Advice please

You can't spot reduce, but lift heavy things.

ceoverturf wrote: »

Body's gonna lose fat wherever it wants...no way to make it go from one area over another.

Just gotta lose weight overall by eating at a calorie deficit, and add in weights to keep the muscle mass you do have.

Yep^

First of all, gorgeous picture you have attached to your OP! Love the dress and you look stunning. However, I get that we all focus on our "flaws" and I know I sound like a broken-record on this site, but I too once thought I was doomed to be pear shaped for life with cellulite on my thighs. Then, I discovered heavy lifting. Completely changed my shape! I am now proportionate, can wear shorts with confidence and I don't have to rely on cardio to keep me in this form.

Start a serious lifting program, honestly! And by 'serious" I just mean an actual program so that you have a routine, hit all the major muscle groups, and remember to keep adding on and challenging yourself.

gonnaloseit4ever wrote: »

Thank you so much! I've just never lifted before. I know that it is definitely the missing piece, it just seems so intimidating. I don't want to hurt myself or get too bulky. But I am so excited to try it!

Start slow. Work on form first. You will not build muscle (get bulky) if you are eating in a calorie deficit.

gonnaloseit4ever wrote: »

Even when I was at my lightest, they are still thicker.. I understand how losing weight works, this question was in regards to targeting a toning area.. Different exercises that target these areas for example..

You're not listening. There ARE no exercises that will tone or reduce any specific area. If you are genetically predisposed to carry a little more heft in the lower part of your body (like me) then you are genetically predisposed to carry a little more heft in the lower parts of your body. You can lose fat covering your muscles by maintaining a deficit and by lifting weights, but you don't get to choose from where. Your genes decide that, unfortunately. Just keep going, and you'll get there, eventually.

You look amazing in your photo. I have the same problem area. Strength training is where you'll get results. I have read many articles that say that you are not able to spot reduce, you have to eat healthy & stay within your calorie deficit to start seeing the lbs drop off. You need to realize that our adipose (fat) lies over the top of our muscles so you can see how important it is to focus on losing weight to start seeing definition underneath. Many women fear weights due to lack of knowledge. The only way you'll bulk up is if you're producing a large amount of testosterone (which I highly doubt)or if you're taking hormone replacement therapy (RHT) which will bulk up the muscles. You'll love strength training especially when you start seeing the muscle definition & start seeing results. Good luck.