Question:
Does anyone carry most of their weight in their hips and legs?

I am largest in my hips and legs. I would like to hear any advise from people on their success with losing weight in this area. I am waiting on my approval from insurance company to have gastric bypass. Thank you.    — Tammy M. (posted on November 28, 2001)


November 28, 2001
hi. I'm a pear... carrying most my weight in my lower belly, thighs, and butt. The surgeon honestly told me it would be harder and slower for me to lose weight than someone who carries the weight in the belly. Women especially hold on to that butt fat and it's were fat is stored on us. Fat burning exercise, lots of water, and patience are what my Dr said would get me to the finish line. Good luck!
   — Becky K.

November 28, 2001
I too carry the majority of my weight in my hips, butt and thighs. I had the surgery a little over three months ago and it's been a constant struggle to lose weight. I'm losing very slowly and most of the weight is coming off places other than the places where I need to lose it most. My doctor tells me it will be much harder for me to lose the weight and even if I get close to my goal weight (which he admits is unlikely) I'll still need to have liposuction or I'll look like two halves of two different people. My top half could look emaciated, but my bottom half will still be large. On the bright side I am losing, but it's frustrating knowing that someone who carries their weight differently is losing much quicker and much more easily.
   — Traci H.

November 28, 2001
I'm 5 mos post op RNY and down to 240 from 324. I'm a pear (with my lower stomach and hip measurements bigger than my chest). I lost weight in the top half first. The chest went down and the upper stomach. The wrists, etc. I stayed a size 28 for longer than I thought I should (but it really was only a month or so). Then in August I went on a business trip for the first 3 weeks of the month (I had surgery 6/26/01). I noticed that all the size 28 dress pants I had were HUGE in the front zipper area. I hadn't even noticed that I'd lost weight in those areas. I was amazed. I work out at the gym 6 days a week. I do the treadmill until I sweat, then do the nautilus machines and make a point to focus on those that work the hips/thighs etc. As a matter of fact, I don't think I'll need a tummy tuck. That area is toning pretty well. Still fat but no EXCESS skin. Now my thighs on the other hand may need surgery. That would be great, I'd love it if I only needed to get rid of the thighs and know that the stomach would be ok. Anyway...there is no reason that this needs to be harder for "pear shapes" than any other shape. We are ALL losing weight and we ALL have the opportunity to work the HECK out of this tool! I am so pleased with my weight loss. I mean, I literally get ENERGIZED now about going to the gym! I don't like working out any more than the next person...but boy how it makes me FEEL!!! I love it! And I love seeing the scale go down -- even if I can't tell by looking in the mirror just yet! Good luck and God bless!
   — Kimberly L.

November 28, 2001
Yes! Yes! I was close to 350 when I had my rny and I was wearing size 22/24 tops and size 32 slacks! I actually had a smallish waist and a flat tummy. Most of my weight was in my hips and thighs. I l lost 130lbs. (to date..). But, I'm still bottom heavy. I'm a size 18 on the top and a size 22 on the bottom! My boyfried calls it a vavavavoom figure! I feel luckier than some women after wls because I have nice, flat firm tummy and even if I lose another 40lbs., I won't need a tummy tuck. Also, my butt and my thighs are firm with no excess skin. I think having a shape like ours is a true blessing. My boyfriend calls me "Betty Boop". Which is a good description of my body. I'm hesitant to get any smaller than 180...which will bring me down to size 14/16....I don't want things to "fall" lol.
   — [Anonymous]

November 29, 2001
I'm pear-shaped as well. I'm 5 months post-op, down just a hair under 100 lbs, and am finding that the loss is much more noticeable in the upper half of my body. I've seen shirts of mine get quite big...but I haven't seen much of a difference in terms of my slacks and jeans. My surgeon seems to have every confidence that I'll reach the goal weight he and I have agreed upon--I just figure that I'll likely need plastic surgery for the panni and thighs especially.
   — CaseyinLA

