When I was overweight I had an hourglass shape, albeit a thick and flabby one. Now that I am at a normal BMI, my shape has become -to put it kindly- "athletic." And it's not just me. Over and over again, in the photos of many of my weight-reduced sisters, I see the same thing - nearly straight between ribcage and hips. I don't get it. This is not what's "supposed" to happen, and it doesn't seem to have anything to do with excess skin (the skin around my waist is taut). Unlike many maintainers on this board, I lost a relatively modest 40 pounds or so, but the amount of weight lost also doesn't seem to have much to do with this phenomenon (see photos here: http://www.precisionnutrition.com/winners-july-2013 e.g. Sue, Lisa and Kathy). Maybe age? If you're over 30 you can kiss your waist goodbye?

I'm curious to know if any of you regained (or retained) an hourglass shape with a nipped-in waist after you lost weight, and if so, how old are you? While I know I will never look like this: http://affitnityblog.com/the-fitness...bethany-nelson, I was at least hoping for a waist-to-hip ratio of .75. Instead, at 5'2" my hips are 34" but my waist is stubbornly 27.5. Since I have broad shoulders from weight training, and my thighs are still "sturdy," the overall impression I give when naked is straight up and down (very much like the Grand Prize Winner Sue on the Precision Nutrition website). I know that as far as body issues go, this is a trivial complaint compared to those of you battling excess skin, dropped abdomens, etc, but it really has become a big pet peeve of mine.

I had an hourglass shape before gaining weight, and am returning to one with my weightloss. You can click on my avatar photo to see. I'm 48 years old, in menopause for 3 years. But, I wouldn't mind a more athletic shape, an am trying to lose my "pear".

I'm a bit less than halfway to my goal, but so far I seem to be regaining my hourglass figure. I started with a waist of 38 and hips of 43. Thus far, my hips have shrunk 2 inches to 41 while my waist has shrunk 7 inches to 31, which puts me at a .75 ratio and I'm starting to see an 'hourglass'. I'm hoping that trend continues, but time will tell. I'm 56.

My waist to hip is currently 0.77. Ironically, the shapes of most women on the Precision Nutrition site is the reason I decided to not sign up with them. I find them too athletic, as well. I had an hourglass figure before I gained most of my weight 5 yrs ago and hope to retain what I currently have. I am 48.

I do a lot of Jillian Michaels. She tones without loosing the curves. But I also have quite some troubles loosing in my waist. I may have abs now. At least I can do full sit-ups without a problem. But there is still that little pouch left over it that is very resistant.

I've always had an hourglass figure and I have a feeling even when I get to goal I will have this - it's the body shape of most of the women in my Mom's family (even the thin ones) we have big butts/hips

But when I was at my lowest, around 200 lbs, and about 30ish lbs from goal, I still had the hourglass figure - my ratio was .69 and right now, it's .68.

It might just be what your true shape is. Maybe when you weighed more, the extra weight gave the illusion of an hourglass shape??? Even before I gained a ton of weight, I had an hourglass shape - big boobs, small waist and big hips. And I thought I was huge

I don't see any of these women having an hourglass shape before the weight loss
In my opinion Sue's in between hourglass and brick, the 2 Lisas are apples, and Kathy a brick. I might be wrong though, body shape calculators tell me I'm an hourglass but I still don't know where my waist is

I've never been an hourglass. At my heaviest, I was an apple. My waist size was larger than my hip size. Now, I'm a banana. My waist size is 3 inches smaller than my hips. I am learning to embrace the banana! I kind of like having a waist now even if it isn't very defined.

That was my laugh for the day!! I've heard of apple, pear...but never banana. Good comparison!

I'm not maintaining but I have lost close to 60lbs. I was an hourglass before weight gain, at my highest I was an apple and now I'm turning back into an hourglass with a waist to hip ratio of .75
I'm 30y/o

I'm still a pear, but my upper body work has turned me into a human optical illusion because my shoulders are more defined. But the clothes measurements are true and I always wear one size larger below than up top.

Shannon talks about a change like this in one of her posts where someone was worried about exercise thickening their obliques.

I picked up the lingo from this Body Type Calculator

I still lurk around here!

I have no idea what my ratio is.

I am rather broad shouldered, have a large and long, out of control bosom, long and manly/muscular arms. I also do have somewhat of a waist, but then genetics and having twins that were over 6 pounds each, gave me a nice pot gut, and stretch marks that would rival a road map of NYC!

Without the benefit of lots of deadlifts, step ups, and squats, I have a butt as flat as western Kansas!

But, I have great legs! From mid thigh down. The upper is jiggly and is what it is.

I finally decided, I have the body I have! Make what you have the best it can be!

I thought I was an hourglass before, at my biggest my waist:hip ratio was .78 but as I'm losing weight it is falling from my upper body much fast than my lower body. Because of this I think I've moved into the pear category (my boobs are now 3.5" smaller than my hips and from the back it looks pretty straight boob-waist) and my waist:hip ratio is at .69 and my thighs are wider than my hips- trying to find pants is quite the challenge.

I used to be more of an hourglass before children. Now with weight loss I have not noticed a huge difference in hip to waist ratio. Still a rectangle. Thankfully I still have a bit of a bust but that is going with weight loss as well. I think I am done losing. Healthy weight now and things don't seem to be improving. Just getting more saggy and shriveled.

My waist to hip ratio is .94.

Just call me The Brick.