Why oh why can't we spot reduce!!

caradack1985
caradack1985 Posts: 254 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
This is more of a moan than an ask for help. Everything is going well, the weight is sliding off me at a reasonable pace, I'm getting in for a stone down.

But... I'm a classic hourglass shape, small waist, big everywhere else! And this week there has been no reduction in my colossal bum and thigh area but a whole 2 inches gone from my waist. And I know that's still good and I know that the rest will shift in time but at the same time it can be quite frustrating as it means no change in clothing size and it's not massively obvious that I've lost when you look in the mirror.

Tell me your "Why can't I spot reduce" woes!
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Replies

  • caradack1985
    caradack1985 Posts: 254 Member
    Actually as I have Ehlers Danlos Hypermobility Type, my excess weight means a massive amount of pain every day, I'm losing weight so I don't end up in a wheelchair by 40. And even when I have lost weight that doesn't fix the underlying problem, my muscles will always have to work twice as hard as a normal persons just to keep my body together which is endlessly exhausting. But sure, you can have my problem if you want.
  • Gena575
    Gena575 Posts: 224 Member
    Yes! If I could get my shoulders and arms to drop first that'd be fab! Nope. I lose my butt. That already wasn't all that big (comparatively). Sigh. Genetics. Lol!
  • Bxqtie116
    Bxqtie116 Posts: 552 Member
    I carry most of my weight in my belly. As I put on extra weight, the fat didn't know where else to go, so my arms inflated. Now if I can get those down I'll be happy. I've been toning them and have some definition but at the same time I have batwings. I don't know how long it'll take for that area to shrink. My belly has gone down tremendously and I like the size of my thighs. Now that I've been deflated, just waiting for everything to move inward.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I'd trade some of my hip/leftover belly fat for more fat in my legs! I'm one of those 'thin legs, thin arms, all the fat in the midsection and boobs' type. Sigh.
  • Cutemesoon
    Cutemesoon Posts: 2,646 Member
    I'm annoyed that my belly won't get flat. Even tho I know it takes lots of hard work and dedication, I want it flat NOW!!! I'm scared to lose more weight out of the fear of losing more of my breasts. I NEED to keep all the breasts I can. :'(
  • mccokat
    mccokat Posts: 130 Member
    I'm like you, classic hour glass. I currently would love to lose weight from my hips and my back and chest. But it's all going from my waist, I'm gonna start looking rediculous soon.
  • Cyndiaquino
    Cyndiaquino Posts: 72 Member
    I have the opposite problem, lol. My stomach has gone down, but it seems like it's the last place to still have fat. I've lost 67 1/2 pounds, I'm at a healthy weight and im still wanting to lose because I'm not happy with my stomach. Ugh. :/
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    I want my butt and boobs to shrink even slightly, but they just won't budge. Instead I keep losing at waist. If this keeps going I will end up looking like Jessica Rabbit.

    Nothing wrong with that.
  • Colorscheme
    Colorscheme Posts: 1,179 Member
    caradack1985 wrote: »
    This is more of a moan than an ask for help. Everything is going well, the weight is sliding off me at a reasonable pace, I'm getting in for a stone down.

    But... I'm a classic hourglass shape, small waist, big everywhere else! And this week there has been no reduction in my colossal bum and thigh area but a whole 2 inches gone from my waist. And I know that's still good and I know that the rest will shift in time but at the same time it can be quite frustrating as it means no change in clothing size and it's not massively obvious that I've lost when you look in the mirror.

    Tell me your "Why can't I spot reduce" woes!

    Im an hourglass too, so I have big upper thighs and big boobs. if I had my way, I would shrink those areas first but alas, we can't choose where the fat comes off.
  • Colorscheme
    Colorscheme Posts: 1,179 Member
    JeromeBarry1 wrote: »
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    I want my butt and boobs to shrink even slightly, but they just won't budge. Instead I keep losing at waist. If this keeps going I will end up looking like Jessica Rabbit.

    Nothing wrong with that.

    It kinda is. I don't think other people realize what a pain being a hourglass is. What fits in the chest for me does not fit in the waist [too big], and also big chests = back and shoulder problems. Also what fits in the hips does not fit my lower legs. I have little chicken legs halfway down but my thighs are big, so pants hardly ever fit correctly. Thank goodness I know how to alter clothes.
  • Colorscheme
    Colorscheme Posts: 1,179 Member
    edited July 2016
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    caradack1985 wrote: »
    This is more of a moan than an ask for help. Everything is going well, the weight is sliding off me at a reasonable pace, I'm getting in for a stone down.

    But... I'm a classic hourglass shape, small waist, big everywhere else! And this week there has been no reduction in my colossal bum and thigh area but a whole 2 inches gone from my waist. And I know that's still good and I know that the rest will shift in time but at the same time it can be quite frustrating as it means no change in clothing size and it's not massively obvious that I've lost when you look in the mirror.

