Tips on getting thinner legs?

GemoBunny

Does anybody have any tips on getting thinner legs (thighs especially)?

malibu927

Eating in a calorie deficit. You can't spot reduce, so the fat will come off from all over.

TavistockToad

malibu927 wrote: »

Eating in a calorie deficit. You can't spot reduce, so the fat will come off from all over.

This

Nerdycurls

Unfortunately, it's all up to genetics. I'd suggest doing workouts which have low weights and higher reps. You'll build muscle. Women can't exactly develop huge tear-dropped muscles unless we work out for hours every day for years or juicing. Don't do that lol.

Also-- and this is JMO-- after working with a trainer I realized I had a lot of unhealthy views toward female musculature. Granted, I'm not interested in looking super muscular but as my trainer told me "the slim look is overrated." He said it was better to focus on strength, reducing fat and overall health. If your thighs look bigger at the end of the day, who cares? Your body fat might be lower than the chick with stick legs!

cwolfman13

They will get thinner as you lose weight...unfortunately, we can't pick and choose where fat comes of first or last or whatever...but it will eventually come off. Can't spot reduce.

DizzyMissIzzy

So I know your pain, as I have always carried my weight in my thighs.

Unfortunately, there's no way to target just your thighs as far as losing fat from them. If you eat less calories than you burn in a day (not just from exercise) then you will lose fat all over--this will happen faster if you supplement with exercise such as cardio.

To target that area to build muscle, which will also increase how many calories you burn even when you're not working out (again, not just in the thighs but all over), I would definitely do some squats and lunges, with body weight or weighted (if you have access to the gym, definitely take on those barbells and dumbells!!!) This will increase your BMR (basal metabolic rate) so you will burn more calories at rest, and also give you some great tone so that when you do lose weight, your legs will be killer!

Brigit32

DizzyMissIzzy wrote: »

So I know your pain, as I have always carried my weight in my thighs.

Unfortunately, there's no way to target just your thighs as far as losing fat from them. If you eat less calories than you burn in a day (not just from exercise) then you will lose fat all over--this will happen faster if you supplement with exercise such as cardio.

To target that area to build muscle, which will also increase how many calories you burn even when you're not working out (again, not just in the thighs but all over), I would definitely do some squats and lunges, with body weight or weighted (if you have access to the gym, definitely take on those barbells and dumbells!!!) This will increase your BMR (basal metabolic rate) so you will burn more calories at rest, and also give you some great tone so that when you do lose weight, your legs will be killer!

This is a great post.

Also, if you do ballet exercises, youtube has a bunch of ballet cardio workouts it will help give your legs a longer leaner look.

ninerbuff

I'll also add that legs are the first place that overweight/obese people will build muscle on a calorie surplus even without exercise. Why? Because as weight progressively goes up, the leg muscles adapt by getting stronger and bigger.
It's why many people (like on the Biggest Loser) all still have a good amount of calf and thigh muscle even though they may have lost a lot of weight.
It's not that hard to lose the fat off the body, but losing muscle you gained in the legs...............that's a bit harder since you'd have to NOT use them at all for atrophy to work.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

jennb529

Nerdycurls wrote: »

Also-- and this is JMO-- after working with a trainer I realized I had a lot of unhealthy views toward female musculature. Granted, I'm not interested in looking super muscular but as my trainer told me "the slim look is overrated." He said it was better to focus on strength, reducing fat and overall health. If your thighs look bigger at the end of the day, who cares? Your body fat might be lower than the chick with stick legs!

I know exactly what you mean! I always wanted "thin" legs, but since I've been working out I've built muscle and my thighs are bigger than I ever thought I'd be happy with; however seeing muscle definition and less jiggle when I walk is amazing! I actually like my thighs now.

DizzyMissIzzy

jennb529 wrote: »

Nerdycurls wrote: »

Also-- and this is JMO-- after working with a trainer I realized I had a lot of unhealthy views toward female musculature. Granted, I'm not interested in looking super muscular but as my trainer told me "the slim look is overrated." He said it was better to focus on strength, reducing fat and overall health. If your thighs look bigger at the end of the day, who cares? Your body fat might be lower than the chick with stick legs!

I know exactly what you mean! I always wanted "thin" legs, but since I've been working out I've built muscle and my thighs are bigger than I ever thought I'd be happy with; however seeing muscle definition and less jiggle when I walk is amazing! I actually like my thighs now.

Sameeee!!! This is 100% true for me as well.