I'm an apple shape and I hate myself what should I do?

Please don't hate your body shape. EVERYONE has things about themselves that they'd give anything to change. We need to learn to accept what we have and love ourselves for it. There was a great saying I heard not that long ago that really put a smile on my face:

'I love everything that you hate about yourself'

I'm in the UK and got it off Amazon. I'm near the end now and I have Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism on the way to follow. Both Jillian Michaels. If you look in the success stories people have posted photos of their results. I can't bear to post a picture of my belly and I don't think mine will be as dramatic as most anyway but my waist seems to be going in - which is good for the hourglass look and I've definitely firmed up around my back and have had to tighten my bras because they're getting too loose. My belly will be the last to go but I'm sticking to it and you can too

My abs are getting really strong too - I also have a hula hoop. Good abs don't directly get rid of a belly but a strong core is good for overall fitness and for your posture and everything.

This site is great for motivation - I'm really enjoying it I hope you do too and please love yourself!!

Hi, although I'm not sure I'm an apple - I'm certain I'm fairly similar. All the weight I carry tends to be on the tummy all out front. Although I have to say, my thighs and arms weren't too hot either. My waste is finally smaller than my bust but only by two inches and that's with 21lbs loss and working out more than I've even done.

I'm another advocate of the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. You say you can't change your shape? I say you can!
What the thirty day shred has done for me is trim in my waste and build up my shoulders so I actually am starting to get a 'bit' of an hour glass shape (waste smaller than hips and shoulders).

It is hard work and, like yesterday where I would rather have eaten my dogs dinner than do it, I still did it, and the reason why...? It works.

Don't give up. You can change your shape, it's just a bit harder than those that have universal layering of fat, that's all.

Hi Sweetie,
Well there is hope - apple shape can be changed - really it can, really there is another shape underneath there waiting to shine.
How do I know this, because I once had a waist and I don't have one now.
I have no back side, it's all on front as well. But as I exercise I see my waist coming back - and I've not lost much weight just increased cardio exercise and some stretching classes also.

Cardio - is what you need - and maybe some pilates. And LOW GI foods.
Talk to your doctor - get a blood test for Glucose tolerance and thyroid function - if you have issues there talk about your options with doctor - they might be able to refer you to dietician or help you with a medical plan.

If you want hour glass shape - and you don't have genes for bigger top - then swimming is the way to go - will build your shoulders and give you a defined waist but building the shoulders.

You are capable, and you are stronger than you realise.

Hang in there - it can be and will be better.

Cookie

IMPORTANT INFO
You need to lose the weight for your health first. Appearance second. Especially being an apple. I am an apple and I know from past experience that when the weight goes from my stomach I look more hourglass, then you can use clothes to give the illusion of an hour glass, check out some websites like Gok Wan, (link below) he gives advice on how to dress for your shape. Hating yourself is not going to help and will only make you miserable. Embrace your shape.

http://www.channel4.com/4beauty/style/dress-for-your-body-shape/apple/dresses-for-apple-shapes

I'm an apple too. I have no butt, and my legs are thin, but my stomach is big. I realized that it is one of the better shapes to be, because if you can lose that abdominal fat, you're good to go, plus you still have the boobs!!

Look at the positive... Breasts are the symbolism of femininity. You definitely have that going for you! When I am not breastfeeding or overweight, I look more like a tom boy. Wish I had more boobs and a shapelier butt!!! So I hear ya on the butt thing, but you've got the boobs girl! Work it where you can, and just buy clothes that make your butt look bigger! They sell butt pads ya know?!!! ;-)

I get that disliking, or hating, something about yourself isn't a switch we can just turn off and on, but If there's something you can do step out of the frame of mind, please do so. Putting that much mental energy into trying to "fix" yourself when you're already controlling the things you actually have power over is exhausting.

Celebrate your apple shape. Bake an apple pie, fit it into your daily goals, and give the crappy thoughts a middle finger. Then take a bubble bath; bubble baths are an end in themselves, they need no justification.

If you lose the weight, you won't have the extra fat. That WILL change your shape. You WILL lose weight from your tummy, hips and thighs. It might be the last place you lose from, but you will lose. Just because your are an apple shape doesn't mean you will always have chubby thighs or stomach. No, you won't be able to change your bones, you may always be smaller framed on top then on the bottom, but with the extra weight gone, you probably wont notice as much and you may not mind it at all. Apparently Angelina Jolie, Catherine Zeta Jones, Liz Hurley and Drew Barrymore are all supposed to be naturally apple shaped....does they look bad to you?

You don't have to be happy with your body, but at least stop hating yourself!

Also... Unless you already have a low body fat %, chances are you CAN change your body shape to some degree by losing weight. I'm an apple by body structure; my ribcage is a normal size, but I have no hips whatsoever. I looked seriously unbalanced when I was obese; not only was I bigger-boned up top, I also had more fat up top. I wore XXL tops and L pants.

But now that I've lost weight, I'm MUCH more balanced. I wear S-M tops and S pants! I will never have an hourglass body thanks to my lack of hips, but I'm okay with that. Look around... There are plenty of beautiful women (celebs, fitness models, swimsuit models, you name it) who have tiny hips!

Don't hate yourself!! There are lots of us apples out there. You're right - there's no way to forever change our shapes entirely, but I can tell you they will change slightly. I've now lost 25 pounds and for the first time in my life found pants that were perfect in the hips and lose on the waist.

I still have large breasts and a large tummy and can't wear shirts tucked in or, God forbid, an exposed belt. But, I'm seeing a bit of daylight peaking past my waist when I lower my arms.

There are few people in this world who are ever totally happy with their shapes. Curvy, skinny, hourglass - each has its plusses and minuses. Try to focus on your health for a while and see if you can get your motivation back.

Feel free to add me as a friend if you'd like.

The only way I was able to start getting healthy was when I had the epiphany that my poor self image and body hatred was contributing to me abusing my body. I decided that even if I wasn't the shape I wanted to be, I would work on treating my body in a loving manner. Love yourself, and the rest will fall into place.

Please don't hate yourself

^^this

I hope you can focus on something you LOVE about yourself, and then work on the parts you aren't happy with. Eating right and working out hard WILL yield results...it just takes time!

Everyone is right...don't hate who you are. But you can do things to improve your appearance. I'm an apple, too, and I lose first in my arms, thighs, legs...the places I least need to lose. But it is coming off the abdominal area, too, just more slowly. Losing weight will help you be more in proportion. And yes, your hipbones cannot change and will always be that size, but you can melt some of the fat off that area, then they will be smaller. Your bone structure is your bone structure; you can't change it. But you CAN change how much fat is layered over those bones!

As others have said, focus on your health first and foremost. As the weight comes off, you will find your body getting more proportionate. You may never have what you consider your "ideal" figure, but if everyone had that, the world would be a boring place! So don't give up. As someone else pointed out, too, your particular shape makes you more susceptible to certain diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Getting into shape and losing weight will help reduce your risk for those things. You can be more active and not be confined to a couch all the time.

YOU CAN DO IT! :bigsmile: