The Odd Body Shapes

justsalad

Anyone on MFP have a weird body shape like mine? I've noticed in *most* photos that women losing weight, have rather large chests/large mid sections/large thighs/large behinds. Not all. But a good majority. A "well-rounded"(for lack of better word) weight gain, where the weight is evenly distributed for the most part.

Even at my heaviest (5'8", 220lbs) ... I never had a chest, *kitten*, or thighs. I held my weight in my face, and abdomen...and one very odd location that I won't disclose. (which by the way... I have no clue how to lose, seems to be the only place that stays fat. You can't do any type of exercise for that area...ladies, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about!)

I am now sitting around 167 mark. Most weight loss pics I've seen for before/after - show lots of women losing their chests, thighs, and butts... is there anyone else out there like me? With an odd body shape and weight loss being a little bit oddly located on your body?



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126siany

My mother gained it like you do--all in her torso. She had the legs of a woman 100 lbs lighter.

I used to gain it evenly, but as I get older I see myself heading toward apple-land if I gain weight.

justsalad

I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE! I never see overweight women without a chest or some thighs or something, and I had NEITHER! I had like.. a stick figure body where the kid just draws sticks for arms, and circles for torso and head ---

like this --->
\o/
O
/ \

haha !

likitisplit

Skinny arms and legs and a chubby tummy? Sign me up. It's called "being sedentary." Try moving more throughout the day. 5 minutes of stair walking every couple of hours.

Also work on loosening up your hip flexors and hamstrings and engaging your glutes. Don't tuck your butt. My tummy flattened dramatically when I got loose enough to actually stand up straight and work the right muscles for a good posture.

ETA - read this one first:

http://www.katysays.com/a-users-guide-to-hamstrings/

http://www.katysays.com/mind-your-pelvis/

126siany

Skinny arms and legs and a chubby tummy? Sign me up. It's called "being sedentary." Try moving more throughout the day. 5 minutes of stair walking every couple of hours.

Also work on loosening up your hip flexors and hamstrings and engaging your glutes. Don't tuck your butt. My tummy flattened dramatically when I got loose enough to actually stand up straight and work the right muscles for a good posture.

http://www.katysays.com/mind-your-pelvis/

No, it's not necessarily related to being sedentary. There's also a hormonal component, which is why you see more women start towards an apple pattern of weight gain/distribution in perimenopause, menopause and post menopause. Apple shapes are more common in men at all ages.

justsalad

Skinny arms and legs and a chubby tummy? Sign me up. It's called "being sedentary." Try moving more throughout the day. 5 minutes of stair walking every couple of hours.

Also work on loosening up your hip flexors and hamstrings and engaging your glutes. Don't tuck your butt. My tummy flattened dramatically when I got loose enough to actually stand up straight and work the right muscles for a good posture.

ETA - read this one first:

http://www.katysays.com/a-users-guide-to-hamstrings/

http://www.katysays.com/mind-your-pelvis/

Been doing lots of cardio - and the stomach has gone down significantly but still, I find it odd that even in my most overweight I never had boobs/thighs/butt lol. But I will definitely take a look at those !!! Never even thought much about my hammys/posture! I am not very sedentary by any means either! I didn't even know I had a real shape (apple?pear?) as I have zero thighs/butt/hips.

likitisplit

Skinny arms and legs and a chubby tummy? Sign me up. It's called "being sedentary." Try moving more throughout the day. 5 minutes of stair walking every couple of hours.

Also work on loosening up your hip flexors and hamstrings and engaging your glutes. Don't tuck your butt. My tummy flattened dramatically when I got loose enough to actually stand up straight and work the right muscles for a good posture.

ETA - read this one first:

http://www.katysays.com/a-users-guide-to-hamstrings/

http://www.katysays.com/mind-your-pelvis/

Been doing lots of cardio - and the stomach has gone down significantly but still, I find it odd that even in my most overweight I never had boobs/thighs/butt lol. But I will definitely take a look at those !!! Never even thought much about my hammys/posture! I am not very sedentary by any means either! I didn't even know I had a real shape (apple?pear?) as I have zero thighs/butt/hips.

