Cathe (or educated crowd) need one more inch off hips

marianimal

marianimal

Cathlete
Cathe
(or educated crowd feel free to respond!)

Thanks to your fabulous (read killer) rotations over the past several months, I decided to try on the skinniest clothes in my closet. I found that I am about 1 inch off my hips from being able to wear the size 4's that have languished in loneliness in the back of my closet for soooo long.

My hips are where I have the hardest time getting the inches off. I know I can't spot reduce and I am focusing on cardio heavily but I was wondering if there are any additional exercises you might recommend adding to your rotations that can help tone the hip area.
It seems like the walking lunges have really helped. Anything else I should do?

Why are they called hips when they are so uncool?????

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
 
As women age, their bodies change. Hips typically get wider. This is not something that can always be fixed simply by dieting and exercising. I would recommend that you embrace your womanly curves instead of trying to get rid of them so you can fit into smaller pants. I don't know how old you are, but IMO, size four is not a "normal" size to strive for when you're a "woman". Some women are built to be size fours, but most are NOT. I mean, if you are older than 25 years old, size four sounds a little too small for most women. Heck, if you're 21, you should be elated to wear a size 6!!! Men like curves...not skin and bones. Curves are healthy...skin and bones aren't.

There comes a point where you need to be happy with the "skin you're in," so to speak.

HOWEVER, if you really MUST lose that last inch, a moderate amount of weight training, mixed with a lot of cardio, is the best answer I can give. But I don't really think you need to lose that last inch. Donate the pants to charity.
 
I just thought of something else.

If you know who Tamilee Webb is, and have watched her over the years, you'll note that while she's looked fabulous all these years, she has definitely "filled out". I have an old workout video of her when she was younger, and she was TINY!! Twenty years later, she looks fantastic, but I would say she's at least doubled in size. Not just her waist, but her arms, legs, and hips, too.

No, this doesn't happen to ALL women, but it happens to most. I just think it's sad that as women grow older, they somehow think they should still be able to wear the clothes they wore in high school or college. I think that's unrealistic...and one little inch isn't worth the stress.

Keep the inch, lose the pants, and don't make yourself miserable about it.
 
Hi, I wanted to tell you that those last few pounds are DEFINITELY the hardest to lose and it takes so much longer than if you had a lot to lose. Believe me. I think I have finally accepted that those last 5 pounds are not going to come off in a month. I was making myself crazy for a while there. It is such slow going, but it is going. I can see a big difference in my muscle definition since I started Cathe 7 months ago. That extra bit on my hips drives me nuts too. I understand what the previous poster is saying, however, I don't think striving for more progress is so bad. Also, there are tiny women out there who naturally wear a size 4 without looking sickly. Obviously not all women can be that size or should even strive for it, but some have the bone structure and genetics to support it. Your wanting to be a 4 may not be unrealistic. I just wanted to give the flip side of this. We don't know what your body type is like. Therefore, we shouldn't tell you that you should not bother trying to lose that last inch. It may or may not be a doable thing for you. I've had luck with lots of cardio, weights and eating clean. Sounds like you are already doing that. The answer unfortunately is time. Take care!
-Jennifer
 
I definitely sympathize with you. The hips/thighs are the last place for me to lose from but I've definitely noticed a loss when putting more legwork in the rotation and if I don't have a lot of time, I'll try to get a just floorwork section in here or there. PB Lower Body, GS Legs, and Legs and Glutes have awesome floorwork that really helps me. A lot of ladies do freestyle leg work that helps too. Do a search on freestyle rotation and you'll find tons of info.

Good luck, go for just a 1/4" at a time, don't worry about the whole inch.

Jeanette
 
RE: Cathe (or educated crowd) need one more inch off hi...

I just wanted to say that I'm 43 and a size 4 is really not that small. I wear a size 4 and I'm not even close to being skin and bones. As a matter of fact, I could stand to lose about 10 pounds. I am short which may make a difference.

As far as the original question, I've found that Kick Max and Gym Style Legs has helped me immensely in the hip area. Since using these 2 workouts, I no longer need relaxed fit jeans. I'm pretty much a pear shape and these workouts have really helped to bring everything in. I could not wear the stretchy jeans before as my outer thighs/glutes would stick out and look terrible. I am now almost smooth on the sides, no more disgusting fat clumps sticking out. Even my husband has noticed this difference.
 
I'm 25 but have had two children - so I've been through physical changes big time: but I too am a size 4 when down to my natural size. I'm also short 5'1", postpartum right now I'm a size 5, but I am by no means looking like skin and bones! I have quite the round buttocks - which also need some smoothing out!

For me what works is:

running
kickboxing
and heavy weights: PLB

I would try 2 days weights either endurance style or heavier lifting, and two or more days of a high endurance cardio workout.

