Fitness For Pear Shapes

I used to hate my big butt…

When it comes to body shape, I am a classic pear. And I used to HATE it. I mean, have you ever tried to find a pair of jeans that fit both your waist and your butt? It's a nightmare.

But now, thanks to the Kardashian effect and the rise of J-Lo's iconic booty, having a big butt is totally on-trend and I'm all for it! 

Gone are the days of me hiding behind baggy clothes. feeling self-conscious and working against my natural shape. Now, I'm all about making the most of what I’ve got! Heavy squats and booty band workouts all the way!

Pear-shaped women tend to accumulate all their excess body fat around their hips and thighs, and unfortunately, this can be the most stubborn type of weight to lose – it sucks! 

However, by performing exercises that burn fat and calories, as well as tone your muscles, all you juicy pears out there CAN lose weight. 

After many years of hoping I could miraculously turn myself into a ‘straight up and down’ or even an hourglass kind of figure (never gonna happen without a boob job!), I’ve finally accepted that this is wishful thinking. 

Instead I now make the best of what I’ve got and have stopped working against my natural shape, instead I’m focusing on getting everything tight, toned and STRONG!

Time to embrace your lower body and work with what nature gave you... when you’re at the gym then its time to hit the bar – heavy squats, lunges and deadlifts all the way!

Now I’ll admit it, I have found that in the past I have become OBSESSED with working on my lower body by doing a million lunges and squats, and spending way too long on the Stairmaster. And of course when you’re a pear shape then you totally want your butt, hips, and thighs to be tight and toned. But, you also want your body to be BALANCED, so don't neglect what's above the belt.

The problem with us pears is that not only do we struggle with thick lower bodies that are prone to packing on weight in this area (last year I was 9lbs up after a 7 night All Inclusive to Cyprus – ouch!), but we also suffer from slender upper bodies that are difficult to build with a small bust and tiny shoulders – it’s not fair! Now I know you can't change your body shape, but what you CAN do is create a more defined upper body to balance out your shape using targeted arm and shoulder exercises to optimise those areas. My favourites are shoulder presses, rows, tricep pulldowns and pull-ups.

And I know I say it again and again but it’s not just about how much you’re moving your body – it’s about what you put in it as well! 

Your diet has EVERYTHING to do with whether or not your workouts are effective. If you’re increasing your calorie burn through extra steps and a bit of cardio in addition to your strength training plan, then reducing your calorie intake will result in quicker weight loss all over, including trimming fat from your lower body. Eat nutritious foods such as lean protein, whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables. Drink ALL the water and limit drinks that lack nutritional value such as fizzy drinks and alcohol – notice I said limit, NOT exclude – a girl’s gotta have a life right?

So there you have it, my most effective tips for making the most of your perfect pear shape.

Not gonna lie, it’s been a journey to get to this point of body confidence, but now I’m fully embracing the parts of me that once upon a time I thought were ‘problem areas’ 

Moral of the story my babes - it's sooo important to make the best of what we've got and focus on the things we love about ourselves rather than constantly criticising ourselves for the things we can't change.

Let's wear those high-waisted jeans and body-con dresses with pride. And if anyone tries to bring us down, we'll just twerk it off with a little sass…because at the end of the day, life's too short to not love the body you're in. And during a time where butt implants have now become mega popular, you can rest assured that there’s plenty of others out there who would literally part with their hard earned money to have your #bigbootyproblems