How to Lose Weight on the Hips

Hips don’t lie, sang Shakira, and they really never do! If they’ve become a repository of fat, you need to get moving.

Across the world, women are more afflicted by the problem of weight gain on the hips. The reason is simple. Women have double the amount of body fat as men, mainly to be able to carry and nourish babies. We have no control over where the fat cells decide to swell and shrink.

But studies have shown that fat cells in the lower body, the hips and thighs where women tend to put on inches, are more prone to fat storage.

Weight gain mounts as we age and it isn’t easy to lose the kilos when you are older. If you are consistently gaining weight on the hips, it is important to identify the underlying factor(s) causing the gain. For some, it could simply be lack of exercise or excess calories in the diet. But those are the easy cases. Umpteen women gain weight due to factors such as low thyroid functioning, stress, excess estrogen and other hormonal issues.

To get the weight off, you will need to try a combination of diet, cardiovascular and strengthening exercises. Special efforts will be needed to lose weight after menopause. Cut down on sugars/salt, refined flours or grains, oily and deep fried foods, packaged /processed foods and instant mixes. Include fresh fruits and vegetables 3-4 servings in your diet. Take the stairs and keep yourself active and walking throughout the day. Include uphill walking or trek once a month.

Try these exercises to get those handles off your hips and keep them off:

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