Inner Thighs

mamaj2ht

I've been working out since Oct 1 and have lost 20 lb now. I've been in the gym doing strength training and also cardio. I've also been 5k training. I can definitely see a difference in my calves. My question is; my inner thighs have always touched and been really soft and not fit at all. What can I do to get them slimmed down and firmed up? They don't look any different than day 1. I'm so frustrated.

I weigh 179 right now if that is needed.

j6o4

squats

Contrarian

Keep training and reduce all over body fat.

MicheleStitches

First off, let me say that most women's inner thighs touch. This is VERY NORMAL! You have to be super skinny and/or built a certain way for them to not touch...so I wouldn't worry about it too much. That being said, everyone is built differently and have areas that are the last to go. Perhaps the inner thigh area is that problem spot for you. Just keep working out and eating right and as you loose body fat, you will start to see improvement.

I can recommend one move that really works that area if you want to exercise those muscles...but this is not going to magically make the fat in that area disappear...you can't really do "spot reductions."

Try sumo squats (also called plie' squats.) They really work the muscles on the inner thighs. And if you want to really feel the burn, add a little jump at the top of your squat, just be sure to land lightly on your feet so you don't injure your knees.

Edited to add video links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHEjWigk4_U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwTvpc28JIE

Cranquistador

YES/NO machine.

LindseyAlyssa

Reduce body fat, build muscle. Strength training with either body weight or added weight is also what will slim and firm up your thighs. And use measurements to guide your progress, not weight. Your mind might still be stuck on you "before" and not "during" your weight loss. Pictures are also great reference.

edit: I've also lost 20lbs+ and so far my thighs have only changed less than 2 inches. Like lower belly fat, my body would much rather hold on to it until the very end. So don't get discouraged, just keep working at it! My thighs might not have changed much, but my waist, muffin top, and chest have! Focus on the overall pictures rather than each individual feature. Baking powder tastes awful on its own, but you need it to make a tasty cake! :flowerforyou:

Serah87

Can't spot reduce, just keep at it and it will go away in time.

2spamagnet

Unfortunately, you cannot do anything specific to take fat cells off a specific area of the body (through diet or exercise). Your body takes it off where it wants to take it off.

Fortunately, as you lose fat cells, your body will eventually get there and start using those stores for energy. (FYI - typically, fat cells return in the reverse order from where they came off - last off, first back on.)

You can strengthen the underlying muscles there, in order to firm things up some, but until your body processes fat stores from there, a layer of fat will remain. I'm sure there are some good folks here who can recommend good exercises for strengthening thighs.

From your ticker, it looks like you have a way to go to reach your goal, so don't lose hope. Be patient. 19 lbs is a great achievement! 40 more will make a huge difference! Keep up the good work!

laughingdani

I thought thighs were supposed to be soft.

BeachIron

I expected pics. Totes sad.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Keep training and reduce all over body fat.

This.

Also realize that your thighs may always touch. Whether or not they touch is largely genetic.

mamaj2ht

Thanks everyone I will heed all of that advice!

DavPul

easy there tiger. you've been working out for a month and a half and you still have 40+ pounds to get to goal weight. let's just stay on course for a bit longer before we try to figure out how to change specific body parts

Sarauk2sf

Keep training and reduce all over body fat.

This.

Also realize that your thighs may always touch. Whether or not they touch is largely genetic.

^^yep

hollyanne572

Lots have people have said squats, however even when I was a complete gym junkie and did omg amounts of squats, I always had issues with my inner thighs. I only really started to lose that inner thigh fat when I started running.

ilovescarymovies

walking a lot and calorie deficit slimmed mine :flowerforyou:

hollyanne572

easy there tiger. you've been working out for a month and a half and you still have 40+ pounds to get to goal weight. let's just stay on course for a bit longer before we try to figure out how to change specific body parts

That is so completely and utterly rude, did it not occur to you that people may have been around for longer than you think? Not everyone has been overweight all of their lives.

odddrums

YES/NO machine.

I am so calling it that from now on.

First, congrats on the awesome loss! That's huge! It took me MONTHS to lose that much. As for your legs, just keep at it. Squats, lunges, planks, Leg Press, YES/NO Machine will help along the way, but you really just need to keep training to reduce your BF% and they'll firm up.

Contrarian

easy there tiger. you've been working out for a month and a half and you still have 40+ pounds to get to goal weight. let's just stay on course for a bit longer before we try to figure out how to change specific body parts

That is so completely and utterly rude, did it not occur to you that people may have been around for longer than you think? Not everyone has been overweight all of their lives.

