"Because of genetics, women tend to gain weight from waist down, while
men gain weight in the abdominal region. Fat is less active
metabolically in the lower body than in our upper body. The best way to
burn fat, no matter where it is, is to make the body burn it as fuel.
Isolated exercises may tone, shape and build muscle in the target
areas, but they do little about the fat. Thirty minutes of aerobic
exercise three times a week would help burn the fat and provide health
benefits. Working out for 10 minutes 3 times a day provides almost the
same health benefits as one 30-minute exercise routine. But - the
amount of fat burnt is not the same. This is because when you are
engaged in aerobic exercise, the body burns glycogen (sugar) in the
first 10 to 15 minutes for fuel. It is only after this that the body
tends to burn fat. This is especially important if you are trying to
lose fat in the bottom. Choosing an aerobic exercise that uses the
gluteus (the primary muscle of the buttocks) tones and stretches these
muscles. Such aerobic activity would include walking, jogging, cycling,
swimming, or using the treadmill. You could also try running, climbing
stairs and walking uphill. Doing exercises that involve the entire
range of muscles in the lower body is more efficient than
target-specific exercises. Combine aerobic exercise with exercises that
concentrate on the lower part of the body like the squat and the lunge.
Also consider a fun alternative, like dancing."
http://www.clearleadinc.com/site/exercise_lower_body.html
