How to Make Hips Smaller

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As men and women gain weight, they may become “pear-shaped,” storing extra fat in their thighs and hips. This can be a tough area to reduce size and tone up. Since it's impossible to "spot treat," or lose weight from one specific area of your body, you will need to burn fat all over, in addition to strengthening your underlying muscles. To help support weight loss and reduce your hip size, you'll need to make changes to your diet and exercise program to help you make your hips smaller.

How to Get Rid of Wide Hips

The best way to get rid of wide hips and make your waist smaller is to cut down your calories and do regular fat-burning exercises that tone your lower body. This can look like running and eating lean proteins and less carbs.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Incorporating Cardio Exercises to Help Make Hips Smaller

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  1. Include regular cardio exercises each week. [1] Regardless of what area of your body you want to make smaller, cardio exercises of all types will help support weight loss.
    • Most health professionals recommend including at least 150 minutes or about 2 1/2 hours of moderate-intensity cardio activities each week. [2]
    • In addition to supporting weight loss and toning different parts of your body, cardio has also been shown to help better manage diabetes or high blood pressure, improve your sleeping patterns and even improve your mood. [3]
    • Try any cardio activity like running, dancing , swimming , hiking or biking.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hips Smaller
    Go running . Running is a great cardiovascular exercise. It burns a significant amount of calories per hour and primarily uses your thigh muscles for power.
    • Running can build not only cardiovascular endurance but also builds muscular strength and endurance.
    • Professionals suggest running for at least 20 minutes per session to help tone and slim down your thighs.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hips Smaller
    Take the stairs . Stair climbing requires hard work from the hip flexors, quads and lower abs. In addition, this exercise burns a significant amount of calories per minute.
    • Add a two to five minute stair run or five to ten minute stair walk three times per week. Or try using the stair master at your gym for at least 20 minutes.
    • Doing stairs not only helps burn calories and fat, it's also a great exercise to tone your legs and buttocks.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hips Smaller
    Many cyclists are known for their great legs. Cycling is a great exercise that torches calories and is great for sculpting your legs.
    • Cycling works a large variety of your leg muscles including your hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, abductors and glutes. It's a very well rounded workout for your legs.
    • In addition, cycling is great for those with knee injuries or knee pain as this is a higher intensity, but low-impact exercise.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hips Smaller
    Kickboxing is an aerobic class that uses many moves from martial arts. It's great for toning both the upper and lower body.
    • Kickboxing is also known for burning a large amount of calories per hour. It's a great class to incorporate to help burn calories and decrease your overall body fat.
    • Kickboxing uses a variety of kicks that use almost every muscle in your legs. This is another workout that will help tone your thighs in addition to your lower legs.
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Part 2
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Incorporating Strength Training to Help Make Hips Smaller