    Tell me your "Why can't I spot reduce" woes!
    This is where you can totally blame your parents.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png


    I dont know, my mom is an apple shape and there's three of us. Im an hourglass, my sister is a banana and my other sister is a pear. It's strange! You'd think since we all have the same genes, we'd have similar heights and body shapes but nope. The banana shaped sister is the tallest [5'8], I'm in the middle [5'7], and the pear shaped sister is the shortest [5'6]. We each have an inch difference in height.
  • Nicklebee93
    Nicklebee93 Posts: 316 Member
    My legs... Im pretty lucky in the sense that i lose weight moderately all over, but my legs still feel HUGE.
  • lauraesh0384
    lauraesh0384 Posts: 463 Member
    I definitely know what you mean. I'm a pear shape. While my midsection isn't trim by any means, it's definitely smaller than my lower half. I'm at a normal weight but my thighs/hips are still flabby. So I started strength training about a month ago in hopes to firm up my lower body. Unfortunately having wider hips is probably genetic, though I am the smallest one in my immediate family.
  • caradack1985
    caradack1985 Posts: 254 Member
    Being an hourglass may be the Hollywood ideal but no one has told clothing stores this. I can't wear trousers or shirts and I have to be really careful with skirts which might seem a decent length at the front but barely covers my bum at the back!
  • Devlyn_P
    Devlyn_P Posts: 294 Member
    I'm sorry but many women out there would love your figure. Maybe focus on becoming healthy overall (mentally & Physically) and it will all come together. Best of luck!
  • vespiquenn
    vespiquenn Posts: 1,455 Member
    I have an hour glass figure too, and always lose off my waist first, so I know those woes. Thankfully I'm tall, 5'9", so my weight distributes what people consider evenly. I say other people because I obviously see otherwise. Haha.

    But I would say my arms. I have lose 20lbs and saw only an inch difference in my upper arms. I have the classic lunch lady arms, all thanks to my mom's genetics. :lol:
  • Mouse_Potato
    Mouse_Potato Posts: 1,510 Member
    edited July 2016
    I am another one with the opposite problem. All I want is 1-2 inches off my waist and it just won't budge! I'm losing through my thighs now. :'(
  • caradack1985
    caradack1985 Posts: 254 Member
    Seems a whole bunch of us should do body swaps for a while, I'll lose some of your waist fat if you could slim down my thighs a bit!!
  • philippakate197
    philippakate197 Posts: 125 Member
    To give a little hope to those hour glass folk...

    I had exactly the same problem - had to wear a belt with everything because my waist was so much smaller in proportion to my bum and thighs, and I was buying larger tops than I needed because my boobs were huge! I had a great waist but could never show it off because the clothes would hide it.

    I'm now just into a healthy bmi (25) and am losing the last 10 vanity lbs and I can finally say I love being an hour glass! My boobs have shrunk over the last few months, even though they hadn't at all during the previous year, and although my thighs and bum are still where I carry most of my fat, they are now much more in proportion to the rest of me.

    Keep at it ladies - eventually it all comes together and those stubborn parts will shrink, then you're gonna be rocking the hour glass!!

  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    edited August 2016
    @philippakate197 this is true! I have no hate for the hourglass, in fact I love it. It's just these awkward in-between ugly duckling phases that make me look comical. An hourglass normal weight person, nice. A 230 pound person who looks like a doll put together using the wrong parts, comical.

    I mean yes, I could stand to lose 5 or 6 more inches off my waist and I do have a belly, but when you compare it to the 12 or more I need to lose in my hips you get the idea.
  • BodyByBex
    BodyByBex Posts: 3,685 Member
    edited August 2016
    philippakate197 wrote: »
    To give a little hope to those hour glass folk...

    I had exactly the same problem - had to wear a belt with everything because my waist was so much smaller in proportion to my bum and thighs, and I was buying larger tops than I needed because my boobs were huge! I had a great waist but could never show it off because the clothes would hide it.

    I'm now just into a healthy bmi (25) and am losing the last 10 vanity lbs and I can finally say I love being an hour glass! My boobs have shrunk over the last few months, even though they hadn't at all during the previous year, and although my thighs and bum are still where I carry most of my fat, they are now much more in proportion to the rest of me.

    Keep at it ladies - eventually it all comes together and those stubborn parts will shrink, then you're gonna be rocking the hour glass!!

    @philippakate197 This!

    It took an additional 10 pounds(still not at a 'healthy' BMI but whatevs) and my body FINALLY leveled out a bit. Most things fit adequately in the bustline and come in snug enough at the waist now so that I can really show my figure. Pants are still kind of a bother, but skirts are working out for me.

    I would like to spot reduce a bit more off my thighs and more off of my chest (a 30H bra isn't easy to come by and they aren't cheap), but I love my body and what it's capable of.
  • caradack1985
    caradack1985 Posts: 254 Member
    I won't lie, I am very excited about how my body will look when the weight comes off.
  • savithny
    savithny Posts: 1,200 Member
    The inability to spot reduce is why I start to look gaunt at the top end of "normal" BMI. I lose it all from my face/neck/shoulders first. At BMI 27 I had big hollows under my collarbone and visible ribs, still some pretty fleshy legs.
  • CincyNeid
    CincyNeid Posts: 1,249 Member
    edited August 2016
    My biggest problem area is my mid-section. My arms are tone, to the point you can see veins when I'm lifting. And with all the running and cycling I do my legs look like they were carved by Michelangelo himself. But the Gut I cannot lose. I do stair steps, I do crunches, I do planks, I watch my diet, I count calories. I do everything right, but I cannot lose my mid section. And that might be just due to the rate I lost my weight and I've got a ton of extra skin floating around giving me the illusion I'm not losing it there.....

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