If you don't have a butt, it's probably because you aren't engaging your glutes and are tucking your pelvis. Getting the right balance down there will pay off in many real ways (pelvic floor) and may also help your other issue. Pilates or yoga might be a good source of information on how to get your biomechanics worked out.

seltzermint555

Skinny arms and legs and a chubby tummy? Sign me up. It's called "being sedentary." Try moving more throughout the day. 5 minutes of stair walking every couple of hours.

Also work on loosening up your hip flexors and hamstrings and engaging your glutes. Don't tuck your butt. My tummy flattened dramatically when I got loose enough to actually stand up straight and work the right muscles for a good posture.

http://www.katysays.com/mind-your-pelvis/

No, it's not necessarily related to being sedentary. There's also a hormonal component, which is why you see more women start towards an apple pattern of weight gain/distribution in perimenopause, menopause and post menopause. Apple shapes are more common in men at all ages.

^ I totally agree. Being sedentary does not give your body an apple shape.

likitisplit

Skinny arms and legs and a chubby tummy? Sign me up. It's called "being sedentary." Try moving more throughout the day. 5 minutes of stair walking every couple of hours.

Also work on loosening up your hip flexors and hamstrings and engaging your glutes. Don't tuck your butt. My tummy flattened dramatically when I got loose enough to actually stand up straight and work the right muscles for a good posture.

http://www.katysays.com/mind-your-pelvis/

No, it's not necessarily related to being sedentary. There's also a hormonal component, which is why you see more women start towards an apple pattern of weight gain/distribution in perimenopause, menopause and post menopause. Apple shapes are more common in men at all ages.

^ I totally agree. Being sedentary does not give your body an apple shape.

Sitting on your butt all day gives you biomechanical issues that tend to lead to an apple shape.

And, Katysays.com has found that men seem to be more likely to "tuck" which is one of these biomechanical issues:

http://www.katysays.com/hamstrings/

jeannelabanane

I have a huge belly - people often ask me if I'm pregnant, which really sucks.

Even when I've been thinner, my belly still stuck out noticeably.

It seems to be the first place I gain and the last place I lose.

Edit: And I may be completely off-base, but part of it might be genetics? I have the exact same shape as my mom.

126siany

Skinny arms and legs and a chubby tummy? Sign me up. It's called "being sedentary." Try moving more throughout the day. 5 minutes of stair walking every couple of hours.

Also work on loosening up your hip flexors and hamstrings and engaging your glutes. Don't tuck your butt. My tummy flattened dramatically when I got loose enough to actually stand up straight and work the right muscles for a good posture.

http://www.katysays.com/mind-your-pelvis/

No, it's not necessarily related to being sedentary. There's also a hormonal component, which is why you see more women start towards an apple pattern of weight gain/distribution in perimenopause, menopause and post menopause. Apple shapes are more common in men at all ages.

^ I totally agree. Being sedentary does not give your body an apple shape.

Sitting on your butt all day gives you biomechanical issues that tend to lead to an apple shape.

And, Katysays.com has found that men seem to be more likely to "tuck" which is one of these biomechanical issues:

http://www.katysays.com/hamstrings/

Posture can exaggerate or minimize the protrusion of your abdomen. It doesn't change where your weight is distributed.

likitisplit

http://blog.corewalking.com/pot-belly-stomach-pot-belly-stomach/

justsalad

I have a huge belly - people often ask me if I'm pregnant, which really sucks.

Even when I've been thinner, my belly still stuck out noticeably.

It seems to be the first place I gain and the last place I lose.

Edit: And I may be completely off-base, but part of it might be genetics? I have the exact same shape as my mom.

My mom is a stick haha, she has never weighed more than 110 lbs in her entire life. My dad however is kinda like me, stick arms/stick legs, and a beer belly (though he has never drank but that's the illusion it gives)

justsalad

http://blog.corewalking.com/pot-belly-stomach-pot-belly-stomach/

That's actually pretty much dead on!

likitisplit

Skinny arms and legs and a chubby tummy? Sign me up. It's called "being sedentary." Try moving more throughout the day. 5 minutes of stair walking every couple of hours.

