Toning Lower Body Without Increasing Muscle Mass

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  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,022 Member
    Lol, stuff like this cracks me up. Okay I'm game so let's look at this for a minute. So don't train your legs and let them atrophy. Since legs muscles are the largest in the body, it would make sense that they will utilize more energy. Now reduce that energy use since there's less muscle and activity and you now have a lower metabolic rate. So how do you make up for that? By eating less than you are now. But eating less lowers your metabolic rate even more. And so on and so on. Too bad the article didn't cover that.

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  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,022 Member
    Just a suggestion: I do heavy squats, deadlifts, lunges, and my legs are slimmer and more toned than they've ever been, at a heavier weight.

    Slimming legs depends on a calorie deficit (which can be obtained through cardio, but then also through food only)
    Toning is achieved by gaining muscle & losing fat.

    Direct leg work will not cause an increase in muscle mass in that area, unless you can a calorie surplus.

    This.. I lost a total of 7 inches on my thighs since I started incorporating squats, deadlifts & lunges with 70 lb. dumbbells while gaining muscle.

    Fat will make legs bulky & not muscle. This article is definitely wrong & pointless.

    EDIT: Those 7 inch lost are from last year & now. 4 inch lost & then 3 more inch lost from the last 3 months

    Why is it hard to accept that some women's thighs bulk more easily. Article is good.
    Legs don't "bulk" on calorie deficit. They may "swell" from exercise and water retention, but it's usually temporary. The science doesn't lie. It may take more time for a pear to lose body fat from their lower extremeties, but it does happen if one is diligent and consistent.

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  • LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo
    LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo Posts: 3,634 Member
    Why is it hard to accept that some women's thighs bulk more easily. Article is good.

    LOL.. The only reason it gets bulk is because of FAT. I also carry more fat in lower body & I noticed a difference since I did squats, deadlifts, lunges.

    You should be the one to accept that your point of view is distorted.
  • suziecue66
    suziecue66 Posts: 1,312 Member
    Why is it hard to accept that some women's thighs bulk more easily. Article is good.

    LOL.. The only reason it gets bulk is because of FAT. I also carry more fat in lower body & I noticed a difference since I did squats, deadlifts, lunges.

    You should be the one to accept that your point of view is distorted.
    LOL
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    They may "swell" from exercise and water retention, but it's usually temporary. The science doesn't lie. It may take more time for a pear to lose body fat from their lower extremeties, but it does happen if one is diligent and consistent.

    And I can certainly attest to this. I was on a hiatus of sorts for two weeks after three months of heavy lifting. The water weight was released from my body and the "swelling" went down so that I could actually see my muscle more. It was quite a difference. And now that I'm picking the weights back up, I expect this water to come back. However, the fat is burning. And my legs and butt are taking on a more "toned" appearance. I have dropped an inch in my thighs during all this time.

    I will not stand for some uneducated person spreading nonsense to susceptible women on here to fear working their lower body with heavy weights. It's absolute nonsense.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,022 Member
    They may "swell" from exercise and water retention, but it's usually temporary. The science doesn't lie. It may take more time for a pear to lose body fat from their lower extremeties, but it does happen if one is diligent and consistent.

    And I can certainly attest to this. I was on a hiatus of sorts for two weeks after three months of heavy lifting. The water weight was released from my body and the "swelling" went down so that I could actually see my muscle more. It was quite a difference. And now that I'm picking the weights back up, I expect this water to come back. However, the fat is burning. And my legs and butt are taking on a more "toned" appearance. I have dropped an inch in my thighs during all this time.

    I will not stand for some uneducated person spreading nonsense to susceptible women on here to fear working their lower body with heavy weights. It's absolute nonsense.
    I've told you I love you right?:wink:

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group FitnessTrainer
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  • Mompanda4
    Mompanda4 Posts: 869 Member
    Bump
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    I've told you I love you right?:wink:

    Yes :) Love you back :bigsmile:
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    I've done weights for years and the only thing that ever happened to me is some really nice definition and toning. I don't think I could bulk up even if I wanted to! I think for women it takes some extreme training and supplementation to get that to happen. A normal, moderate routine won't turn you into a beast. I would highly recommend weight training for ALL body types! Looks great and it's so good for your health, too! :flowerforyou:
  • Marks281172
    Marks281172 Posts: 127 Member
    Bobbins!

    As a 305lb powerlifter i squatted over 550lbs and had no definition on my legs at all (go figure.. only 35% BF, fairly strong legs but no visibility in the quads.. i wonder why! :) ) .. ok so i couldnt walk more than 1/4 mile without being in pain but hell i could ride 10 plates to the hole for 1 rep! now as a 220lb'er focusing on overall fitness, only squatting up to 250lbs and running 5k's around 26mins (hey im still 220lbs...gimme a break :) ) the seperations in my quads and also the split in my calves are clearly visible.

    Therefore we can conclude that if squatting lighter gives you defined legs, no squatting at all would rip you up nicely. Also cardio bulks you up as you can see my muscles now and couldnt when i wasnt doing cardio.

    Its Science!
  • kirstyg1980
    kirstyg1980 Posts: 302
    currently squatting 132lbs and my legs are getting smaller
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    Since I have sore knees, from years of jumping out of waaaambulances, I walk A LOT (on all types of terrain) and I swim and do water aerobics. I wish I had before and after pics. My legs look amazing for being 50 years old! :)
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    currently squatting 132lbs and my legs are getting smaller

    Good for you. That's not true of everybody. Can you accept that?
  • hippychickuk
    hippychickuk Posts: 93 Member
    If you want to lose muscle mass in your legs...
    Why would anyone want to lose muscle mass anywhere?

    Yeah, why?
  • Ely82010
    Ely82010 Posts: 1,998 Member
    bump
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    I've done weights for years and the only thing that ever happened to me is some really nice definition and toning. I don't think I could bulk up even if I wanted to! I think for women it takes some extreme training and supplementation to get that to happen. A normal, moderate routine won't turn you into a beast. I would highly recommend weight training for ALL body types! Looks great and it's so good for your health, too! :flowerforyou:

    The women who care about this are not concerned about bulking up. They're concerned about an increase in size of any kind in certain areas. This can happen through regular weight training.

    As with dieting, people have different goals and sometimes need to use different approaches. It comes down to individual physiology, but a man who is exercising for strength trains differently from a man who seeks to look as pumped as possible.

    I can only assume that this odd idea that every woman will get the same results is due to the still fairly small number of women who use weights.
  • Lozze
    Lozze Posts: 1,917 Member
    Good for you. That's not true of everybody. Can you accept that?

    Wrong. They get bigger initially but they then drop like woah.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,022 Member
    The women who care about this are not concerned about bulking up. They're concerned about an increase in size of any kind in certain areas. This can happen through regular weight training.

    As with dieting, people have different goals and sometimes need to use different approaches. It comes down to individual physiology, but a man who is exercising for strength trains differently from a man who seeks to look as pumped as possible.

    I can only assume that this odd idea that every woman will get the same results is due to the still fairly small number of women who use weights.
    Define "bulking up". I don't think you really understand the term.

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