Pear-shaped women: when did you notice a significant difference in your thighs?

I walk long distances at a moderate/fast pace, and started noticing a difference a month after I started (before I kicked off the diet itself). Saddle bags have all but melted away, thighs feel stronger, calves are smaller, arms are getting more toned. Still have 10kg left but my body looks pretty good.

Genetics - just do the best you can. Your thighs may lean out, they may not. Lifting weights is a great body shaper.

I would do a lifting program if you aren't already (strong lifts etc.) and your best bet would be to try to build your upper body to sort of balance out your bottom half so it looks more proportionate.

Second the username thing

I almost never LIKE my thighs. When I lift consistently they look awesome in pants, but I'm never happy in shorts. They get smaller and shapely, but eh. I happen to like big thighs, but I've yet to master the quadzilla look I so envy.

I also get very small on top while still having excess body fat on bottom. It will of course depend on your preferences, but the best my legs have ever looked was when I ran, particularly sprints. (I still lifted and maintained a deficit). Lifting has done the most for my shape overall, but something about those sprints-my legs looked awesome. I was also ripped on top and completely flat chested... so...

This is of course completely anecdotal and it could be that I just finally got to a low enough body fat level at that time.

Well, there's noticing and then there are actual changes. My lying eyes aren't good at actually noticing or evaluating correctly. Are you taking measurements?

Also, the media can adversely affect our body ideals. There was a recent thread by a woman all down on herself for her 'fat rolls' when in fact there were none. Your shape may be perfectly fine for you.

When you say "walk everywhere" how many miles do you average a day? Maybe add some swimming to the mix? I went swimming for the first time this season yesterday - hooray!

Love the username

It's the last place I lose. In addition, it starts to look bigger as I continue to lose up top. I have to measure else I think I'm gaining but really it's just a rolling (get it?) loss from top to bottom.

I wouldn't say I'm pear shaped but I can say that stubborn fat areas exist on all body types even on people who are within a reasonable level of body weight.

I'm "pear shaped" and have been every size from a 2 to a 20. I was just a little pear vs. a big pear.

I've embraced it and worked on making my butt and thighs bigger (high rep isolation exercises for butt and thighs). My husband doesn't mind...and neither do my gym creepers.

Also, it doesn't hurt to develop your shoulders to create a more balanced look.

CovfefeCrunch wrote: »

I am a very bottom-heavy, pear-shaped woman. I am just under 5 feet tall and currently 106 lb, down 12 lb since starting. I am completely satisfied with how my upper body looks, but my hips and thighs still have some chub (for someone my size) and look out of proportion with the rest of my body.

My question for women who are at or close to their goal weight and have a similar body type is did you notice your hips/thighs slimming down at some point or will they always look out of proportion? I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to keep trying for slimmer legs or if I should just accept things they way they are.

As for exercise, I lift weights and walk everywhere but don't really do any cardio. Not sure if that would help.

You're about 5' tall and 106 lbs? That makes you quite slender already, though you might be able to lose a bit more weight and be healthy, depending on your build.

However, I think you might be viewing yourself in a very harsh light given your statements. It is natural and quite ordinary for women to hold weight in the hips and thighs owing to our hormones (though not universal). It is also quite healthy for us to have some body fat. You might want to talk to a trainer at your gym about your fitness and aesthetic goals.

bbell1985 wrote: »

deputy_randolph wrote: »

I'm "pear shaped" and have been every size from a 2 to a 20. I was just a little pear vs. a big pear.

I've embraced it and worked on making my butt and thighs bigger (high rep isolation exercises for butt and thighs). My husband doesn't mind...and neither do my gym creepers.

Also, it doesn't hurt to develop your shoulders to create a more balanced look.

This. I've cut down and purposely gained weight to build my butt back up BETTER because the thighs are just along for the ride. I've also worked on upper body a lot and have a more balanced appearance, even though I still measure like a pear: 32, 27, 40

Exact same measurements here...I put 3 inches on my hip INTENTIONALLY. Lifting has made me a FIRM pear.

crooked_left_hook wrote: »

My legs are the first place I gain weight, and the last place I lose it. My legs are always thick, particularly the top of my thigh, even I was at an unhealthy low weight. Weight training just makes them bigger, and pants never fit right. I've just learned to accept them for what they are and stopped wasting time and energy trying to change something I can't.

PS- L.O.V.E. the user name!!!

I'm the same. OP, I'm very close to your stats. I'm just over 5' and around 104lbs. I got down to 97 last summer and my legs looked pretty good in shorts (I weight train), but still had extra fat at the top and measured about 20". When I used to weigh 95lbs, they looked pretty good. However, with age, my fat distribution seems to have changed and I can't carry that low of weight anymore without my upper body looking skeletal. It all sits right below my belly button and at the very tops of my inner thighs and below the butt. I'm learning to deal with it. I still complain though. LOL

bbell1985 wrote: »

deputy_randolph wrote: »

bbell1985 wrote: »

deputy_randolph wrote: »

I'm "pear shaped" and have been every size from a 2 to a 20. I was just a little pear vs. a big pear.

I've embraced it and worked on making my butt and thighs bigger (high rep isolation exercises for butt and thighs). My husband doesn't mind...and neither do my gym creepers.

Also, it doesn't hurt to develop your shoulders to create a more balanced look.

This. I've cut down and purposely gained weight to build my butt back up BETTER because the thighs are just along for the ride. I've also worked on upper body a lot and have a more balanced appearance, even though I still measure like a pear: 32, 27, 40

Exact same measurements here...I put 3 inches on my hip INTENTIONALLY. Lifting has made me a FIRM pear.

Oooh! How tall are you? I want to see lol

I really really prefer a 26 inch waist. I've only had it when I got below 130. If I could get it back I'd be delighted. Hips could stay though. I like 39 as well. Same ratio.

I say that I'm 5'3...but I've been lying so long...I think I'm actually only 5'2!

My waist was around 26 inches when I was about 125. My "big man abs" have added that extra inch. I can see my abs just under the surface layer of fat...if that makes sense. I'm going to cut after lifting competition in early August. Maybe abs for winter??? That seems pointless.

I have always had thick thighs. But I really noticed them getting bigger when I'm just binging Netflix and binge eating. Couch potato really shows.