Also work on loosening up your hip flexors and hamstrings and engaging your glutes. Don't tuck your butt. My tummy flattened dramatically when I got loose enough to actually stand up straight and work the right muscles for a good posture.

http://www.katysays.com/mind-your-pelvis/

No, it's not necessarily related to being sedentary. There's also a hormonal component, which is why you see more women start towards an apple pattern of weight gain/distribution in perimenopause, menopause and post menopause. Apple shapes are more common in men at all ages.

^ I totally agree. Being sedentary does not give your body an apple shape.

Sitting on your butt all day gives you biomechanical issues that tend to lead to an apple shape.

And, Katysays.com has found that men seem to be more likely to "tuck" which is one of these biomechanical issues:

http://www.katysays.com/hamstrings/

Posture can exaggerate or minimize the protrusion of your abdomen. It doesn't change where your weight is distributed.

While weight distribution defines the "apple shape" I can tell you that I remain an apple shape when thin. Another poster mentioned this as well. It's not just about fat.

Looking pregnant or having a pot belly, even while at a normal weight, indicates a tight psoas (and tight hip flexors and hamstrings, and the lack of gluteal engagement).

Everything about the OPs description (lack of a butt, her other problem) indicates a tight psoas as well. I'm not an expert, but I'd certainly suggest that more movement throughout the day and loosening up these tight muscles won't hurt the situation.

jessieleah

Well, I can tell you that I never gained weight in my chest. Even at my heaviest, I was still wearing a B cup in bras. I still wear a B, but I've gone down 2 band sizes. I'm not entirely happy about it, but what can you do? Other than have surgery, which I won't do.

W31RD0

You have to work with your genetics. I have found that some people look better at slimmer weight while other women can pack on a few pounds and they are rewarded with more accentuated curves.

Best I can suggest is to weightlift. Especially deadlifts can really transform a woman's backside.

sistrsprkl

If I were you, I'd add strength training/resistance of some kind as well as yoga. Maybe tone down the cardio a bit and really focus on building muscle, strength, and flexibility. For cardio, I like to walk on the treadmill at full incline, I think this helps with the booty and quads.

doctorregenerated

I think body shapes are genetic.
I become a big pear when I gain weight. Just a big butt with a head and legs. My stomach is double the size of my boobs which never get bigger than a b.

gotogirl81

If you want an Butt.. you can work for it. its called Squats. try doing a squat challenge. Cardio will only help your weight come off but you will gave very little muscle/shape from it, in the long run.
if you have a gym membership or any type of weights at home... squatting with weights will give you results in the long run..especially heavy weights. might take us flat bootyed ladies some time.. but we'll get there!
there are a ton of videos/guides online you can get started with!

good luck!

QuietBloom

Skinny arms and legs and a chubby tummy? Sign me up. It's called "being sedentary." Try moving more throughout the day. 5 minutes of stair walking every couple of hours.

Also work on loosening up your hip flexors and hamstrings and engaging your glutes. Don't tuck your butt. My tummy flattened dramatically when I got loose enough to actually stand up straight and work the right muscles for a good posture.

http://www.katysays.com/mind-your-pelvis/

No, it's not necessarily related to being sedentary. There's also a hormonal component, which is why you see more women start towards an apple pattern of weight gain/distribution in perimenopause, menopause and post menopause. Apple shapes are more common in men at all ages.

^ I totally agree. Being sedentary does not give your body an apple shape.

Sitting on your butt all day gives you biomechanical issues that tend to lead to an apple shape.

And, Katysays.com has found that men seem to be more likely to "tuck" which is one of these biomechanical issues:

http://www.katysays.com/hamstrings/

I just read it. She says no one knows if one sex tends toward it or not. Cool blog though.

LAT1963

Have you been tested for cortisol abnormalities? That fat distribution can be a symptom of Cushing's syndrome and a couple of similar disorders.

