I can’t reiterate just how many times I have been asked this question by women looking to trim down their waistlines, while maintaining their curves. Couple this with the myriad of Instagram fitness influencers that regularly flaunt their trim waists & exaggerated assets & it is no wonder many have been left disheartened trying to do so, only to fail.
The truth of the matter is a harsh one, but it must be said. When fat loss is the goal, your body does not discriminate as to where it is going to come off. The more weight you lose, some of it will come of your waistline & arms, but inevitably, some will also come off your bum & thighs. There is no way to melt fat exclusively off your waistline. This is referred to as “spot fat reduction”, and it is a physiological impossibility aside from getting liposuction done.
Now, I know all this might sound depressing. But before you drop kick your kitchen scale, hear me out first.
Yes, we cannot lose body fat exclusively while maintaining our assets. Everything WILL get smaller. However, that does not mean that we can’t build muscle around said areas that will have you looking curvier at the end of your weight loss cycle!
This is easily accomplished by using a workout program, geared towards building muscle primarily in the lower body, and even more specifically, the bum & thighs. Building muscle, in addition to lowering your body fat levels over time, is what will give your lower body the look that you desire. Luckily for you, I have just the one that has been designed to do just that.
Understand however, that building muscle takes time. And lots of it at that. Once you have lost enough body fat such that you are comfortable with how your tummy looks, it is imperative that you increase your calories slightly. Doing so will put your body in a much better space to build muscle mass. 600-650 extra calories above your deficit calories will more than suffice (e.g., if you finished your fat loss phase eating 1,200 calories a day, up that to 1800-1850 calories). This will put you in a slight surplus (consuming more calories than it takes to maintain your current bodyweight), which is ideal for growing muscle while minimizing fat gain.
Do this for at least 8+ months, following the program linked above or something similar, and I can assure you that at the end of it, you will be curvier & stronger than you ever have been before. Practice patience. You will NOT achieve your dream body in 3 months or even a year. It will take years of consistent dedication, at least 2-4, for your body to really transform.
Learn to enjoy the process. The time will pass by anyway ?