Leg work outs to trim down waist line

I was talking to my husband about wanting to trim my waist line. I don't have much to lose maybe 5-7 lbs to be at a good weight. But I do have some love handles. He said the fastest way is to lose weight over-all and working out on legs is the most efficient , quickest way.. So I've been cutting cardio and doing more weight lifting. Does this sound about right? I was also doing low carb but now I'm just doing portion control since I figure I'll need the carbs for energy for my workouts.

Replies

  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    He is correct that you would need to lose weight overall, as there is no way to pick and choose where the fat disappears from. I'm not sure I understand his leg work theory. But, increasing your lifting is going to help retain and strengthen your muscles and will help with appearances (smooth instead of flabby, in other words.) Are you doing any upper body work though? Be sure to do it in addition to leg work.
  • gelove84
    gelove84 Posts: 16 Member
    I'm pretty sure he really meant doing compound lifts like squats. If you want to tone up your body follow a program like starting strength or stronglifts. If you still want to do cardio do it after weight lifting.
  • nineteentwenty
    nineteentwenty Posts: 469 Member
    This is EXACTLY what I am trying to do. I've been advised to do squats, leg presses, stronglifts, etc.
  • VelveteenArabian
    VelveteenArabian Posts: 758 Member
    He's kind of right. The only ways to lose fat in a specific spot are surgery or overall weightloss (and even then sometimes the spot you want is the last place your body draws from). It's not the fastest way, it pretty much is the only way. The best exercise is the one you will stick with so a tough leg workout you only do once is not as good as a lower intensity workout that you'll do over and over.


    There no quick fix for this. Expect to put in at least a few months of work.
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
    I was talking to my husband about wanting to trim my waist line. I don't have much to lose maybe 5-7 lbs to be at a good weight. But I do have some love handles. He said the fastest way is to lose weight over-all and working out on legs is the most efficient , quickest way.. So I've been cutting cardio and doing more weight lifting. Does this sound about right? I was also doing low carb but now I'm just doing portion control since I figure I'll need the carbs for energy for my workouts.

    I think the reason he said work legs is because it's the largest & strongest muscle group, so you'll get more bang for your buck.
    He's probably referring to squats & such. Knowing that fat comes off overall & spot reducing is a myth & the fact that you're looking to lose < 10 #'s is probably why he advised you this way, but I can't help but to suggest you ask him specifically what he means if you're not sure :blushing:
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  • aescam21
    aescam21 Posts: 25 Member
    So what I have been doing is strength exercises at the gym , I go to a class and we use free weights , bars and it involves , squats, back exercises , curls , push ups upper body stuff... Im doing this class 2X a week and the other day I do legs ( squats , lunges , presses, calf exercises)

    Im doing 3 days for now to start off slow and so that I can stick to the routine. Not to mention I am very sore. I am not sure if I should add in cardio another day or just do weights and legs for now. I guess I just thought I should be doing sit ups and core exercises but I'm not . This is a new concept to me.
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  • aescam21
    aescam21 Posts: 25 Member
    Thanks!