Diet & Fitness 

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Hip-slimming exercises

That's a common question. The bad news is that if your hips are wide, part of that is due to your bone structure: a wider pelvis equals wider hips. The good news is that if you fall into this category, you probably tend to be ‘pear’-shaped, as opposed to being ‘apple’-shaped. That means you store fat on your hips rather than around your waist. You will be at less risk of developing heart disease, although it can be frustrating finding clothes that fit well.

Unfortunately, you can't ‘spot’-reduce the fat off your body, so you need to adopt a comprehensive exercise programme to lower overall body fat and increase the amount of lean muscle on your frame. Work up to doing aerobic exercise three to five times a week for 30-45 minutes each time. You'll burn more calories the longer you spend exercising, so walk—don’t run—unless you can keep going for a long time. Cycling and in-line skating are other great ways to burn calories and have fun.

Floor exercises like leg lifts don't work enough of your gluteus (the muscles in your bum) to be effective in building strength and reducing body fat. Instead, do exercises like squats and lunges to firm up your lower body.

Why not chat to other iVillagers about exercise on the Walk It Off Challenge message board. Take a look at some of the LIVE discussions happening now on the board:

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