Exercises to firm up a big behind?!

[StarHeartDiamond]

I'm an hourglass shape. Top half ok but bottom is too wobbly. It's the bit where the bottom cheeks meet the tops of legs. In swimming costumes I always feel like my bottom is falling out of the costume, unless it's one of those retro style ones which go straight across your legs but I'm tired of that style and not being able to pick ones more high-cut.

Most exercises on-line seem to be aimed at achieving a rounder bottom. I don't want rounder, but I would like smaller and firmer!! The tops of my thighs are also quite spongy.

Any tips for the type of exercises I shoukd be doing?!

[RiversDisguise]

Tbh dieting to remove excess fat is going to be your best bet.

Of course exercise is great too. You need to lift heavy- squats, glute bridges, dead lifts, etc. Lifting weights won't give you a big bum. It'll help firm up and lift what you have.

[StarHeartDiamond]

Thanks rivers. The dieting I've got under control so I'll carry on with that, it probably is just excess fat rather than muscle needing toning, although I'm sure the muscle underneath would benefit from work outs. Going to look into a personal trainer for a couple if months so I can learn what to do and how to do it - I'm gym clueless!

[RiversDisguise]

It's really simple- you can do a lot with just a few basic movestuff.

I read back my above post and ouch. Thanks for taking it in the spirit it WAS intended. I'm a classic pear and did all sorts of bum workouts- Brazil Button Lift, Killer Buns etc- and they found help but only a fraction. Fat loss an heavy weights made the real difference for me. But I'm still pear-shaped iyswim. So you also have to just think stuff it and wear whatever bathers you want, too!

[LockedOutOfMN]

Squats and lunges

[StarHeartDiamond]

Thanks lockedout

Rivers - I didn't find it ouch, actually I was rather pleased as I'm far better at dieting than gyms! also my dh thinks all overeating can be solved by a trip to the gym whereas I think - if it's a spongy bottom and thighs, how is an hour or two in the gym per week going to significantly reduce that/turn it firmer?! Well it might be a bit firmer but it wouldn't reduce the size on its own! The size is down to mostly fat not potential muscle!

It's frustrating though as I'm 5'8" and just under 10st, and although my bottom fits techinically into most size10s, in a costume my bottom is definitely disproportionately bigger/wobbly. My mum has a smaller bottom although wider hips overall and she's a size 14. I have not too much on tummy or hips but it's all on the bottom.

I'm aiming to be 9-9.5st (I'm in my 40s so want to keep the spread at bay for as long as possible and having been up to 14 stone a few years ago).

[RiversDisguise]

Possibly but are you sure with those stats you don't have a bit of body dysmorphia? Your BMI must be 21ish? I bet you look amazing tbh. ☺

[StarHeartDiamond]

Ha, thank you! my bmi is good but it's because I don't carry weight on arms, shoulders, ribcage and tummy. But it's mainly on the bottom! So I'm after more proportionate look. If I wear jeans I look really bottom-heavy, same for swimming costumes. It looks fine, of course it does, but it annoys me that it looks "nearly right but not quite right". I just want to finish off the weightloss feeling like I can wear anything instead of what looks ok. And I'd like to wear jeans more

Thanks for the compliment though! That did cheer me up. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh on myself