Slim down and tone up in just 4 weeks by following the right fitness plan for your shape (20 Photos)
Kimberly Dawn Neumann on Jan 28, 2013 at 3:54PM
chime in nowIf you are, you're in good company -- with gorgeous pear-shaped celebs like J-Lo, and Beyonce. Pears tend to be smaller on top and bigger on the bottom with larger thighs, and a wider waistline and hips, and smaller shoulders. They can build muscle through fitness, but their muscles can still look underdeveloped. They tend to have a slower metabolism and can gain weight easily.
Shape-up Strategy: Work on building your upper body muscles (arms, chest, shoulders) to balance out your lower half and create an hour glass shape, says trainer, Jari Love. Pears should also strive to reduce overall body fat to give muscles a leaner look.
Your best workout combines aerobic activity with strength training, says Love. A great way to do this is by doing double-duty exercises that let you work multiple muscle groups at once (your arms and legs simultaneously, for example). “Doing high reps with a light weight also keeps your metabolism high after your workout -- so that you are burning more calories even at rest,” explains Love. Try the exercises on the next few pages three times a week. Complete 1 to 3 sets of 20 to 30 repetitions with short rests between sets (no longer than 60 seconds).
