I’ve lost 10 pounds but my stomach is looking more defined in a bad way. Need advice

Im 5’3. I’m down to 127.6 pounds from 138. With a goal waist size of 25-26 inches (like I how I used to be before developing hypothyroidism). Issue is I seem to be losing the fat in weird places. My stomach right above my pubic area sticks out like I’m pregnant (I am not) and my love handles & hip dips are even more obvious than they used to be. It seems I’m losing fat in my legs, hips, and pubic area but it is steadily planted on my sides & belly. So now I have the illusion that I’ve put on more fat on my upper body rather than lost it. I’ve been doing core exercises so I’m not sure if that has something to do with my belly looking so strange?

What do I need to do to even this mess out so I don’t look like a bowling ball on stick legs?