Legs.. help?

Dona_Donda

OK... So my issue with weight loss/gain has always been my legs. They are disproportinally sized for my body. I try to focus on them sometimes for weight loss but it often just results in new leg muscles that just make them bigger. Is there any way to target fat burn on my legs?
I'm pretty serious about weight loss right now. I'm doing it healthily and have lost 10lbs. To my surprise though my leggs are actually getting thicker! Harder from the muscle, but undeniably thicker.
I would love some real advice on this.

booksavvybabe

for lean muscle and fat burn, have you tried pilates or yoga? Both pilates and yoga help lengthen and stretch the muscles while working them out, may be a good alternative for you to try.

Dona_Donda

I have never tried either. Mostly from embarassment. I'm extremely self-conscious of my size when exercising. (5'8, 207lbs)... but I may start with pilates or Yoga in the morning before work.

Thank you! )

P.S Sorry about the million typos in my post.

Anna800

I bet if you lost another 30 lbs, you'd like your legs better.

Ready2BHealthyNFit

My legs always seem to get bigger too. I am currently doing Tracy Anderson's method (the mat workout). My legs have slimmed up quite a bit. You could try that, or try Yoga... I've heard that helps to lengthen the muscles a lot.

Dona_Donda

I bet if you lost another 30 lbs, you'd like your legs better.

If I lost the weight everything would look better but thanks for that comment. I'm looking for advice on targeting my leg fat. You're clearly not the first person to tell me to loose weight.

Dona_Donda

My legs always seem to get bigger too. I am currently doing Tracy Anderson's method (the mat workout). My legs have slimmed up quite a bit. You could try that, or try Yoga... I've heard that helps to lengthen the muscles a lot.

I never even thought of the Tracy Anderson method. I can't say it's not the firt time someone has suggested Yoga but I feel extremely awkward doing it. I would really have to do it from the comfort of my own home. I'll look into both or try them alternatively in the morning before work. Something is bound to work

Kielawa

You can't target fat. That is all.

Dona_Donda

You can't target fat. That is all.

Sorry, I misspoke. I know you can't target fat. I do understand however that the right workouts and body movements can help you skulpt certain areas of the body. My topic here is clearly to seek help because, at least from my standpoint, I'm facing a dilemma. I want to slim a certain area of my body without "over-targeting" the muscle.

Thanks for pointing out the mistake, but I'm really asking just for help not irrelevant comments.

tcunbeliever

I like the Rodney Yee yoga videos...my mother HATES them...so it may just depend on your personality...my mother is very high strung, I tend to be much more mellow and laid back.

Culley34

For what it's worth, sculpting is something you do -after- you've lost all of the necessary weight, and in many cases, that you're body fat % is low enough and you're trying to accentuate specific muscles.

SpunkBean

When I start working my legs they always get a bit visibly bigger for a while before I notice any size decrease-- especially when doing spin classes! Ive noticed that a combination of moderate strength training combined with pilates seemed to help lean out the appearance the best for me

LoraF83

You can't target fat. That is all.

Sorry, I misspoke. I know you can't target fat. I do understand however that the right workouts and body movements can help you skulpt certain areas of the body. My topic here is clearly to seek help because, at least from my standpoint, I'm facing a dilemma. I want to slim a certain area of my body without "over-targeting" the muscle.

Thanks for pointing out the mistake, but I'm really asking just for help not irrelevant comments.

So you want people to "help" you in ways that aren't really true or accurate, because that's what you want to hear?

Your dilemma is that you are genetically coded to carry extra weight in your legs. And the only thing that is going to solve that problem is to continue to lose body fat. You can do all the pilates, toning, etc, that you want but it might not make your legs look any better. In fact, you might lose more inches from your arms.

To repeat: You can't spot tone or reduce. Continue to lose body fat (and weight) and you will eventually get the look that you want. Pick up some heavy weights and start lifting - it will help you reach your goals.

Good luck!

knowwhentoshutup

Are you walking/jogging/running? Doing any type of other exercises, jumping rope, squats, lunges?

