Legs.. help?

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Replies

  • Finally22
    Finally22 Posts: 305 Member
    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.

    My legs got much leaner from Spinning classes - but I also do Pilates..... :ohwell:
  • determinedbutlazy
    determinedbutlazy Posts: 1,941 Member
    -breathes in-

    You can't spot reduce fat ANYWHERE and you can't "change" the shape of your muscles, it is genetic.

    I have big legs and I always have, even when I was 140lbs (also 5'8", incidentally).

    EMBRACE your shape. Make your legs strong, make your body lean, work on the WHOLE PRODUCT and changes will come. But if you've always had proportionately bigger legs, you probably always will.
  • DivineRED1
    DivineRED1 Posts: 134 Member
    Pilates is really good for creating long lean muscles. Maybe look into pilates reformer classes near you.
  • Anna800
    Anna800 Posts: 639 Member

    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?!?

    Actually if you read the thread a bunch of people agreed with me, you can not spot reduce or spot tone, losing weight is the only way.
  • cbrrabbit25
    cbrrabbit25 Posts: 384 Member
    Its the last place women lose fat, so they will get better with time. but i have been noticing a difference doing heavy leg lifting twice a week. Although your muscles get bigger, muscular legs look much better than fat ones. And they are not going to get massivly big, so don't worry about that. Having more leg muscle allows you to burn more fat in them and a good leg workout is very effective for losing weight EVERYWHERE!
  • GenFo
    GenFo Posts: 124 Member
    EMBRACE your shape. Make your legs strong, make your body lean, work on the WHOLE PRODUCT and changes will come. But if you've always had proportionately bigger legs, you probably always will.

    This is a great comment. I'm "pear shaped" but over time have started to like the legs I have loathed for about 30 years. The two things that I've found that helped the most are running and heavy lifting. That sounds daunting at first but you need to build up to both of those things.

    I notice you are new to the site so here are my recommendations:
    1) Log everything you eat with no shame. One of the best quotes I've seen is "your body keeps an accurate record regardless of what you log." We're a bunch of strangers so there is no point in trying to make your food diary look "correct". That said, no matter how ambitious your weight loss goals are don't just drop to 1200 calories. It's a big cut for most of us and could cause you to give up. Start by logging what you normally eat and then decrease a little at a time.
    2) Look into a starter running program like couch to 5K. It starts with 30 second jogs and 4 1/2 minute walks. Trust me, I couldn't run half a block when I started without claiming I tasted blood and now I'm easily (but slowly) taking 5-6 mile runs regularly because I've learned to like it so much.
    3) Lift weights - work your way up. Don't think you're going to add a lot of mass. Muscles are hungry and greedy for calories and our legs and bum have great big muscles. Work them hard. You won't regret it. I decided I would rather have big, firm, muscular legs instead of thinnish wobbly ones, but they have actually leaned out and look alright. In fact, I wore shorts for the first time OUTSIDE for a run this weekend.

    Best of luck. Don't get discouraged! This site is great, but it's really about being ready for a big change and not thinking in terms of now I'm on a diet, now I'm off a diet. Splurge sometimes, find exercises that you enjoy, eat some veggies every day.
  • booksavvybabe
    booksavvybabe Posts: 26 Member
    wow this thread got interesting! I have large thighs too, and it takes the longest to see a difference there, so I like working on toning my leg muscles while I work out and do a whole bunch of different types of workouts....okay moving on...

    if you are looking for workouts to try, I might suggest Jillian Michael's Yoga Meltdown, she combines cardio and yoga so you raise your heart-rate, burn calories, use body resistance to tone, and use yoga poses. Plus the video is a half hour so it's a good workout even when you don't have a ton of time :)

    Good Luck!
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    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.

    ^^Unfortunately you can't stop reduce or target a specific area. Stick to the plan, stay within your calorie goal and your body will start losing fat. Genetics has a lot to do with determining where you lose as well. Of course exercise is wonderful!!! Squats, lunges ect. So when you lose the fat you'll have nice strong muscles!
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    Pilates is really good for creating long lean muscles. Maybe look into pilates reformer classes near you.

    Nooo... honestly, you can't "create" long lean muscles. Your muscles are a fixed length (assuming you have stopped growing). If pilates made your legs leaner it's because it helped create a calorie deficit which helped you to lose fat. If anything, working muscles will make them bigger, not smaller.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    wow this thread got interesting! I have large thighs too, and it takes the longest to see a difference there, so I like working on toning my leg muscles while I work out and do a whole bunch of different types of workouts....okay moving on...

    if you are looking for workouts to try, I might suggest Jillian Michael's Yoga Meltdown, she combines cardio and yoga so you raise your heart-rate, burn calories, use body resistance to tone, and use yoga poses. Plus the video is a half hour so it's a good workout even when you don't have a ton of time :)

    Good Luck!


    I love Jillian's Yoga meltdown!!!!
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    Heavy weight lifting including compound lifts and squats (Stronglifts 5x5). Moderated calorie deficit including adequate protein levels.


    Most women will not gain a significant amount of muscle while on a calorie deficit (while dieting). Our bodies lose fat where and when they want to. It's controlled by genetics. Usually the first place it went on will be the last place it leaves.

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