I don't know the science of it, but I do know that after being at goal and exercising hard for six months I had a 24" waist, 33" over my tummy, 36" hips and slimmed down to size four. Three months later I was still in a size 4 with a 30" inch tummy measurement, 34" hips and my waist had gone up to 26". I lost fat on my hips and belly, but gained size in the waist without adding fat. The muscles had to grow. I have read that that is common in athletic women, to lose the slimmer waist.

Shannon in ATL: Wow, I would give my right arm for a 24" waist but I don't think that's gonna happen, lol. I'm at 25.5" for waist and hips are 32" (size 2 in clothing). I think you're right about the waist measurement being slightly bigger on athletic women. The women I know who are all athletic don't have a teeny tiny waist. Good to know I'm not alone. Thanks.

YES AND NO. When my obliques started building up I noticed I had a blockier feel to my waist and it was larger than it had been *relative* to my other weight loss. But then I lost some more weight and it came off my waist, so my waist got smaller again.

I am a natural hourglass, so with my big rib cage and my big pelvic bones and my fat distribution I could add tons of muscle to my waist and not worry about it too much.

I think you look INCREDIBLE by your avatar photo

I do love this couple and here is their workout for someone who is naturally slender and wants more of a curvy silhouette -

http://www.fitnessblender.com/v/exer...get-Curves/9p/

VermontMom: Thanks for posting that link. I'm always looking for new workout routines and that looks like a great website...very helpful!

This question cracked me up. I have very weak ab muscles. If I don't really work them I look 5 months pregnant, no matter what my weight is. So the idea of "no, I shouldn't work my obliques because they'll bulk up" for me is humorous.

I guess many of your replies are for very fit women with low body fat. and Shannon your stats were very interesting!

But for rest of us, aren't obliques exercises going to help hold everything in?

I've been focusing on obliques and....wait for it....LAT exercises for the last few weeks, and WOWZA!!! I've noticed a huge difference!! Ladies, rock those lat pulldowns because not only are your lats stabilizers, they help slightly pull up your waist. Don't ask me the specifics, I can't tell ya, but the combination of the two have made my oblique muscles start to form under the fat layer!