I believe in the 'first on, last off' principal to fat - so if you legs have always been larger (or a location where your weight shows more) that will be one of the last places to watch it leave.

I'd base it off measurements.

I've lost inches all over doing P90x, but any strength training/cardio mix will work. If you have a smart phone, you might want to check out the Nike Training Club app.

lbigham1

Hi Dona,

I have the same problem. I don't believe there is a way to target fat loss in any one body part. It's been my experience that when I loose weight, my thighs are generally the last part to see results. But the good news is, if you keep loosing, you WILL eventually see results there as well.

Just keep up the healthy eating and try to do a lot of walking. When they start to shed, you will be pleasantly surprised. :flowerforyou:

ethompso0105

I bet if you lost another 30 lbs, you'd like your legs better.

If I lost the weight everything would look better but thanks for that comment. I'm looking for advice on targeting my leg fat. You're clearly not the first person to tell me to loose weight.

First of all, yay you for standing up for yourself!

Now down to business. I have the exact same issue. Part of it is genetics, and part is that I swam a lot when I was younger, and had INCREDIBLE, though large, swimmer's legs.

I'm finding that yoga and walking are helping to make my legs leaner and more shapely. I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll always have thick legs, but as long as I work on toning them and elongating the muscles (yoga), I can feel better about them.

Good luck!

Austin1988

It sounds like you gain water weight in your legs and confuse it with muscle growth. Your legs may initially look/feel bigger, but as time goes by the water weight will go away. As some people have mentioned, you can't target fat loss. Squats and lunges may help some, but you will probably have to lower overall body fat % to see the legs that you want.

joestits

only read first post. you can not spot reduce no matter what anyone tells you. if you're not losing weight, it must be something to do with your diet.

ErinBeth7

Like someone else mentioned Yoga and Pilates are good for toning (to a certain point). They will certainly help a beginner (which I assume that is your exercise level, at this point). Walking/jogging/running is also good for leg muscles without "over doing" it.

Another way to lose fat is to pick up on weights and add cardio into your routine. You can certainly start with weight machines, however, free weights are more beneficial because you will be using your core muscles & other muscles for balance. Also, a balanced diet is very important with fat loss.

I would continue with your weight loss/exercise and see if anything changes with your legs. 10lbs is not quite enough to notice "shrinkage" in your legs (which is naturally a big "fat storage" area for some women).

UrbanWild

I like using resistance bands. Easy, portable--I often use them during lunch at work! They seem to help with muscle tone rather than building. That and continuing to lose some weight will help I bet.

kairisika

There is nothing you can do to get rid of the fat other than general fat loss.
If you want to do some work for the legs so that when you do get the fat down they are strong and tight but without too much muscle adding to the overall size, you want endurance work.
Long-distance running, long steady swimming, long slow cycling, etc.

But if you know your body really likes to store fat in your thighs, then that's probably the last place you'll lose it, so the best you can do is to keep losing general fat.

mama2mila

how clean are you eating? do you do any cardio?

With a combination of clean eating, 3 days/week of hour-long zumba classes, and 2-3 days/week of hour-long gym sessions, I have been losing weight. But in the 8 weeks I worked with a trainer once/week, I lost 2 inches from each thigh (and 5 inches from my waist, 1.5 inches from my arms)

It takes time, and a combination of healthy diet, cardio, and strength training. You cannot spot reduce. Cardio burns the fat.

Good luck!

McBully4

I agree with this resistance bands are awesome.

I like using resistance bands. Easy, portable--I often use them during lunch at work! They seem to help with muscle tone rather than building. That and continuing to lose some weight will help I bet.

just keep working your legs, eventually the fat will fall off and you will be glad there is muscle there.

californiagirl2012

I felt the same way when I was losing. Everyone is different, and you can't control where the fat comes off first. But if you keep losing the fat will drop!

Eat less to lose fat. Workout to gain muscle.

If you are totally natural (no steriods) you will not too big or bulky. As you lose weight it shows your muscles.

The best workout to make you look good and set your goals (take you beyond your expectations!) is The Venus Index for Women and the Adonis Index for men. And for both the Anything Goes Diet.

