Why are the back of my thighs so hard to tone?

rachaelbarton

I work out regularly, both weight training and running. I try to incorporate a good mixture of weights for my legs into my routine, but why do the back of my thighs look so...blah? They're not terrible, just not great, especially at the top near my butt. I feel like they don't reflect the amount of work I feel like I'm putting in. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have a little bit of cellulite beginning to show up and I'd like to nip it in the bud.

Cherimoose

Heavy lifting usually minimizes that. How much do you squat and deadlift? And how many sets & reps of each?

rachaelbarton

I use the preoloaded bars at my gym because the others always seem to be in use. For deadlifts I do 3 sets of 12 with the 90 lb bar. I feel like I could lift quite a bit more, but just fyi I am nursing what I believe to be a hamstring strain. For squats I use anything from the 40 lb bar to the 60.

Momjogger

The back of my legs are the best part and I don't know why, but I can tell you what I do, so maybe it will help? I spin twice and week, Zumba twice a week, and take an interval training class twice a week (weights and aerobics - lots of jumping and jumping jacks and kicking). I also lift free weights once or twice a week and do standing leg lifts in between upper body sets. In the spring, summer, and fall I replace about four of my classes with running. I do dead lifts, squats, and lunges - a lot of them (usually during my classes - I am not good at doing them n my own). I also try to get in 10 minutes on the stair master (43 flights of stairs) once or twice a week, but that is intermittent. My legs have always been my better body part though...my stomach on the other hand will never be flat...but I think all of this exercising, while not making me skinny or ultra athletic looking, has surely improved my overall figure. I think strength training has helped the most. I would just be careful with the heavier stuff for your lower body like the sled machine and the squat bars because there have been a lot of articles about those types of machines and heavy weights causing injuries. I like squatting with no weights - higher reps, and using hand held free weights for lunges and dead lifts.

meshashesha2012

Cellulite is genetic, blame your parents