My legs!

CaffeinatedConfectionist

Taking measurements, though incredibly valuable, can be inaccurate, both due to inconsistency in when you measure, and user error. Try measuring again in a few weeks, as your measurements will change depending on your water retention and other factors. Had you worked out strenuously the day before measuring? Muscles will retain water after a workout, especially if you were exercising in a way that is new to your body or if you really ramped up the effort. Measuring in women can be especially inaccurate, given that our bodies tend to retain water depending on where we are in our menstrual cycle; if you're worried, try to measure at the same point in your cycle. If your diet was high in sodium the day or so beforehand, you will also retain water.

If you feel that your legs are getting bigger, it's more likely to be from water retention or inaccurate measuring than actual growth (though see below for some caveats). This is all assuming that you are actually eating at a deficit.

irmita0 wrote: »

Do not use weights, at least heavy weights, more repetitions is better to loose weight, because you are making muscle. I have the same problem on my thighs, I walk and go on my bike, and it is working.

This is not sound advice. Weight lifting, or another type of program that will progressively overload your muscles, such as a progressive bodyweight resistance program (a la http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle ) is an important component in retaining your muscle mass while eating at a deficit. Eating sufficient protein will also help you retain muscle. Typically lifting in the 3-5 (ish) rep range will help you build strength, while lifting in the 8-12(ish) rep range will help you build muscle mass.

Because you are (I assume) eating at a deficit, it will be very difficult for you to build new muscle. In most cases, muscle tends not to be built while eating at a deficit. There are some potential exceptions to this, the one most relevant to you (it appears from your OP, anyway) being people who are new to strength training and who are significantly overweight. People in this category are more likely to gain muscle while eating at a deficit. This is termed "newbie gains."

I would encourage you to take advantage of this as much as possible, because building muscle, especially for women, is NOT easy.

Unless you are engaging in an exercise program that progressively overloads your muscles, it is unlikely that you are gaining muscle. And even if you do start working out in this way, the amount of muscle that you will put on from newbie gains, if any, will not be a lot. So don't be afraid of resistance training because you feel it will make you bulky or some such. Many women appear to be worried about looking "ripped," but this is so not going to happen unless you are working (really, really, really) hard for it. Looking muscular is largely a factor of your body fat percentage. If you don't want to look "ripped," then you stop losing weight a bit sooner so as to retain a slightly higher body fat percentage to give a padding of fat over your muscles.

The most important factor in losing weight is going to be your caloric intake, rather than your exercise. That being said, exercise has a score of health benefits, and as I said, resistance training will help you retain your muscle mass.

I know I touched on a lot of points that you didn't really bring up in your OP, but I would encourage you to do some reading to help you learn more about the weight loss process, especially in terms of caloric intake, resistance training, etc. I have found these threads to be extremely helpful when I was starting out:

The basics: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

Calorie intake/the importance of accurate logging: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/872212

Building muscle & losing fat (the article referenced in the thread touches on newbie gains): http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818594

Strength training (why do it, how to start): http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/850719/strength-training-the-basics/p1

mkakids

I agree with everyone who has said to lift heavy! I am pear shaped and gain first/lose last in my hips/thighs.

When I started squatting as heavy as I could is when I started noticing a difference.