TUESDAY NEW MEMBERS. (Hi. Introduction, and some questions)

imJacksPGbelly

Hi everyone.  I've been referred to you from the NEY board.  BF and I are talking marriage, looking at summer 2012..  in the meantime, I'm really wanting to get in shape.. not just for the wedding, but beforehand too.  I'm being bad right now, by not lurking to see if I'm committing any faux pas with my post.  And for that, I apologize in advance.  If I'm doing anything specifically stupid, I'll learn quickly. 
(edit, b/c I just read the post that I should have read first, saying to put the title as "DAYOFWEEK New Members... sorry.  :P  I'll learn)

Bodytype: 5'7", very small frame/small bones.. so I'd say my ideal weight range is anywhere from 115-125.  It sounds light for my height, but if I'm more than that, it ends up just carrying as a lot of caboose.  So.  Currently, the top half of my body is in pretty good shape.  I do good cardio, I can run 4-5 miles comfortably.  The bottom half of my body... struggles.  my calves have started to develop since running more in the last couple years (I used to have chicken legs on bottom), but my arse is just hanging around, not going anywhere, and kind of takes over a bit of my thigh's real estate.

I feel very disprportionate:  I could buy a size 2 in tops, but have to buy a 4,6 or sometimes 8 in bottoms because of the butt. Getting dresses is a joke.   Some of it is structural-- my shoulders are narrow.. and my hips are wider-- just the bones, not even the fat.  BUT I want to find a way to tone my backside because I know that will help some, having muscle tone there too, but even if it gets more toned, I have a LOT of stored fat there, and feel like it just hangs down.

Right now I'm about 130 lbs, so within 5 lbs of my "ideal" range.. which isn't necessarily a target because I know as I get more toned that may change because of muscle vs. fat.  Point is, I'm not really that concerned about dropping lbs, so much as toning my butt and trying to target the fat there.  I know it's almost impossible to lose fat from a specific area..  that stored fat is stubborn.  I've been researching the hCG diet.. all the pros and cons.

Does anyone have any thoughts on hCG, or ideas of similar techniques for targetting stored fat?  If I diet, my fat leaves everywhere else first (face, arms, belly, .. boobs , even hips..  but the butt just sticks unless I really drop a LOT of weight.  And I don't really want to drop that much weight.  I think I'd start looking like a bean pole.  I'm thinking that something like hCG might help release some of the stored fat from my butt, so I can get rid of some of it without getting too thin.

If anyone has exercise tips for targetting the butt, or other tips for targetting stored fat.. please share!  Thanks everyone!

raynes

First off, welcome.

Second, and I'll come back to this, building up the muscle in your tush is the best idea.

Third, don't do hCG, it's stupid and doesn't do anything.   There's a post on either the 2nd or maybe 3rd page now about this "diet".  Terrible idea.

Because of our physiology, most women are quad dominant.  It takes more focused work for a woman to develop her glutes because we often shift so the power comes from the quads.  That's just they way your body is built.  Quad dominance often leads to "pancake butt".

That being said, there are a lot of exercises one can do that will help develop the glutes.

The best thing for you would probably be to start weight lifting.  I know, it sounds scary, but trust me, you won't get big.  Women don't have the hormonal makeup to get bulky.  And on top of that, it takes a LOT of work for anyone to get "big".

Check out Bret Contreras, he's known in the fitness industry as "The Glute Guy". (http://bretcontreras.wordpress.com/).

For getting started with weights there are a few books/programs I'd suggest.  I had a TON of success with The New Rules of Lifting for Women and am currently working my way through the Female Body Breakthrough.  Both are full body programs that put a good deal of focus on legwork.

brintae

Oh girl, let me tell you that I completely relate. Weight tends to come off of my face and boobs (nooo!) first and never my booty or my thighs. I feel somewhat unproportionate as well. I've found that when I do a combination of body pump (or some sort of strength training program) along with running (meaning running a few miles one day, sprint intervals the next, walking the next, etc.) and a clean diet, my lower half slims down. That's what work for me though.

TIffany Caldwell

My suggestion to you is to save the money you are thinking about spending on the hCG diet and put it toward some personal trainer sessions.  You are already a healthy person please don't do something to change that!  I know personal trainers are not cheap but neither is any 'quick fix' and the long term benefits are much better!!  A trainer will be able to teach you how to target what you want to fix and will help you build a base of exercises you will have for the rest of your life to help you when you need them!  You have time to save up for sessions so you don't need a quick fix (none of us need a quick fix honestly).  Just food for thought Good luck with whatever you decide but think past just the right now down the road toward your future health!! 

JZags

Everyone's suggestions are great and I agree with PP about getting a trainer. It's so helpful to have someone that knows what they're doing and can correct you if you're using the wrong form. As Raynes said, we have a tendency to rely on our quads too much so you may think you're doing squats correctly, or some other "butt blasting" move, but you may be using the wrong form and relying too much on your legs.
And I can totally relate to your smaller on top/bigger in the hips and butt area. I just try to look at women like Beyonce who is in killer shape but still bigger on the bottom than the top and embrace my form. I figure it's probably going to always be like that no matter what shape I'm in.
It's kind of like getting that gap in between your legs so they don't touch. Some women have that naturally. I have never, even at my thinnest (when I was really sick and skin and bones) had that gap in between my thighs. Like that, I've always had a bigger lower half than top.
Good Luck, you'll love this board! So many inspiring, great ideas.

PeonyPrincesskdd

I feel like I have the same problem.  Kickboxing and the Walk Video both  on Demand I feel have helped.  There is never a "cure" per say, but it has helped a lot. 

To burn the fat there you need to do cardio.  The walk video is great because she incorporates kicks and knee raises and side steps and lunges etc.  You feel like your doing a walk video, but she throws all these other moves in there as well.  Your getting the cardio, but also helping to shape and mold your muscles at the same time.  When I stretch, I can feel myself getting leaner. 

The kickboxing is great.  She does a lot of front kicks, side kicks and lunges as well.  But your constantly moving the whole time in almost a choreographed, set out way and pattern.  One move after the other.. like dance moves.. flowing into each other.. it makes it go by really fast.

You might not ever be a size 2 in pants.

You say you can wear 4, 6, and 8.. but not 2.  your hips might be too wide.. or the love handle area.. some women distribute some extra padding here.  It's not just the butt.. but yes I agree the butt can be a serious problem when it comes to shopping.  I hate jean shopping because my waist is small therefore finding a pair of pants to fit the butt and then fit the waist is impossible...

The jeans are always looser in the hip region causing them to have my under wear show if I bend down, so I need to wear a belt. 

To end this though, I have to say the cardio is helping a lot and I feel leaner.  It just takes more and more time.  Keep exercising and it will pay off.  You can't spot reduce... you can only burn fat while toning muscle via cardio.. that is what has been working for me. 

Once you got the cardio part down, add in some weight training.  I agree that the weights will help as well.  But you have to have proper form, which makes it hard for some beginners so maybe look into the books Raynes suggested.  Dead lifts are one exercise in mind that really works the glutes if you use proper form.