You cannot target one area for weight loss over another. The parts of your body that you will lose weight from first depend on genetics and your body's individual composition of fat. The places you tend to first put weight on and store fat are usually the last you lose it from. If you naturally tend toward smaller breasts and larger thighs, you may notice a reduction in the size of your breasts before you see it on your thighs.
Fat Storage In Women
Females naturally tend to store fat in their lower body, around the hips, buttocks and thighs, says Patrick J. Bird, dean of the College of Health and Human Performance at the University of Florida, on the Scientific American website. As these areas are genetically predetermined for fat storage, most women find they are the hardest places to trim down during weight loss. In most cases, this is only likely to change when you are breastfeeding. At this time, your body decreases its fat storage capacity in your lower body so it can boost the fat cells in your breasts to aid milk production.
Breast Tissue
Your breasts are largely made up of adipose fatty tissue, says personal trainer Mamad Mossadegh on BreastTalk.co.uk. Unlike your thighs, they don't contain any muscle, so to help ensure they appear firm and lifted, you need to strengthen the underlying chest muscles. When they are strong and toned, your breasts will sit higher and appear more full and rounded. Check with your doctor before starting any chest exercises, especially if you have back, heart or lung problems.
Breast-enhancing Exercises
Two simple exercises you can do at home are the wall press and the palm press. For the wall press, stand facing a wall and place your hands on it at chest height, says Genius Beauty. Push the wall as hard as you can for 10 seconds, relax and repeat 10 times. For the palm press, sit or stand up straight and place your hands in the prayer position. Press your palms together as firmly as you can for about five seconds, relax and repeat 10 times.
Thigh-slimming Exercises
While you can't spot reduce fat from specific parts of your body, you can tone particular areas through exercise. However, if you are carrying excess weight on your thighs, the muscle will be hidden under a layer of fat. So the first step to slimmer thighs is doing regular cardio workouts to burn fat, says Fitsense. Running, brisk walking and cycling are great cardio exercises for the lower body. When it comes to toning, squats are among the best toning exercises for your thighs, says Lexi Walters on the Fitness Magazine website. You can do this exercise with or without an exercise ball. If you're using a ball, place it against a wall and press your lower back against it. Position your feet about shoulder-width apart, bend your knees and roll down the wall until your thighs are parallel with the floor. Hold for a few seconds then return to standing. Do as many as you can, gradually building up to two sets of 12 repetitions.
References
- Fitsense: Achieving A Flat Stomach
- Scientific American: Why Does Fat Deposit on the Hips and Thighs of Women and Around the Stomachs of Men?; Patrick J. Bird, dean of the College of Health and Human Performance at the University of Florida; May 15, 2006
- BreastTalk.co.uk: Breast Exercises
- Genius Beauty: How to Make Your Breasts Beautiful with Exercises
- Fitness Magazine: Our Top 10 Thigh Exercises; by Lexi Walters
Member Comments