try pilates, ingridave2, it stretches and smoothes out the mass.

great ocdchick, while exercizing is good for your overall health, period, you have to reduce your caloric intake and if that is reduced a little, please select fresh whole foods if you want to drop weight quicker. Reduce sugar or cut it out except for what is in dark chocolate, that's a good fat with anti-oxidants. Eat lots of fiber, drink water, and you will lose some weight.

women and men store weight for different reasons, biologically, as womens store fat to reproduce successfully - even when they don't need to (lol) and men lose weight faster and thru exercise, where women must start with what is on their plates, as well as being physical.

good luck

peace,
nightbird