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hips Smaller
    In addition to cardio, it's important to include regular strength and resistance training exercises. There are many exercises that can help you strengthen your thighs and buttocks. Remember that muscle takes up less space than fat, so strengthening leg muscles will only improve the appearance of your hips and thighs.
    • Focus on performing a high number of repetitions, working through a comfortable range of motion.
    • Consider doing fast exercises for your legs like jumping moves, leg lifts, high knee jogs and heel kick backs. Quick movements work different muscle fibers than slow movements.
    • Slow power and strength moves — like weighted squats, deadlifts and lunges — will work the rest of the muscle fibers in the hips.
    • Strength training exercises do not burn as many calories compared to cardio, but will help build and tone muscle mass. [4]
    • In addition, the more muscle mass you build over time, the more calories your body burns at rest.
    • Incorporate about two to three days of strength training each week. If you're focusing specifically on your hips and thighs, make sure you have a rest day between days you target those muscles. [5]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hips Smaller
    The bridge exercise pose is a common activity that helps tone your lower back, stomach, buttocks and most importantly, your hips. [6]
    • Lie on your back, bend your knees and keep your feet hip-width apart. Focus on keeping a neutral spine. Contract your stomach muscles.
    • Lift your hips slowly until you form a plank from your shoulders to your knees. Hold the position for three seconds and slowly lower down to the floor. Repeat 10 to 20 times.
    • To increase the intensity of this exercise, hold the elevated position and lower your hips down one inch (2.5 cm) and then move your hips back up. Do this for one minute. Then, lower your hips down.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hips Smaller
    Do squats . [7] This exercise helps tone your lower body but especially targets your hips and thighs.
    • Stand with your legs hip-width apart. Contract your ab muscles and place your weight in your heels.
    • Sit back as if you are sitting into a low chair. Keep your knees behind your toes. Do the posture sideways next to a mirror to check your form.
    • Pause for three seconds at the lowest point you can squat. Push through your heels and rise to a standing position. Repeat 10 to 20 times.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hips Smaller
    Do curtsy lunges . The curtsy lunge is a modified one-legged squat. It requires extra work from your hips to perform making this a great exercise to tone your hips and thighs.
    • Stand with feet hip width apart. Reach your right foot back behind your left foot as though you are going to curtsy in front of royalty.
    • Bend both of your knees and squat. Try to bring your right leg as low to the ground as you can.
    • Contract your muscles throughout and keep your back straight. You should not pitch forward. Repeat 10 to 20 curtsies on each side.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hips Smaller
    This exercise helps target the outside of your hips specifically. It's great for toning and strengthening the outside of your thighs.
    • Find a resistance band that is a small circle. Step into it and pull it up above your knees. It should have some resistance when you step to the side.
    • Sidestep as far out to the right as you can. Bring your left leg to meet your right very slowly. Sidestep back the other direction, allowing your left leg to lead.
    • Repeat between 10-20 exercises in each direction.
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Part 3
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Changing Your Diet to Support Smaller Hips

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  1. In order to make your hips and thighs smaller, you'll need to reduce your overall body fat. You cannot spot treat this area, so following a calorie restricted meal plan will help reduce the fat in your hips, thighs and overall body.
    • You typically want to aim for slower, more safe weight loss. This generally equates to about 1-2 pounds weekly. [8]
    • Cut out about 500-750 calories from your current eating plan. [9] This will generally result in safe, gradual weight loss.
    • Use a food journal or online app to get an idea of how many calories you currently eat each day. This will help you determine a calorie limit that will result in weight loss.
  2. There are a variety of dieting styles on the market. Studies, however, show that lower carb diets result in the quickest amount of weight loss and fat reduction. [10]
    • If you're following a lower carb diet, most of your meals should be protein, vegetables, and some fruit. This combination of foods will also provide you with enough nutrients to maintain a nutritious diet.
    • Include a source of lean protein at each meal. [11] Aim for a 3-4 oz serving at most meals and snacks (about the size of a deck of cards). [12] This will help you reach your daily recommended amount.
    • Also include about one to two servings of fruit daily (1/2 cup chopped or one small piece) [13] and four to five servings of vegetables each day (1 cup chopped or 2 cups loose leafy greens). [14]
    • Examples of lower carb meals featuring mostly protein and produce include 1 cup cottage cheese and sliced fruit, 1/4 cup of hummus with sliced raw veggies, or a grilled chicken salad.
  3. If you're following a lower carb diet to help reduce body fat and trim down your hips and thighs you'll want to monitor the total amount of carbohydrates you consume each day.
    • Carbs are found in a wide variety foods including fruits, dairy products, starchy vegetables, legumes, and grains as well as in sugar and sweetened drinks like soda or energy drinks.
    • Foods like dairy products or fruit offer a lot of other beneficial nutrients outside of carbohydrates (like fiber and protein). Include minimal servings of these. It's not recommended to completely avoid these foods. [15]
    • Limit the grain food group the most. Many of the nutrients found in this group can be consumed from other foods. Limit items like bread, rice, pasta, bagels, and crackers.
  4. Maintaining adequate hydration is essential for any balanced diet, but especially so if you're working out more often. [16]
    • Most health professionals recommend consuming at least eight to thirteen glasses of fluids each day. [17]
    • You may need more fluids depending on how active you are. It's also recommend to drink enough fluids to replace what you've lost in sweat during your exercise.
    • Choose caffeine and sugar free fluids like water, flavored water, decaf coffee, and decaf tea.
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How Do You Lose Hip Fat?


