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“Excess weight goes to the legs”: reasons and doctor’s advice on how to cope with the problem
Solution for everyone who faced this problem.
Sometimes the fight against excess weight turns into a real battle. Some are trying to get rid of the tummy, while others are doing everything possible and impossible to have the legs of their dreams. Remember the main thing: you are not fighting alone! So, one of our readers recently shared her story, and we, in turn, found an expert who will help defeat the insidious enemy.
Reader’s letter
“Good afternoon! I want to share my problem and ask for advice. For several years now I have been wanting to start fighting overweight and try to put my body in order. But there is a nuance here. It is important to say how exactly I am recovering. All the extra weight goes to the legs, and I have no idea what it is connected with! There were reasons to start myself, but I do not know whether nature and genetics should be blamed, or if I am the only one to blame for everything. I stop getting into my favorite trousers, some skirts also become small, and I’m just tired of it! I want to stop feeling sorry for myself and finally figure out the problem, but for a start it is important to understand why only my legs are getting better? In order not to make mistakes and not starve myself in vain, I would like to know what this can be connected with. I am sure that I am not the only one with such a problem, and for sure there are those who managed to cope with it. “
To answer all the reader’s questions, we turned to nutritionist and endocrinologist Mikhail Zabotin for help. He explained in detail why you may encounter such a problem, and also gave some effective tips that will save you extra pounds.
Head of the Medical Education Department of the Basis Genomic Group, ultrasound doctor, endocrinologist and nutritionist
Causes of fullness in legs and hips
When it comes to what many women call “ears” and “breeches”, most often we are dealing with the so-called gynoid obesity or female obesity. Sometimes it is also called “pear-shaped”. In prognostic terms, this obesity for the health of women is better than abdominal or male obesity (android or “apple”). And to solve this problem, you will have to significantly change your lifestyle – the level of physical activity, habits and hobbies.
The main reasons for the appearance of excess weight on the legs and hips:
low physical activity;
overeating (especially carbohydrates);
chronic stress;
hereditary factors;
pregnancy and lactation;
taking hormonal drugs;
increased production of female sex hormones.
What to do if your legs and hips get fat
Step 1: adjust nutrition
According to the expert, the treatment of this type of obesity involves a whole range of measures.
A nutritional correction is required. It is necessary to reduce the calorie content of food, reduce the proportion of carbohydrates in the diet as a whole, and among the remaining ones, maximize the amount of complex carbohydrates.
You will also need increasing protein intake while decreasing salt content… Patients are strongly it is recommended to completely exclude fast food, biscuits, buns, ice cream, packaged juices. You need to give up nuts, chips and carbonated sugary drinks, as well as not lean on bread, peas and beans.
Food should be boiled, steamed or stewed.
A drinking regime is established: we drink at least 1,5-2 liters of water per day.
Before every meal it is recommended to drink a glass of warm water.
From fruits, the expert advises periodically to eat pomelo and pineapple (fresh, not canned), from vegetables – different types of cabbage, celery stalks.
Step 2: change your lifestyle
Along with changing eating habits, you will need to introduce aerobic exercise into your life. Constant physical activity should become the norm.
The attending physician or nutritionist can also prescribe vitamin therapy, which is selected individually for a specific person.
Step 3: additional procedures
If you are determined, then you may not dwell on proper nutrition and an active lifestyle. There are several more private methods of therapy:
cold and hot wrap;
effective, although often painful, may be massage of problem areas, anti-cellulite massage, honey massage;
Underwater massage shower, circular shower, Charcot shower and turpentine baths according to Zalmanov work well.
gymnastics is also recommended to maintain muscle tone in the buttocks, hips and legs in general (squats, lunges, kicks, exercise bike, stepper).
don’t forget running and dancing.