If you carry most of your weight on the lower half -- especially your hips, buttocks and thighs -- and you have narrow shoulders, you have a pear-shaped body. The best exercises for this body shape are those that help tone and slim your hips, buttocks and thighs.
Aerobic Exercise
Daily aerobic exercise will help with overall weight loss. While it may be more difficult to lose excess weight in your lower body, overall weight loss is a necessary starting point for losing weight from any specific area. Professor of Exercise Science at Auburn University, Michele Olson, PhD, recommends 45 to 60 minutes of daily aerobic exercise to lose weight from a pear-shaped body.
Interval Training
Interval training consists of going to maximum intensity for a period and then dropping to a lower intensity. Follow the interval part of your workout with a steadier pace in the last half of the workout. Interval training that includes the hardest part of the workout at the beginning may stimulate your body to drop weight because of its effect on special weight loss-related enzymes, says Olson.
Resistance Training
According to Virtual Fitness Trainer, resistance exercises can help tone your buttocks, hips and thigh areas. These exercises may make your muscles stronger and help burn away fat, making your pear-shaped body appear leaner. Walking lunges are a simple toner for the lower body that you can do without special equipment.
Pilates
Pilates is an exercise system that focuses on working your core muscles. Essential Pilates exercises such as side kicks, swimming and leg kick backs target your core muscles, including your abdominal area, hips, thighs and buttocks. Use a magic circle -- a special piece of Pilates equipment -- to target your inner thighs, an area that may be challenging for many people with pear-shaped bodies.
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