Sample Exercises

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  • Question
    What are some exercises I can do that target my hips?
    Pete Cerqua
    Certified Personal Trainer & Nutritionist
    Pete Cerqua is a Certified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist. Pete is also a five-time best-selling author of books including "The 90-Second Fitness Solution" and "High Intensity Fitness Revolution for Women/Men" published by Simon and Schuster and Skyhorse Publishing. Pete has over 20 years of personal training and nutrition coaching experience and operates the 90-Second Fitness flagship studio in New York City.
    Pete Cerqua
    Certified Personal Trainer & Nutritionist
    Expert Answer
    You can incorporate squats and leg raises to work your hips without machines. If you want more weight, then try doing leg presses.
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  • Question
    What are the best exercises to lose inches on my hips?
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Exercises are great for building muscle and changing the shape of your hips. To reduce the size of your hips and lose fat, a reduced calorie diet is the only solution. You must be able to achieve a calorie deficit to lose fat.
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  • Question
    I want to make my hips smaller and get abs in 4 months if I exercise daily is that going to be possible?
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Achieving these results is possible if you also adjust your diet and reduce your daily calorie consumption. Losing fat from your waistline will be the only way to see abdominal muscles. Remember that it is important to only make diet and lifestyle changes that you can maintain for life. Yo-yo weight loss and gain can be a serious health problem.
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      • Remember, it's impossible to "spot treat" any part of your body. A healthy diet combined with strength and cardio is the best way to reduce any part of your body.
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      • Always talk to your doctor prior to making any changes to your diet or exercise routine. They will be able to tell you if its safe or appropriate for you.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Exercise mat
      • Athletic shoes
      • Flexible clothing
      • Mirror
      • Resistance band

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      References

      1. ↑ Pete Cerqua. Certified Personal Trainer & Nutritionist. Expert Interview. 14 May 2020.
      2. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/guidelines/adults.html
      3. ↑ http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/adults/
      4. ↑ http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/adults/
      5. ↑ http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/adults/
      6. ↑ http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/bridge-pose
      7. ↑ Pete Cerqua. Certified Personal Trainer & Nutritionist. Expert Interview. 14 May 2020.
      8. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20047752
      9. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20047752
      1. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/low-carb-diet/art-20045831
      2. ↑ Pete Cerqua. Certified Personal Trainer & Nutritionist. Expert Interview. 14 May 2020.
      3. ↑ http://www.choosemyplate.gov/protein-foods
      4. ↑ http://www.choosemyplate.gov/fruit
      5. ↑ http://www.choosemyplate.gov/vegetables
      6. ↑ http://www.choosemyplate.gov/protein-foods
      7. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
      8. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
      9. Videos provided by NewBeauty Magazine

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make your hips smaller, try doing some cardio exercise you enjoy, such as dancing, swimming, hiking, or cycling, which can help you shed weight around your hips. You can also climb stairs for a few minutes several time a week, to burn calories and help you tone your legs and buttocks. If you’re hitting the gym, build some weight training exercises into your routine, like weighted squats, deadlifts, and lunges, which will reduce the fat around your hips and thighs. In addition to exercise, try to cut down on carbs and eat more protein, so you can burn fat quicker. You should also drink plenty of water throughout the day, which will help you stay hydrated while you’re burning calories. For more tips from our Personal Trainer co-author, including how to do squats and lunges to help make your hips smaller, read on!

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