How to slim down my bottom half?

[ineedsunshinenow]

I am a pear shape and carry my weight from the hips down. I am not overweight but I am quite short and towards the upper end of my recommended BMI so it's really obvious to me.

I have recently got into running and am trying to run 5/6k a few times a week but my question is what else should I be doing to make my legs look less bulky? Even when I am lighter I still carry all my weight on my legs, hips and bottom - so frustrating! Any suggestions welcome. Also, if I embark on a good exercise regime, how long do you think it would take to start seeing noticeable results and a change in shape?

have you considered that you may have a mild form of Lipoedema ..

Google it OP 🌺

the reason I ask is that you will always have difficulty shifting lower body weight...

there is a fantastic Lipoedema group on Facebook, offering advise and help losing the weight ☺️

just a thought OP ... good luck

@BlueThistles

have you considered that you may have a mild form of Lipoedema ..

Google it OP 🌺

the reason I ask is that you will always have difficulty shifting lower body weight...

there is a fantastic Lipoedema group on Facebook, offering advise and help losing the weight ☺️

just a thought OP ... good luck

Thank you - will have a look

Running will help strengthen and firm up your legs but won't change your shape. You are probably better to embrace your natural shape and focus on strength and fitness rather than obsessing about trying to slim down your bottom half.

One benefit of being pear shaped is that you don't tend to accumulate fat around your abdomen and organs which is better for your long term health do there are some definite advantages of being a pear

I am also pear shaped. Sometimes I wish I was more dainty but then I go on Instagram and see photo after photo of women with big bums and curvy legs.

I would suggest running to tone up your legs, but you're already doing that. Cycling is good too. I think any form of cardio that gets your heart going fast. I'm not sure you necessarily have lipodema, you're probably just a pear shaped and your bottom half does naturally carry the weigtht.

@CherryBlossomTree7

I am also pear shaped. Sometimes I wish I was more dainty but then I go on Instagram and see photo after photo of women with big bums and curvy legs.

I would suggest running to tone up your legs, but you're already doing that. Cycling is good too. I think any form of cardio that gets your heart going fast. I'm not sure you necessarily have lipodema, you're probably just a pear shaped and your bottom half does naturally carry the weigtht.

Thank you and yes, I have just had a look at lipoedema and think it's more that I am just chunkier naturally on my bottom half than my top rather then being quite out of proportion. My arms tone quite easily and my stomach is flat-ish but my legs have never been slim! (Or is that lipoedema?!).

@Swingometer

Running will help strengthen and firm up your legs but won't change your shape. You are probably better to embrace your natural shape and focus on strength and fitness rather than obsessing about trying to slim down your bottom half.

One benefit of being pear shaped is that you don't tend to accumulate fat around your abdomen and organs which is better for your long term health do there are some definite advantages of being a pear

Thank you - I try not to obsess too much but I caught sight of myself in the mirror earlier whilst doing an online s&c class and felt quite disheartened!!

Ah I’m the same OP! Small and reasonably slim but very sturdy of leg

I think the short height makes it worse as our muscles are all bunched up. Pilates or yoga are probably the best bets to slim and lengthen thigh and calf muscles. I did Pilates for a while and it did help with my bulky quads (by building stronger glutes).

At least generous bum and thighs are back in fashion...

I looked at lipodema too but the fat on my thighs isn’t painful which I think is the hallmark?

@minipie

I looked at lipodema too but the fat on my thighs isn’t painful which I think is the hallmark?

Hi - it's not painful on me either, nor lumpy?

Was a bit worried someone would suggest Pilates or yoga - I have tried both and just cannot get into them! Maybe lockdown is the time...any suggestions?

I’m not a huge fan of yoga but love Pilates. It’s difficult to take up in lockdown though as you ideally need a teacher who will come round and check you’re using the right muscles. Sorry not terribly helpful!

Running will help too - I hope as I’ve recently started. Definitely noticing it’s using some undiscovered muscles in the squidgy bit above my knees.

I'm a short pear.

Muscular calves are great for half marathons... terrible for wellies

Ive never tried pilates .... is it good 🌺

If you're a beginner to pilates Lottie Murphy has loads of easy to follow videos on Youtube, from beginner to more advanced. There are different workouts depending on which bit of the body you want to work on. I'm doing the intense full body one atm and it's really strengthened up my core. Love handles have gone.

I'm a short pear and the fat on my thighs does kind of hurt if prodded or squeezed. Never heard of this before! Thought it was an odd quirk..
My lower legs are very slim though?

