I want to lose 10-15 pounds am 5'1" and weight 124 and 45 years YOUNG. : ) Well, I cannot lose any weight no matter what I do. I don't graze, eat pretty darn healthy (no specific diet...just being conscious of what I eat), drink water (rarely drink diet soda) and workout 3-4 x's a week. Don't eat fried foods or rarely any red meat or bread. Oh, and there's NO thyroid issues in my family or obesity. I just want to lose this fluff and cannot seem to do it. I am pear-shaped and no matter what I try, the fat will not disappear. I am so frustrated and don't want to accept "that this is the happy weight my body wants to stay at and I will look like this forever"! NOOO! Is there anyone out there with issues like me and what works for you? I have tried walking/running up to 3 miles on the tmill, Zumba, Jillian Michaels DVD's, etc. sigh...........granted, if I were to work out 5-6 times a week, that may be the key. Got any suggestions that would help please. Sick of my fat that won't go away. : ( Thank you so much.

In most cases, losing weight is 90% diet, 10% exercise. I know you say you're eating healthy, which is great, but are you also eating less than you require on a daily basis? If not, that likely explains why you're not losing.

Also, you likely can't change your pear shape much. I started off as a pear and I'm still a pear...a smaller pear, but a pear nonetheless. Your overall shape basically is what it is, sort of like your eye color. Exercise, however, will help to tone any flabby areas, if that's an issue.

Um, no............I really don't think I am eating enough. : ( WOW! Imaging that one and I am Italian! LOL Thanks for the suggestion.

To summarize your posts in this thread, you:

-- have no health issues,
-- have no thyroid issues,
-- are at a healthy BMI but fluffy and pear-shaped
-- eat healthy food,
-- eat at a calorie deficit,
-- don't drink soda,
-- work out 3-4 times a week
-- can't lose weight no matter what you do

Based on this information, it makes no sense that you aren't losing weight. Can you provide a little more detail so maybe someone can help pinpoint some issues? For example:

-- what healthy food are you eating?
-- how do you know you are eating at a calorie deficit?
-- how many calories do you consume in a day?
-- what is the difficulty level of the workouts that you do?
-- what different things have you tried to shed weight?

You did note that if maybe you worked out a couple more times a week, that maybe that's what it would take. Have you tried that?

Sad to say, but as women get older, we truly do need to eat less and move more than we used to -- just to stay the same weight. So while you say that you are eating less and moving more than you used to, it may just be this level of activity and eating defines maintenance for you.

As for the pear shape, I think it is what it is. I was a pear shape when I had a BMI of 32, and I have a pear shape now at a BMI of 23. I am extremely thin through my torso, and still heavy through my hips. I would wager that if I lose another 10 pounds, I will still have a pear shape. I would have to get down to a very low body-fat percentage to finally lose my pear shape -- if even then.

If you don't want to accept yourself at this weight, I'm afraid you are going to have to really analyze your food to make sure you truly are at a deficit, and/or you are going to have to increase your exercise. But be prepared that even at a lower weight, you may still have a pear shape, which ultimately you may just have to accept. I'm still working on that myself...