To ask why my bum is fat/big despite constant exercise and food denial?

[VeepVeep]

I'm post menopausal (early meno), on HRT. I exercise a lot. Weights/conditioning/HITT/boxing. I don't think I eat a lot AT ALL. I'm v healthy, rarely have sugar/no pasta or rice/and don't drink.

But still, my ass is fat. I have a small belly - not flat anymore but still pretty small. But the bum...it's like all the fat goes there...

I don't weigh myself anymore as I know muscle weighs more etc etc - but if I went by the scales, I'm about half a stone more than I want.

But I literally have no ideas how I can lose that extra fat.

It's depressing

Half a stone more than you would like, but presumably your BMI is within OK range?

Body shape is v hard to change. Carrying fat on bum isn’t bad health wise.

BMI is fine at the last reading

Are you sure it's fat and not muscle?

In my ass - it's got to be fat, no?

If your BMI is fine and you are healthy, energetic, eat well etc, it’s just your body type. Very hard to target/change specific body areas, unless you wish to lose more weight and can do so and remain healthy. Loads of good stuff online about dressing for your body type.

If your BMI is fine, and you do loads of exercise, and you look toned, have a flatish stomach - are you sure it's not muscle?

Nice glutes - people would kill for that!

If OP says it’s fat that’ll be what it is: some body fat is just normal!

Healthier to carry it on bum/thighs than around the middle.

There's a huge muscle in your butt - gluteus maximus.

Lucky you...that's the fashion right now!

If you are genuinely carrying excess fat, the only way to consistently lose is very strict dieting. Exercise can speed up weight loss or allow you to eat a bit more, by burning calories and building muscle. Sadly you can’t choose where to lose fat from, that’s just your body shape.

Whenever I stop strict dieting I yo-yo a few pounds or even gain weight, I never lose consistently. I did well with meal replacements and am planning to try again for another half stone. Previously low carb worked but wasn’t sustainable at that level, although I still cut down. I kept off the stone lost on the meal replacement diet last year so I know it works and can last. I also started running which really changed my fitness and muscles.

The uncomfortable truth to fat loss is that we have to be hungry to some extent for a diet to work, otherwise our body wouldn’t need to raid the fat stores to keep us alive and moving.

Instead of trying to make it disappear why not focus on making it a fit and healthy ass! Targeted exercises can help.

It’s also genetic and there really is very little exercise and dieting can do to fundamentally change your body shape.

PP was right that it’s much healthier to carry extra weight this way but it doesn’t sound like this is excess fat, judging by your lifestyle.

You sound like you have a lovely, toned, healthy body.

Thanks all. You're very kind.

I know it's fashion, I know some people like it, but I just hate it. I have big boobs, which are made bigger by HRT, which I can cope with, but the bum just makes clothes awkward. Small waist but big bum makes clothes hard to fit.

I don't think my glutes are that brilliant, to be honest. It's possibly my weakest area. Could this contribute? I should prob look up targeting just these muscles through exercise.

Also, yes, I should probably be really really really strict about food and see where that gets me.

Menopause makes all of this stuff so much harder to change. Ten years ago I could have ramped up exercise, eaten a bit less and the change would have been pronounced and swift. Alas, no longer. Uphill struggle in treacle! I have to work SO hard just to be like this.

I have been on HRT for 12 years. Boobs have not changed at all, my bum is ok but my thighs are huge. The only exercise I do is to walk the dog a couple of times a day.

I just think this is how my body is programmed to be and have decided that is fine. I struggle getting trousers/jeans to fit as the thighs are skin tight and the waist gapes, which is really annoying.

Honestly life is too short to worry about it from my point of view - still bloody annoying though!

Genetically predisposed body shape ??
Do you have similar shape to close family members ?
Diet and exercise will have minimal impact on our given shape

Don’t be so hard on yourself about food. With the things you’ve cut out and all the exercise you’ve probably got low body fat anyway. Why not see if you can find someone locally who does professional alterations and get some clothes tailored to fit your shape properly. It’s hard to feel good about yourself when you’re struggling with stuff that’s pulling and tight in some places and sagging or gaping in others.

Meant to say that I am also around 7 pounds heavier than I would like - but my love of wine is more powerful than my wish to be seven pounds lighter. If you find the secret please let me know.

I also exercise loads (hot yoga, running, spin, weights) about 7 times a week. I watch my food intake (I do drink though). I have short fat legs. Imagine a one year old child's little chubby legs with no real definition. Cute eh? Nope, not on a 49 year old. No matter what I do my legs don't change much at all, they are definitely muscly and strong but you can't really see that, the look of them is pretty much the same as when I did no exercise.

I ry to concentrate on the positives and accept I have little short legs but I am slim and I feel pretty amazing.

Maybe it's just about making an adjustment with the way you think of yourself?

I bet you look gorge x

Yes, I'm sure it's me trying to fight against my body shape.

I remember having a fat bum when I was younger - I was pretty chubby as a teen, then into my twenties (although I ate badly and did no exercise). Late twenties I changed my whole approach and was happy with my body until the last few years (i'm nearly 50).

My ass has reverted back to that which I had in my teens!

Just go for that Kim Kardashian look and save yourself a lot of worries.

@snapcrap - that's how I feel about my lower body. Whatever I do, nothing changes. But it's strong. I know that because of how I test myself in classes.

Genetic big bum like mine. I'm 5 foot 5 and have to get down to 8.5 or 9 stone for my bum to look small and it makes the rest of me look skeletal so I don't bother. I just wear clothes that flatter my shape now. I can't have a skinny face at 56 or I just look haggard.

I have short legs too. From the neck to the hip my body fits someone of 6 foot. My legs fit someone of 5’4. I could spend my life in 4 inch heels to even it out but then my feet would hurt and I couldn’t run 20+ miles a week. I also have big flappy duck feet that would be hard to fold into narrow shoes. I rock my ASICS.

OP I feel your pain. I am 5 ft 8 and have a BMI of 21. I am very lean at the top, have a flat stomach and slim legs but my bum is not giving up! I exercise, I low carb and it has been having a great transformation effect on my figure. But the bum is still there. There is muscle in my glutes but definitely a nice layer of fat too. I just embrace it.

It sounds genetic. It sounds like you’re doing all you can within reason. I mean there’s only so much you can do within normal life.
I’m the opposite-apple. If I eat shit and don’t exercise my bum goes flat!