Stubborn Fat on Thighs

elmiller9

Any tips on how to remove stubborn fat on your thighs? I’m already doing 20/30 minutes of thigh exercises (side leg raises, wide squats, ect with bands) but I’m not really seeing results (apart from my booty). I’m losing weight everywhere else but my legs (I also workout on the elliptical trainer a couple of times a week).

Lenala13

Unfortunately, it’s mostly genetics that determines how you lose/gain. I’m very much a pear shaped person, so my waist is one of the last places I gain, and my thighs are the last to go when losing. What worked for me was lifting to recomp a bit. Add muscle to my upper body to look more proportional. The lowest I’ve ever been is in the mid 130’s (I’m 5’9) and I remember still not really having that mythical thigh gap (and cellulite was still visible when I sat down). It is what it is.

RunsWithBees

When I initially lost weight and only walked for exercise, my thighs were still quite big (my hips are wide so there’s a genetic limit to how slim they are gonna get) But once I started running up and down hills and mountains, that indeed slimmed my thighs down and built up my lower legs with muscle. My legs are muscular and more evenly balanced now. I suggest a few years of trail running

Noreenmarie1234

I have the opposite problem! If I lose, it comes off my thighs first! Like everyone says you cant spot reduce, but I noticed ever since I started biking and using the elliptical 1-2 hour every day my thighs got even slimmer while maintaining the same weight. (Which I am trying to change because now they are too thin for my liking)

EliseTK1

Genetics: they're like roulette. I worked out hard for years and still had huge thighs. The only way I was able to make my thighs smaller was lipo, and that option should not be undertaken lightly. It changed my entire body shape and made it so I gain weight in my arms and sides of my waist instead. Lipo is not the quick fix people think it is- it is not weight loss, but body sculpting, and it takes 6-12 months for the swelling to subside enough to really see the changes.

That said, I have no regrets. I can comfortably wear dresses now without getting a rash between my thighs. But trust me- nobody else cares about your thighs the way you do. Nobody noticed when I had it done.

spiriteagle99

As stated above, it's genetic. I lose weight first on my upper body, last in my legs and belly. I have a bony chest and back but still have large thighs and calves. Since I run, they are shapely, but they are still larger than I like.

sardelsa

Unfortunately fat comes off where it comes off. For me building muscle and lifting has helped, I am more proportional and my legs are slimmer and more defined.

cbstewart88

Three things helped "tone" my inner and outer thighs quite noticeably: jumping jacks, jumping rope and yoga.

Unknown

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J72FIT

Typically the first place you gain it is the last place you lose it...

thanos5

J72FIT wrote: »

Typically the first place you gain it is the last place you lose it...

my belly agrees

elmiller9

J72FIT wrote: »

Typically the first place you gain it is the last place you lose it...

Ah, well that’s what my body is doing then!

ninerbuff

It's not stubborn fat. It's fat that's the usually the last to go based on genetics. What's great is that you TOTALLY get to blame your parents for it. But to lessen it, you keep lowering your overall body fat %. You'll still likely keep losing everywhere else, but the fat off your legs will reduce too. Also you can't spot reduce fat with exercise. It will tone up the muscle underneath, but fat doesn't burn off the body parts you workout out that way.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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slbbw

My thighs have been both the first place I lost and one of my last hold outs. Running and lower body strength work. Lunges squats jump squats, squat jacks, goblet squats, split squats etc. Side to side monster walks were super noticeable as well. Now I am trying to get to a much lower body fat % and the final bits are toning up. When you are cutting the final amount the deficit needs to be low, so losing like 1/2 pound a week, in order to minimize loss in already thin places, but again you cannot spot reduce so it comes off where it comes off.

Also, take pictures. If you view your thighs as your trouble spot you may be viewing them more negatively than reality. Pictures can help to accurately gauge progress. Measurements too. find an objective way to observe.

SummerSkier

the cellulite on my thighs was the last to go. And I admit I had to go a teeny bit under my goal weight to get there. But the good news is it DID go away. Of course I believe in running. Bad news is that my butt has pretty much disappeared also.. need to do some weight lifting..

Jthanmyfitnesspal

I understand that male and female anatomy differs in this. I shift the conversation slightly by saying that I used to do all low impact activities: Cycling, inline skating, elliptical, and swimming. I decided I wanted to be able to complete at least a short triathlon, so I took up running a few years back. (Well, for me it's more like jogging and I only go 2-3 times a week for 4-6 miles. Other days I ride or swim.) For the first time ever, my legs started to look lean. JFYI.

puffbrat

Since your question has been answered I'm just going to suggest taking a look at this thread that started this week.

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10751544/thigh-dimples/p1