GOOD LUCK! :)
 
I just want to say that I too am 41 and a size four and I to am not skin and bones. My problem is my thighs. I could wear jr. pants but my thighs are a little to heavy. I'm 5'4''and would love to have smaller thighs but just live with them! Though it makes buying pants a challenge. Oh, I have two boys which has spread the hips a bit!
But I'll take the hips and thighs any day knowing I have them.
Garilee
 
Marianimal,

I do not think trying to get in a size 4 is unrealistic - I think you are on the right track - I am 50 years old and have had 10 children and I wear a size 2 or a 4 depending on the cut. As a mater of fact, I usually shop in the junior department since I fit in a size 3 or 5 much better.

I do not consider myself too thin at all - I am 5' 5 1/2" tall and I weigh 118 pounds and I fill my jeans out quite nicely.

Are you a runner? maybe you could do more cardio to trim down your thigh area. I know that kickboxing does much to reduce the butt and the thigh area.

Good luck, you are doing great and don't give up!!

Cheryl
 
I am almost 51 and wear a size 4. It's not unrealistic. I am an endomorph and tend to store fat, whether I eat clean or not. I do cardio 6 days a week and heavy weights 1 day a week. The older I get, the more cardio I have to do to maintain.
 
Hi:
I am 48, a mother of 4 and gradmother. I am 5'4" and wear a size 4. I do not look sickly and it wouldn't hurt me to lose a few pounds.
My size fours do get tight occassionally and I have to really buckle down. But for the most part, when I am healthy and injury free and able to exercise regularly, the weight stays off (so far). So much has to do with your bone structure, and what you are happy with.
I would say If she was once a four, probably she wouldn't be "sickly" being a size 4 again. I think your best guide is how you feel.
 
I would suggest any kickboxing exercises which emphasizes on the lower body. Also, I would get PlyoX of the P90X series. I have seen a huge difference in my hips and that (side of the butt fat) from doing this workout once a week which emphasizes on the lower body and cardio. And finally, from Cathe's KM, her leg conditioning drills will surely help in the hip area you are referring to.
 
Hi there,

I am 54, small boned, 5' 5 1/2 " and wear a size 6 at the moment. Will be wearing a size 4 by April 1. I too have to cardio, 6 times a week for 35 to 40 min., with either 1 body part a day, or a full workout 1 or 2 times a week. It's harder to lose weight as we age I think. At least it does for me. Oh, and clean eating is a must! I feel great!

Good Luck with your goal, and listen to your body,

Janie
 
Run. Nothing gets rid of bulges faster than running for me. I literally can see those horrid little lovehandles start to disappear when I increase mileage. Better yet for the butt is walking on an incline on a treadmill. Plus some legpress/step ups and squats.
 
If you compare sizes today to sizes 10yrs ago, a size four today is bigger than it use to be. It isnt as small as one thinks. I am 36 yrs old and wear a 4/6 and could stand to lose some wt,
 
RE: Cathe (or educated crowd) need one more inch off hi...

Thanks everyone for the tips---

I was a size 4 about 5 years ago and then I went back to old eating habits! Eating clean seems so tough but y'all are right it is so important.

Catwoman -It could be that I'm trying to force myself into a size that I can't maintain but I'm approaching my 42nd bday and figured if I am ever going to wear those clothes again, it may be now or never!

cheryl-10KIDS!!! Wow you are an amazing woman! I think you just became my hero.

Thanks Chitown, RACH, Julie and everyone else. I'm going to incorporate that kickbox and I'll try that PX90 and more running. That's why I love this site. Everyone supports one another.:7

Thanks again everyone! I'll let y'all know how it goes. (Gee I guess that means I better go get on the treadmill now);)
 
RE: Cathe (or educated crowd) need one more inch off hi...

You go, girl! I know I'll never be a 4 again (I'm just not built that way - a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I was, but not anymore) :7 But it sounds like you are built to be pretty close to a four, so give it your best shot! Good luck, and I hope your get (or lose, I should say) an inch for your birthday present!

And, about Tamilee doubling in size: According to the old workout (maybe 17-years-old) video I have, and the way she looks on FitTV now, her waist is definitely MUCH bigger -- but absolutely fabulous nonetheless.
 
>If you compare sizes today to sizes 10yrs ago, a size four
>today is bigger than it use to be.

I soooo agree. Sizing is cut much bigger today than years ago.
I have some old size 6 jeans and jean shorts that use to fit about 10 years ago, but I can't even button or zip them up. There is about a 3 inches between the button and buttonhole.

However, I can easily side into 2's and 1's and petite 2's in today's sizing, but not in those old sizes.

My sister has always been a size 0, but in todays sizing 0's are like about 2 sizes too big.

Namita
 
RE: Cathe (or educated crowd) need one more inch off hi...

"Sizing is cut much bigger today than years ago."

This is so true!
My mother's wedding dress, (1955) is a size 11. She was (and is) 5'2" and 105 pounds, and it still fits her (and it is a very fitted, snug bodice with a drop waist).
But today her dress size is an almost perfect 4!

I like Legs & Glutes for tightening up the hips and thighs....it just works differently than some of the other work we do, and as someone else posted, "It really gets into those nooks and crannies!" There is a great pre-mix with KPC, also.

Julie
 
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