QuietBloom

http://blog.corewalking.com/pot-belly-stomach-pot-belly-stomach/

I wish they taught posture in schools. They still do in some English preps. I have to get after my 10 year-old for slouching. Arg.

QuietBloom

OP, you don't have an abnormal shape at all. It's called having an apple shape. Reese Witherspoon is a pretty classic example. And the fat will go from everywhere eventually, just keep at it.

shabaity

Well, I can tell you that I never gained weight in my chest. Even at my heaviest, I was still wearing a B cup in bras. I still wear a B, but I've gone down 2 band sizes. I'm not entirely happy about it, but what can you do? Other than have surgery, which I won't do.

You have gained and lost weight in the chest if you have gone up band size but not gained in the chest by the second band you'd have been an A cup likely with a properly fitted bra most stores are good for those sizes its when you get to the D's and higher that the measurements seem to go funny.. Though I can say I'd love for my chest to do that every time I've gotten smaller up goes my cup size.

LAT1963

Apples don't usually gain around the face.

She should still get tested for cortisol abnormalities so that *if* she has one she can be treated for it.

annemw82

Even pushing 300 lbs I never had a butt or huge thighs. I always been all belly and boobs. When I started losing my legs/arms starting looking more proportional to the rest of me. My weird thing though is that my stomach is noticeably split into 2 regions. The upper belly above my bellybutton and my lower abdomen. As I lost most of my upper belly shrank but I still carry a LOT of my weight in my lower belly. I just wish I could twist that part of my body around and move all that weight to my butt so I could for once fill out the backside of a pair of jeans!

prensis

Do you have PCOS? I do and have the same problem as you.

Here is an excerpt from WebMD on PCOS:

"High insulin levels increase the production of male hormones called androgens. High androgen levels lead to symptoms such as body hair growth, acne, irregular periods -- and weight gain. Because the weight gain is triggered by male hormones, it is typically in the abdomen. That is where men tend to carry weight. So, instead of having a pear shape, women with PCOS have more of an apple shape."

likitisplit

Skinny arms and legs and a chubby tummy? Sign me up. It's called "being sedentary." Try moving more throughout the day. 5 minutes of stair walking every couple of hours.

Also work on loosening up your hip flexors and hamstrings and engaging your glutes. Don't tuck your butt. My tummy flattened dramatically when I got loose enough to actually stand up straight and work the right muscles for a good posture.

http://www.katysays.com/mind-your-pelvis/

No, it's not necessarily related to being sedentary. There's also a hormonal component, which is why you see more women start towards an apple pattern of weight gain/distribution in perimenopause, menopause and post menopause. Apple shapes are more common in men at all ages.

^ I totally agree. Being sedentary does not give your body an apple shape.

Sitting on your butt all day gives you biomechanical issues that tend to lead to an apple shape.

And, Katysays.com has found that men seem to be more likely to "tuck" which is one of these biomechanical issues:

http://www.katysays.com/hamstrings/

I just read it. She says no one knows if one sex tends toward it or not. Cool blog though.

There is no research, but her personal experience is that men have a strong tendency to butt tuck. She tends to be VERY clear on what we know (research) vs what she suspects or posits based on experience.

likitisplit

http://blog.corewalking.com/pot-belly-stomach-pot-belly-stomach/

I wish they taught posture in schools. They still do in some English preps. I have to get after my 10 year-old for slouching. Arg.

Biomechanics trumps posture. A tight psoas is going to make correct alignment difficult, painful or simply impossible. Working on mobility in the area will help the body naturally position for efficiency.

megaqt

I'm 115lbs (I think? 55kg - which isn't bad considering I'm 170cm/5'7") and that's me. Slender everywhere, only my waist and tummy have excess fat now. Perfectly normal, we just drew the short straw in genetics. Either gain so much weight you balance out, or lose enough weight to lose the tummy.

It's not posture or anything else. Just fat. I can pinch a handful of the fat, and if I suddenly had it all removed, my tummy would be flat as hell.