Seriously, this took me beyond my expectations and into being the most fit and lean I've ever been in my life at age 50.

Oh yeah and it did AWESOME things for my legs, my entire body actually. LOL

my blog http://bobbiesfitness.com/

hottottie11

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you can't "lean and lengthen" muscles. Not amount of Pilates or yoga will do that. For longer muscles you need longer bones.

rocketqueen81

I bet if you lost another 30 lbs, you'd like your legs better.

This person is a jerk. Would any of us be on here if we weren't aware that we need to do better? Sheesh. Make someone feel bad for asking a good, constructive question why don't you?!?

Like a previous post (that was not a jerk) said, yoga and pilates may help. If you are a little self concious, I have found a couple videos that I use at home that work well for me. I don't like to do yoga or pilates at the gym much either :-) You can kinda of adjust for your level on both of these so you can continue to use them as your fitness level improves, etc.

Namaste Yoga: The Complete First Season
http://www.amazon.com/Namaste-Yoga-Complete-First-Season/dp/B005HRNDH8/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1346865163&sr=1-1&keywords=namaste+yoga

Pick Your Level: Weight Loss Pilates (2006)
http://www.amazon.com/Pick-Your-Level-Weight-Pilates/dp/B000GEIRBO/ref=sr_1_5?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1346865110&sr=1-5&keywords=pilates+for+weight+loss

JennyLisT

I do think it's a good idea to keep working to your goal weight. How you look now, including your legs, is not necessarily a good indication of how you'll look at your goal.

RavenhairedWoman

I have big legs, I always use to think that it was just because that is how my muscles were. I mean my legs didn't jiggle like fat, they were solid. However as I lose weight there is less for my legs to carry around and now suddenly there is jiggle in my calves where there wasn't jiggle before. I am taking this as a good sign because if there is jiggle then it means that I am losing weight there and eventually the skin will tighten up and I will have smaller calves.

I do a lot of walking, some jogging, and when I want to lift I do really low weight high repetition lifting. Lifting 40 pounds on a leg press machine might not feel like much at first but if you do 5 sets of 20 you will really feel it by the time you get to the end. I have been told that low weight high rep lifting encourages your muscles to build more endurance muscle fibers than strength fibers. This results in thinner, stretchier muscles than beefy thick muscles. I believe that yoga and pilates work off of this principle as well considering they are more about stretching, breathing, and light lifting. I have also been doing belly dancing and boy what a core and legs workout!

Keep it up, losing weight over all will help because your legs will have less to carry around, that is what I keep telling myself. I can't wait until I can wear knee high boots without feeling like my calves are the size of a child's head each.

MzNiz

My legs have always been bigger as well. I know that it can be frustrating but just keep working on them. Jogging, walking hiking, squats, lunges, dead lifts is what I have found works for mine.
Don't be afraid of having big strong legs either though. Even though I have what I think are big legs/thighs my husband and some other people I am close to have told me they look great in shorts or when I wear a swimsuit when I feel self consious. CHances are you are being a little too hard on yourself because most people are their own worse critic.

Dona_Donda

Thanks everyone for the responses!! They are a great help. I'll definitely take everyone's advice here. I wanted to give my thoughts on each comment but I got a lot more responses than I expected. Maybe I'll be able to give a positive update in the next month )

JesterMFP

I bet if you lost another 30 lbs, you'd like your legs better.

If I lost the weight everything would look better but thanks for that comment. I'm looking for advice on targeting my leg fat. You're clearly not the first person to tell me to loose weight.

First of all, yay you for standing up for yourself!

Now down to business. I have the exact same issue. Part of it is genetics, and part is that I swam a lot when I was younger, and had INCREDIBLE, though large, swimmer's legs.

I'm finding that yoga and walking are helping to make my legs leaner and more shapely. I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll always have thick legs, but as long as I work on toning them and elongating the muscles (yoga), I can feel better about them.

Good luck!

Yoga is not elongating your muscles, sorry. Once you have stopped growing, your muscles are a fixed length.