Pear shaped ladies... how the heck do I get slimmer legs?

[TruffleMonkey]

I'm starting to feel like it isn't possible for me! I've lost some weight and I'm now in the healthy BMI range (woop). The fat seems to have come exclusively off my top half though, I've lost an inch off my waist (now 28 inches) and I've got definition in my chest, arms and shoulders. But from the hips down I look exactly the same.

I know I can't spot reduce and my body will decide where the weight comes off, but could anyone share if there was a turning point for lower body fat loss for them? I'm at the point now where I'm perfectly haopy with my top half but nowhere near on bottom.

Thanks!

Even when I was so skinny that you could see all my ribs down the back of my spine and a dressmaker told me she'd never taken such small measurements, I still had rugby players thighs.

I remember at my very thinnest looking at my legs and thinking: at last they are not fat legs. they are not slim legs either, they are just legs. They were still a bit dumpy and stocky.

But I have seen friends with similar shape get great transformation from Reformer Pilates, which really lengthens the front thigh muscles, and from Callanetics - an old school style of floor exercises that spot-work every muscle in the legs.

I've just decided to embrace the current trend for big curved thighs and bums. As long as they are toned, they look okay.

I'm a pear and only get good results when I consistently weight train. Typing this is getting me thinking I need to get back to it tbh! Congrats on your achievements so far 👏

Running 25k+ per week, yoga once per week and swimming 3 times seems to have worked for me. But it’s hard work.

You can Def tone them up with exercise, weights, pilates, cardio but sadly you can't change your basic body shape.
(I'm now a size 8/10 but I still have to shop plus size if I want boots to fit my giant calves!).

Run. It's the only way that works for me.

I was always pear-shaped and convinced that this was my body shape, but once I started training seriously I have lost saddle bags and thick thighs really quickly. I got pregnant after losing weight and despite putting on some weight during pregnancy I still have slim legs at 9 months pregnant. I haven’t stopped exercising but adapted the activity level to how I feel and I still eat healthily.

Pilates-inspired workouts and martial arts classes made the most difference for my shape.

How big are your leg? Do you have good definition in them or fat pads around the knees/ at the top of your calves? do your legs bruise easily?
Are you willing to g to post a pic??

I've always had bigger legs than the rest of my body. Running will sort you out. Mine have massively slimmed down but I'm still not happy with them and I run on average 15-20k a week so I reckon I need to up the mileage a bit more to get them just right.

Thanks for the comments. I feared the answer might be running as I hate it 🤣

@ringoutsolsticebells they are currently 21 inches. My calves are small in comparison but even though I can feel the muscle when I tense there is no visible definition at all unless I lie down and lift my leg (because all the fat drops down!). I'm too self conscious too post a pic 😂yes I bruise easy!!

Just remember that that is the look a lot of people are aiming for OP!

Look up lipidema and see if you recognise yourself in the pictures

I'm not suggesting you do have it but not being able to lose weight from your legs and losing from your top half easily is one of the features of lipidema

Why would you want to? You’re literally THE shape we all aspire to be.

(Well, those of us who care at least. Here I am, doing all I can to preserve my slim thick, and you’re moaning!)

Fast incline walking on a treadmill 3-4 times per week will really help.

Pear shape is your natural body shape further by your bone structure. I think related to your pelvis width. Only hard work like running will give definition but it will not transform your basic shape. Luckily however pear shape is definitely a la mode. Clever dressing is your friend if you want to minimise the peariness.

Just to add I don’t think 21 inches is massive at all OP. I just measured my thigh for comparison, also 21 inches, and I think of them as quite slim- we have the same size waist too. Do you think you might have a slightly dysmorphic perception of your legs? It’s that or I do 😂

21 inches around your quads? That's not big at all? With a 28" waist you must be petite.

I love a small waist and large quads on myself and women, I do weight training and activity aim to get strong quads and hamstrings they are indicative of a longer life less likely to fall in old age. I'm currently lacking the small waist!!

You need to embrace your shape!

I suppose its less the size and more the general appearance of them. I'm 5ft 3 and I just think they make me look so dumpy.

I've just done a Google of lipodema and they do like quite like stage 1! I've never had any pain or heaviness though.

@TruffleMonkey well done on your weight loss. 28” waist and 21” thighs are really lovely measurements. I have skinny legs, narrow hips but struggle with a chubby tummy and no waist, for example, I have to have my bmi right down to 20 to get my waist to 30” and at that bmi my legs are too thin. My DD has a different body type to me (more pear like you) but does Pilates and boy is she strong and toned. I think Pilates improves every body type.

I’m a pear and hated my legs until I saw this picture of a waitress with the most amazing thighs. They just looked really strong. So now aspiring for strong legs rather than thin legs.

I'm a 5'1 pear with chunky legs. To my surprise when we started walking at least 5 miles a day in 2020 my thighs slimmed down - I'd have expected the opposite if anything.
I do also do Pilates once a week which may help but I'd been doing that for a few years before this.