Squats for Pear Body Shape, Yes or No?

gabbyamor
gabbyamor Posts: 2 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello, I'm of the spoon/pear body shape...carrying most of my weight in my belly, hips, and legs, especially my thighs. I'm 24 years old, 5'3 and 153 pounds. My measurements are 37-31-39. Thigh measurments is 23 inch. I want to tone and slim my lower body. However, I've read on the internet that lists exercises such as squats and lunges to avoid for my body type because they would add bulk to my already naturally thicker legs. I also read conflicting articles that squats would help slim thighs.
So should I just avoid squats and lunges altogether? What would be the best exercises to eliminate love handles and slim my hips, thighs and legs? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! :)

Replies

  • 100_PROOF_
    100_PROOF_ Posts: 1,168 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    gabbyamor wrote: »
    Hello, I'm of the spoon/pear body shape...carrying most of my weight in my belly, hips, and legs, especially my thighs. I'm 24 years old, 5'3 and 153 pounds. My measurements are 37-31-39. Thigh measurments is 23 inch. I want to tone and slim my lower body. However, I've read on the internet that lists exercises such as squats and lunges to avoid for my body type because they would add bulk to my already naturally thicker legs. I also read conflicting articles that squats would help slim thighs.
    So should I just avoid squats and lunges altogether? What would be the best exercises to eliminate love handles and slim my hips, thighs and legs? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! :)

    You can't spot reduce fat from any particular part of your body. No exercise, supplement or food will do that. Your fat distribution is determined by your genetics and you will gain/lose it accordingly.

    This
  • toxikon
    toxikon Posts: 2,383 Member
    Squats are such a great full-body exercise that it'd be a pity to avoid doing them out of fear of bulky legs/booty. If anything squats will just give your backside a nice lift... which I've never heard of being a bad thing. :)

    I'm also a pear-shape (40" hips, 28" waist) and my fiance sure loves my booty and legs!
  • hungrywombat
    hungrywombat Posts: 47 Member
    I'm also a real pear shape - like others have said, you can't spot reduce. Eating at a deficit will reduce your body fat overall, but it will take time, and be prepared to potentially lose fat from your upper body as well. I tend to become tiny in the upper body before my lower half starts to slim down :( Absolutely yes to squats and lifting. It won't bulk up your legs. Strength training your upper body also helps create a more proportional illusion, if that is what you are after.

    And - learn to appreciate the shape you have, so you can rock what you've got :)
  • BeccaLoves2lift
    BeccaLoves2lift Posts: 375 Member
    I'm a pear shape and squats and lunges have both helped to tighten up my booty and legs. If you want to reduce your size you need to eat at a calorie deficit and fat will come of your whole body.
  • TrishSeren
    TrishSeren Posts: 587 Member
    I have naturally larger legs (fat goes there first) and I find squats and lunges make them look slimmer.
  • Silentpadna
    Silentpadna Posts: 1,306 Member
    The added benefits of doing squats properly is that the bracing of your core works your abs as much as anything else you can do. I've never had a six pack or anything, but it's getting closer. I will say, however, that since I began lifting about 8 months ago, my core as a whole (and including my abs) is much stronger than it's ever been. I have not done one single ab-centered exercise in that time. Not one. It's all from doing squats.

    Best lift/exercise there is.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    False. My starting measurements at 5'4" and 163 were 34-29-44. I squatted all through my weight loss and became 32-26-37 at one point and looked quite slim (I'm obviously fatter than that now but I gained weight back).
  • netitheyeti
    netitheyeti Posts: 539 Member
    edited March 2018
    I'm pear shaped, squats didn't make my legs bigger, exercise just made my legs more firm
    I'm working towards that again and I'm not avoiding squats or lunges etc at all :)
    I don't think I looked bulky - mind you, what made my lower body look thinner, in the end, was just a lower weight and body fat % overall:
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  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    If you're in a deficit you will get smaller, no matter what. If you're lifting in a deficit you will maintain more muscle which will give you a better look once you lose weight. You do not want to skip lifting thinking you will get bigger. In fact, chances are you will be less happy with your body and your legs may look saggier than if you continue lifting.

    Now, for those saying lifting doesn't make you bigger, that's also false. But you need to be in a calorie surplus in order get bigger. If your goal is weight loss and you are in a deficit, you will not in increasing in size.
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    You are my size almost exactly. I do everything in the gym. Squats and everything else.

    I know you can't spot reduce, but with taking 3 spin classes a week, plus other workouts of course, I lose 7 inches in each thigh. It took time but since my thighs were abnormally large to begin with, it happened !!!!
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