Exercises for a better body shape

MitsuShai

I have a pear shaped body, so my goal is to lose all that excess fat in my belly, butt, and thighs to look slimmer (and also trying to fit in my pants again ). I've been "jogging" for about 20 minutes to start off my workout routine. I can only work out 2 times a week (Saturday and Sunday/Friday) and I settled for 20 minutes as of right now.

The problem is that, I honestly have never worked out before. The max speed I can get on a treadmill is 4.8 mph, but I can't do it for 20 minutes. I can only last for 2-3 minutes and I would have to stop and take a break and then run again (though I read online that 4.8 mph is walking speed :noway: ). Is this efficient?
I am trying to build up speed but I can't. It's really frustrating.

Also, is running sufficient enough in getting a slimmer body? What kind of exercises should I include and for how long? I read a lot of stuff online about what kind of exercises to implement but all the resources I've looked at says different things, so I'm still really lost lol.

On a side note, is it possible for me to change my figure? I've heard that if you been a certain weight for too long then you can't lose weight because your body is accustomed to that weight. Is this true?

LKArgh

Where you are at now, forget "running". Set a goal of walking for 30 minutes, at whatever speed makes you comfortable. If it is 2 mph, so be it. By comfortable, I mean at first being able to hold a conversation or sing and still complete the 30 minutes. Once you are comfortable with this routine, add running. Again, forget speed. Run for 1 minute, walk for 3-4 and repeat, for the entire 30 minutes. If you are exhausted, slow down and keep the goal of time, not speed or distance. As you get more fit, increase very slowly the time of running vs walking. When you get after several weeks to the point where you can run for at least 20 minutes or 2 10 minute intervals, then worry about increasing speed.

SezxyStef

. First off you can't spot reduce sorry...the "fat" will come off where is wants to.

Running is good for your heart and lungs and gives you extra calories to eat but it wont give you the body you want...

In order to get "slimmer" without being squishy is to lift weights...a progressive load program. It doesn't have to be barbells just weights that tax you and are hard but doable.

No sorry you can't change your figure...it is what it is...and no you can lose weight if you stay in a reasonable calorie deficet...I was on average 190lbs for 20 years...usually ranging between 174-205...and I have lost 46lbs...so that's not true at all.

rosestring

I feel ya, hun. While my breasts are larger than the average pear, I still tend to store a lot of fat in my belly/thighs/butt (though I like my butt; I've gotten lots of compliments!). Anyway, I still want to slim down in those trouble zones. I've only lost about four pounds so far, but from what I've heard, try to do a lot of strength training and cardio. I'm trying to do 20-30 minutes of the elliptical five days a week. Honestly, if I were you, I would really try to squeeze some exercise in. Even if it's just 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there.

I know as far as cardio goes, the elliptical burns a ton of calories in a short amount of time, plus it tones well. When it comes to strength training, may I suggest trying Pilates? They have a lot of "10 minute solution" DVD's that (as you can see from Amazon) a lot of people swear by; not to mention you build lean muscle, rather than "bulky muscle". Translation: While you can't spot reduce, your legs/thighs/butt might appear leaner than if you did heavy strength training (I'm not entirely sure about this from personal experience though, so someone please correct me if I'm wrong!).

And that stuff about not being able to lose weight? Bullsh*t.

I hope I could help a bit. I understand what it's like to obsess about body shape, but I'm sorry to say you really can't change it. However, a slimmer body should even out your figure a bit more, and I know you will be happier with what you will look like after you've reached your GW and size.

Just keep at it, lady!

knra_grl

I walk about 4 mph - this is a very brisk pace for me if I went faster I would be jogging - honestly walk for a month and gradually increase your pace to very brisk - you will soon feel like you could add some jogging intervals - eventually you will be jogging longer than walking and soon be able to jog your entire 20 mins - that is if you even want to jog - for your exercise do something that you LIKE otherwise you will dread it :flowerforyou:

jardimgirl

I have the dame issue and was suggested to strength train, it makes yuou hold on to lean muscle so when you lose the fat, you have a more tight 'toned' figure

SunKissed1989

I'm going to keep this simple...

From what I've heard and my own personal experience of being a pear - you can't change your body shape. Once a pear/apple/hourglass figure, always a pear/apple/hourglass. I decided that if I was always going to be a pear, I could be a smaller pear.

I lost weight all over but it came off my upper half (I dropped bra size before I dropped jeans size) before my lower half. However, my upper half has always (and probably will always) be smaller than my lower half. Although i've lost fat in my lower half, it's still bigger, however, that fat has been replaced by muscle through a combo of strength training and cardio.

Best of luck - don't be ashamed of being a pear - we're juicy and booty-licious!:happy:

MitsuShai

Thank you, I'll try to keep going at a slow pace on the treadmill until I'm ready to jog/run. I suppose I was rushing myself way too much. I will try strength training too, but go really light since I don't really have any muscle, just a bunch of fat.

I heard that you could spot reduce? A friend told me about some exercises that can help but it was too long ago but I think it's some kind of yoga exercise. Just wondering because, even though I have fat all over, my belly sticks out so much and I wear loose shirts.

v70t5m

I heard that you could spot reduce?

Ehh, probably not.

There's some support that spot concentrated exercises do increase heat in the specific working muscle(s), which "may" facilitate a bit more fat use in the immediate vicinity ... but not enough to see visible changes.

I agree with other posters, weight lifting is your best bet for strengthening the body and firming the jiggly bits.

Additionally, HIIT and Interval training are better metabolism boosters, great for getting in high energy cardio training in a short period of time. This is something you want to work up to after you get comfortable with walking. Perhaps 10 second sprint and 50 second walk recovery cycled for 15 total minutes (added to a 5 minute warmup) and you have your 20 minutes workout.