@GeidiPrimes

thank you I'll have a look at those videos 🌺

Thanks all - will take a look at Pilates. Has anyone else tried it and become more lean as a result? How long does it take to notice a change? Am late 40s so I don't have youth on my side!!

Hi - I am exactly the same. Mid 40s and have always had a chunkier bottom half and a slim and quite delicate upper half.
Nothing diet or exercise wise has ever made a difference to that. I do quite a lot of cardio (running, cycling, swimming) and have also done years of ballet and yoga in the past. Been doing Pilates three times a week for about 10 years and it has made no difference to my proportions. I have accepted that my shape won’t change now and do Pilates for all the other benefits it brings : strong core, better flexibility, posture, avoiding injury etc.
I have read about lipodema too - I don’t have painful fat either but not being able to lose the weight on my legs is definitely something I can relate to so I wonder if I have a mild case.

I’m carefully watching this thread. I have no suggestions, but I empathise. As a short pear shape, it’s all too easy to feel dumpy. Short jackets would suit my height better, but they seem to emphasise my hips. I’d like to feel nice in skinny jeans too.

Barre! I’ve started on Les mills and it’s killer for legs. Really fun too, once you pick up the basics. I have the grace of an elephant but I love it.

@IrishGirl2020

Hi - I am exactly the same. Mid 40s and have always had a chunkier bottom half and a slim and quite delicate upper half. Nothing diet or exercise wise has ever made a difference to that. I do quite a lot of cardio (running, cycling, swimming) and have also done years of ballet and yoga in the past. Been doing Pilates three times a week for about 10 years and it has made no difference to my proportions. I have accepted that my shape won’t change now and do Pilates for all the other benefits it brings : strong core, better flexibility, posture, avoiding injury etc. I have read about lipodema too - I don’t have painful fat either but not being able to lose the weight on my legs is definitely something I can relate to so I wonder if I have a mild case.

Oh no! So there really is no hope!! There's that excuse I need to not even try Pilates

Are your legs toned though from all that running and Pilates?

@ineedsunshinenow

I do have quite a lot of leg muscle but there are just pockets of fat that never shift so I’m not sure if I’d describe the overall look as particularly toned. I’d probably have to go down the weight training route to achieve that and though I do like Bodypump and similar I haven’t yet tried serious weight training.
It really is a very individual thing though so that’s not to say you’d be the same! And Pilates has so many other benefits - e.g. I never get knee pain or any other injuries from running and cycling since I started it.

Just to add that a lot of people will suggest ballet type exercises and will point out that ballet dancers don’t have fat legs. But people with fat legs just don’t become professional dancers in the main. I did a lot of ballet as a child/teenager and one of the main reasons I didn’t pursue it as a career was down to my having the wrong shape. So I can definitely say that lots of ballet doesn’t necessarily give you slim legs either!

I am 51... Ive never worn shorts or skirts in my life ... my legs are so heavy... I dress from the bottom up.. Lipoedema is a lifetime curse for me.. I wear dresses that are calf length or longer... my entire wardrobe is dictated by my lower half ..

I swim and I love cycling... tried Crossfit for a while which was phenomenal .. but the classes stopped ...

Its a lifestyle ... just living with it .. for me ladies 🌺

I am not overweight but I am quite short and towards the upper end of my recommended BMI so it's really obvious to me

The thing is, just because your weight/BMI are within the normal weight range for your height, it doesn't mean that you are the best weight for you, so it could be that losing some weight would mean you were happier with your lower half. For my height the healthy weight range spans over 2 stones, but I would definitely think I was overweight if I was near the top end of that range.

We do come in all shapes, but some leg focused exercises can make a difference.
I do the ballet barre (not the new trend barre) and also use a rebounder for lymphatic circulation.
You could have a bit of liquid retention and a rebounder (mini trampoline) can help.

@DietrichandDiMaggio

I am not overweight but I am quite short and towards the upper end of my recommended BMI so it's really obvious to me

The thing is, just because your weight/BMI are within the normal weight range for your height, it doesn't mean that you are the best weight for you, so it could be that losing some weight would mean you were happier with your lower half. For my height the healthy weight range spans over 2 stones, but I would definitely think I was overweight if I was near the top end of that range.

I think you are right actually - especially as my weight isn't that evenly distributed. I'm 9stone and 5 2 but 8st 5 is the mid way point BMI wise for my height (and I've not been that weight for years!!).

Thanks everyone else for the exercise tips and solidarity!