I'm sure most of you know that an apple shape body type refers to those who tend to keep the most weight around their midsection/belly, and pears tend to store their weight around the hips/butt/thighs. From what I've read, apple shapes tend to be associated with altered hormone levels, particularly insulin resistance. So, I've been wondering if those who are successful at weight loss and maintenance tend to be more likely to have a certain body shape before and after weight loss.
My waist was much bigger than my hips before losing weight, so I was a definite apple. Now, my waist to hip ratio is .83 (29 waist divided by 35 hips), which is still a slight apple (apple > .8 waist to hip ratio).
So, my fellow maintainers, were you an apple or a pear before weight loss? How about post-weight loss?
I am pretty sure I was a pumpkin before! I had it ALL OVER! Now...I'm not so sure what I would be classified as, but my waist is definitely smaller than my hips. CONGRATS ON YOUR SUCCESS!
I'm not a maintainer yet, but I HAVE to chime in here.....
I am an HOURGLASS.
I have ALWAYS been an hourglass, at my smallest, at my heaviest.
It's just SO frustrating that there are only the two widely recognized body types, hourglasses really do exist!!! The Jillian Michaels website even recognizes us.
Maybe someday we'll be more recognized, and we won't see only "apple or pear".
Height: 5 ft 8.5" athlete who can give a punch & certainly take one too! :)
I was a ripe JUICY pear prior to weightloss. As a maintainer, I now consider myself a HARD pear (not ripe)- yanno one that is FIRM, (more taunt & toned from weightlifting) but still a pear nonetheless being I am a curvy girl!
lolcat, maybe I should have defined what I meant by apple/pear better. It really is just comparing your waist to your hips, and doesn't consider the chest. Most hourglasses are pears if we're just looking at the waist part down.
Maybe I should have just asked waist to hip ratio. If you measure your waist, then measure your hips. Next, divide - waist/hip. An apple is greater than .8, a pear is less than .8.
There's all kinds of shapes if you start considering the chest/shoulders. Like hourglass, upside down triangle, and rectangle just to name a few. I was only really asking about waist to hip (apple and pear) because that's what doctors consider to be of interest for health/hormone issues. If we're talking fashion, obviously all the shapes matter a lot.
Congrats on being an hourglass, by the way, it means you'll look great at like every weight
When I started and took my first measurements 5/31, I was an apple (but barely at .84) with a 36 inch waist & 42.8 hips. As of my last measurements from a month ago 8/22, (hips 39.5 & waist 31). I was an pear (at .78). I am much smaller now though, so I will rerun my measurements when hubby's home in the morning on Saturday and report back I'm looking forward to seeing my new improved ratio!
It is awesome to know that my risk for disease has been lowered. I also feel better, have more energy, and love my new way of life!! I feel a little sappy now lol
Fashion wise, I am a rectangle, but semi close an hourglass, with my last bust measurement at 37 3/4
update New measurements today=37/29/37.5= (.77). Still a pear
eta oops, didn't notice this was in the maintenance section. I'm not done losing weight yet, but it's still pretty cool!
Last edited by pinkflower; 09-18-2010 at 02:21 PM.
I am the same shape now as I was when I was heavy. Basically an hourglass with a slight trend toward pear (my shoulders are narrow compared to my hips, but I'm, uh, well-endowed so my chest measurement is pretty large).
I'm a pear, but a pared-down pear, who's still paring away diligently, lately through getting a little more serious about weight training. I can't quite get into that place where I serenely accept my upper thighs & calves as part of my genetic lot in life.
I was a real hourglass. big bust, tiny waist, hippy and a butt, as a teenager through aged 22, then I got married and started piling on the BIG pounds. Got married at about 30 lbs overweight.
During the heavy days, I don't think I had a distinguishable, describable nicely named fruit shape. I was just one massive fleshy thing. Huge boobs, huge stomach, huge hips and enormous, shelf like, enormous (yes, it needed to be repeated) butt.
And now, I don't know what happened. I completely lost my hips. Gone. My butt. Flat as a pancake. Boobs, pretty much history. Waist, I guess it's small, but since I don't have any boobs or hips left, you kinda can't see much of an indent.
Is there a fruit like that? Zucchini perhaps???
Last edited by rockinrobin; 09-19-2010 at 09:15 AM.
Were you an apple or a pear? How about now?
I loved your pic from before!
