recently started doing this pose...can really feel it! I haven't been doing it for long. I sure notice it targeting different muscles than any other move I have been doing . I am working those muscles! :) I also do lunges and squats! Let me know if you try/like it? Check it out at http://yogajournal.com/poses/472#

Have a Great Day!

Hey there!

I hate to be the person that rains on the parade, but I'm not entirely sure that there is anything you can do to change the overall shape of your body.  Weight loss is funny that way - you can't lose weight in a specific part of your body....it just sort of comes off where it's going to.

All I can say is that if you continue to work out and lose weight, you will get smaller...but you'll probably just be a smaller pear. I'm shaped the same way - and HATE it!! My butt and thighs are so out of proportion with the rest of me.

I've lost about 30 lbs so far...and while I'm getting happier with my body, I'm still a pear - and I've lunged, squatted and yoga'd myself until the cows come home (running is actually my preferred method of activity...but I've done those other things to help strenghen my body and make running more enjoyable).

Live_love_laugh,

Thanks for the suggestions.  I may try out the yoga pose, it can't hurt at least right?  :)

Fitness_freak,

I know I'm always going to be pear...my hips are wide and if I wasn't pear shaped in terms of fat distribution I'd just have really gross bony hips sticking out, which would clearly not be attractive.  I do like the idea of being a smaller pear though :) 

I am not looking to lose weight, more just to tone up that area (hopefully a little shrinking will happen in the process, but if not, toned is still bettter than flabby I think.)

Thanks so much for the advice :)

One possibility - don't neglect your upper body.  Women, in a misguided attempt to spot burn their lower body, do squats and lunges, but when it comes to the upper body, they fear creating bulk. Now, I'm all for things like squats and lunges (and deadlifts), and I think everyone, regardless of body type, should do them - they work major muscle groups that are important to maintain for weight loss and general health. But they won't burn fat off the thighs and bum any more than anywhere else.

However, working your upper body, doing things like military presses, bench presses, rows, and lat pulldowns, could give you a little more definition on top, which could then help give you more of an "hourglass" figure.  As a woman, it's going to be incredibly difficult to get any kind of "bulk" up top, but having a stronger back and shoulders can help give that appearance, especially if it helps with posture.

I am pretty small on top (I'm 5'6", and in Ann Taylor sizes, I'm a 6 pants, but a 2 in shirts), but I've found that I look a lot more balanced since I started using heavy free weights for my upper body.

Just my two cents. I know it won't make you any smaller on bottom, but I guess I've always wanted an hourglass over a ruler shape. Plus, I knew my hips weren't going anywhere. :)

Hi Amethystgirl,

Thanks for the advice :)  You are right about not forgetting my top half, I needed the reminder.  I have almost comical looking wimpy little arms that could definitely use some definition...I get so fixated on my bottom half I neglect the other stuff.  My posture is really bad so I could use all the help I can get in that area. 

Thanks :D

Hi Lizzy!

 

  I'm a pear-shaped girl myself and while my figure will always be this way I have had good success with step aerobics. You get the benefit of working your whole body and you'll see your thighs and butt shrink. I lost about 8inches in my thighs after one month of step 5days per week.

give it a try you'll love it!

I'm new to this site & forum.  My weight has been all over the charts.  But, one thing always remained, My Large Thighs!  Running 3 miles a day help slim them down quite a bit.  You have to remember - you can't choose where you lose!

You cannot change your shape, just the shape it is in! Continue with cardio, proper diet and strength training.

Just to give you perspective, Jennifer Aniston is technically a pear shape!  Smaller on top, wider from hips down. Kelly Clarkson is also pear shape. They are two celebrity pear shapes in completely different shape/fitness.  

Try the bar method DVDs. When I was doing thiese 3x a week, I definitely looked better.