November 29, 2001
Hi Tammy, I to carry a majority of my weight in my hips, thighs and butt. My husband calls me the plus size Jennifer Lopez LOL. I had surgery 4 months ago, have lost over 100lbs. I lost the weight in my back first,then in my arms, wrists, and face. Then I started to lose it in my lower legs, which was weird hehe. I did have lump of fat on my butt, which did go away, but I still have a large bubble butt and thicker thighs. My family tells me I look proportioned but I would love to lose the legs and butt. I was told they would probably be the last to go. My point, after rambling here is that yes you will lose it eventually, but the lower part of your bod is usually the slowest to go.
   — Carey N.

November 29, 2001
Hi. I wanted to give you some encouragement on this subject. I may be alittle different from the rest but there "is" hope. I too had huge hips and thighs. I had a tiny waist though. Started at 280 and size 26 pants. Now, after 2 years I am 120 and size 5 pants. Yes, the top came off first, but I now have a tiny butt (flat actually and I don't like it LOL) My thighs are actually the same size as my calves. I couldn't lose in my calves for some reason. Just wanted you to know that yes, it's possible to lose a big bottom. good luck.
   — Barbara H.

November 30, 2001
I have to ring in my 2 cents' worth. I, too, have always been heavier in my butt, hips and thighs. I started out at 232.5 about 15 weeks ago. I am down 50 lbs so far to 182. My beginning pants size was 22 (and just barely at that) and my top size was usually about an 18 or so. I am sitting here today wearing a size "M" sweater from Limited Express and size 18 pants from Lame Giants. Go Figure. I hate that I can't seem to get some of this "junk" out of my considerable "trunk".....but I'm hoping it will come along eventually. I look like I'm smuggling pot bellied pigs in my pants! :( I am dying to get back into a size 12, where I felt good about myself some years ago...anyhow....I don't have any advice, I guess I'm just letting you know there's one more of us out there in that pear-shaped boat! Keep your chin up, and we'll get through this together!
   — Jenper

November 30, 2001
Ladies...there is hope! I am a 17 month post-op ....and at the age of 51, I am no longer a pear! I'm svelt. I'm curvy. I'm proportionate. I, too, always carried my weight in my thighs and hips. Even when I weighed 125 pounds, I wore a size 13 petite pants. I spent many hours at the gym every week on the stairmaster and in aerobics classes working to rid myself of the love handles and other lumps attached to my hips, with no success. One month ago, the most amazing thing happened. I went in for a hernia repair (from my wls surgery), and like everyone else, I chose to have a tummy tuck at the same time. I expected the surgeon to remove the loose skin at my tummy, and to tighten up the muscle, what I didn't expect, was the incredible sculpting that he did on my hips and outer thighs. The lumps are all gone. The fat is all gone. I am svelt. It's amazing, but it is a little weird. It's like having alien body parts. They'[re beautiful parts...but I'm still not sure they are mine. I'm sitting here now in my size 6 petite straight leg jeans still amazed. I had no idea that a tummy tuck would do this. Have rich people always known about this? All those hours sweating in the gym with no result, and then my surgeon goes wack wack and it is all gone and I have this incredible curvy body. Anyone considering a tummy tuck, ask your surgeon what sculpting he will do on the hips. Anyone in southern California (San iego area)who is considering a tummy tuck, email me for the name of my plastic surgeon. He's an artist. A sculpture. Rodin. Life is good in size 6 jeans. :))
   — Anne G.

December 1, 2001
I've always carried the majority of my weight in my butt, thighs and hips. I'm almost 4 weeks post op and have went from a size 22 pants to a size 18 and there loose on me!! I can actually see my butt getting smaller - losing that "shelf" in the back is real nice!! However, my stomach seems larger. That used to be the first place I would lose my weight. Now it seems like it will be one of the last. But it's still only a month and I'sure it will come off too.
   — Patty H.




Click Here to Return
×