He wasn't being rude. He was just telling the OP to slow down and to not have unrealistic expectations.

hollyanne572

easy there tiger. you've been working out for a month and a half and you still have 40+ pounds to get to goal weight. let's just stay on course for a bit longer before we try to figure out how to change specific body parts

That is so completely and utterly rude, did it not occur to you that people may have been around for longer than you think? Not everyone has been overweight all of their lives.

He wasn't being rude. He was just telling the OP to slow down and to not have unrealistic expectations.

There's nothing unrealistic about asking how to firm up inner thighs...

sarahrbraun

I expected pics. Totes sad.

cheer up!


#yesisquat # musclemama by crochetmom2010, on Flickr

and just for the record, my inner thighs are soft. and they touch.

Contrarian

easy there tiger. you've been working out for a month and a half and you still have 40+ pounds to get to goal weight. let's just stay on course for a bit longer before we try to figure out how to change specific body parts

That is so completely and utterly rude, did it not occur to you that people may have been around for longer than you think? Not everyone has been overweight all of their lives.

He wasn't being rude. He was just telling the OP to slow down and to not have unrealistic expectations.

There's nothing unrealistic about asking how to firm up inner thighs...

Spot reduction doesn't work.

mamaj2ht

LOL, you look great! I couldn't find the best way to describe mine but if I had yours I wouldn't have posted, I'd be happy! Way to work it!

lisalsd1

You know what's weird is that I read an earlier poster say that she didn't notice a change until she started running a lot.

I had been running a lot and didn't notice a difference until I started squats/using weights. So maybe the answer is to do something other than what you are doing; change up your routine.

I started with front squats with dumbbells, plie squats, leg press. That's helped. I've started using the adduction machine and super squat...I've also tripled the amount of weight I am doing on the leg press. My thighs are coming along...slowly.

mamaj2ht

I appreciate everyone's encouragement, thank you very much for that. Just hearing that I need to keep doing what I'm doing, and lose the weight, helps too.

mamaj2ht

You know what's weird is that I read an earlier poster say that she didn't notice a change until she started running a lot.

I had been running a lot and didn't notice a difference until I started squats/using weights. So maybe the answer is to do something other than what you are doing; change up your routine.

I started with front squats with dumbbells, plie squats, leg press. That's helped. I've started using the adduction machine and super squat...I've also tripled the amount of weight I am doing on the leg press. My thighs are coming along...slowly.

I've been considering a change lately. I'm actually starting 10 sessions with a PT soon and targeting thighs and stomach, so hoping to learn from that. I've only been running, not even 2 months, so maybe it will do it for me but it's still early. If not I'll at least have a combo of what you're doing and running. Something has to work right?!

sarahrbraun

LOL, you look great! I couldn't find the best way to describe mine but if I had yours I wouldn't have posted, I'd be happy! Way to work it!

it has taken almost 2 years to get where I am now. This is the first front shot I have done, but I have lots of back and side shots.

this was Dec 2012-April 2013


Untitled by crochetmom2010, on Flickr

not sure what months this is, but I'm pretty sure it was late winter/early spring of this year

Untitled by crochetmom2010, on Flickr

mamaj2ht

LOL, you look great! I couldn't find the best way to describe mine but if I had yours I wouldn't have posted, I'd be happy! Way to work it!

it has taken almost 2 years to get where I am now. This is the first front shot I have done, but I have lots of back and side shots.

this was Dec 2012-April 2013

Great job! I see a huge difference between the back shot, bottom left, to today. Mine more closely resemble the old pic but I'm still in the beginning. Hoping to get to where you've come.

cafeaulait7

Mine are hard, and they touch I've been working on getting them hard, and the pain is definitely paying off.

Yes/No machine is great I do other isolation work on them, too (I can't do squats). Mine take extra work to get as firm as I like, but they get there. Just beat them up if that's what you are after, lol. Lift as heavy as you can for them, imho.

mamaj2ht

Mine are hard, and they touch I've been working on getting them hard, and the pain is definitely paying off.

Yes/No machine is great I do other isolation work on them, too (I can't do squats). Mine take extra work to get as firm as I like, but they get there. Just beat them up if that's what you are after, lol. Lift as heavy as you can for them, imho.

Love this! What is this yes/no machine? My knees aren't good. I've been fighting bursitis, and also have tilted kneecaps that cause issues. What other work are you doing on them? I'd love to know.

Lift_This_

the bf helps me with my inner thigh troubles. :blushing: :blushing: :drinker: :drinker: