Slimming Thighs (Pear Shape)

DollyMiel

I'm pear shaped so naturally I have huge freaking thighs. I hate it.

I'm really frightened that continuing with my favorite exercise (hiking and walking and just kicking my legs in general), as well as squats and lunges everyone says to do, will just make my thighs even bulkier. Even if it's muscle and not fat, that is absolutely, positively not what I want.

Sooo...
1. Is that fear unreasonable?
2. Got any thigh-slimming exercises for me to try? (Preferably ones that don't involve going to the gym.)

Prettymisssparkles

Hi! Dunno what your thoughts on running are but I have noticed that my thighs have slimmed down quite a bit sence I started running. They are usually where I hold most of my weight. Most runners that I see are pretty lean...

Healthydiner65

I have lost 5 inches off my hips and thighs just by walking, recumbant bike, weight watchers exercise DVD and losing 24 pounds!

ajhugz

I have big thighs as well. Mine are slower to get smaller but lunges and squats have helped tremendously with toning them. Brazil Butt Lift has been amazing for my legs. They haven't gotten bigger. Walking helps a lot. You just have to be patient and consistent with working out. If you lose weight, some of it will eventually come off your thighs but your thighs might lose the slowest. I have a lot of fat on my thighs so building muscle is great. Less jiggle and more nice looking thigh.

LoraF83

I'm pear shaped so naturally I have huge freaking thighs. I hate it.

I'm really frightened that continuing with my favorite exercise (hiking and walking and just kicking my legs in general), as well as squats and lunges everyone says to do, will just make my thighs even bulkier. Even if it's muscle and not fat, that is absolutely, positively not what I want.

Sooo...
1. Is that fear unreasonable?
2. Got any thigh-slimming exercises for me to try? (Preferably ones that don't involve going to the gym.)

1. Yes, it's unreasonable.
2. Any exercise that helps you lose body fat.

Seriously. You might *think* your thighs are getting bigger because as you lose weight, you will probably lose more everywhere else first. However, I would encourage you to take measurements - because what you think will be wrong.

Even if you have muscular legs, if you have weight to lose, that means you have fat on your legs. You will lose that fat eventually. Just stick with it and keep going. Lose weight = get smaller legs.

Squats and lunges (especially with weights....as heavy as you can for 5-8 reps, preferrably) will help you get smaller legs, faster. But any exercise will make your legs smaller because exercise helps you lose weight.

Unknown

Anything that you do for your thighs that doesn't involve weights (ie. all the machines at the gym meant for your legs/thighs) is going to help tone and lengthen your legs. Running, Walking, Squats, Lunges, etc all use your own body weight as resistance. When you do these things you're not adding "extra bulk", you're melting fat and toning the existing muscles, therefore you get longer and leaner legs/tighs.

LoraF83

Anything that you do for your thighs that doesn't involve weights (ie. all the machines at the gym meant for your legs/thighs) is going to help tone and lengthen your legs. Running, Walking, Squats, Lunges, etc all use your own body weight as resistance. When you do these things you're not adding "extra bulk", you're melting fat and toning the existing muscles, therefore you get longer and leaner legs/tighs.

Sorry, but I need to correct some misinformation here:

First, it's hard to actually put on muscle. You have to eat at a surplus, train really hard, get enough protein. And because we lack a lot of testosterone, it's even harder for women than it is for men. So, no one should be scared of using the weight machines. You won't get "bulky" from strength training. You have to actually try very hard to get bulky. Aside from a few (like 1-2) pounds of newbie gains, extra muscle won't show up from using the machines (or free weights).

Second, muscle and fat weigh the same....a pound is a pound....but muscle is more dense than fat, so 1lb of muscle takes up less space than fat. So, you would obviously want more of your body weight to be muscle than fat right? You'd be smaller, even if you weight the same amount. This is called reducing your body fat percentage. It's a good thing.

Third, muscle burns more calories than fat. So, the more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns. Once again, you want more muscle than fat - a reduced body fat percentage. Your body fat percentage is what determines how you look. This why someone can be thin but flabby....they have high body fat. However low you take your body fat percentage will determine how "bulky", "ripped" or "muscular" you look. Once again, these things don't happen by accident. You have to work hard to get there. You'll notice before it happens

Weights - preferrably heavy ones - help you get to your goal faster. Body weight exercises are good. Especially if you are doing a program that increase your "work" as it progresses. Convict Conditioning, You Are Your Own Gym, and the programs on the Nerd Fitness website all come to mind. Weight machines are better. You can increase the weight you are lifting, making yourself stronger and making your muscles work harder....which means you are burning fat/losing weight. This is good. Free weights are even better because you get all the benefits of machines plus the fact that your whole body is working (to balance, stabilize and lift the weights) which leads to better full body results.

So, don't be afraid of the weights. They will only make you smaller and fitter, unless you specifically TRY to get bigger.

Docmahi

Anything that you do for your thighs that doesn't involve weights (ie. all the machines at the gym meant for your legs/thighs) is going to help tone and lengthen your legs. Running, Walking, Squats, Lunges, etc all use your own body weight as resistance. When you do these things you're not adding "extra bulk", you're melting fat and toning the existing muscles, therefore you get longer and leaner legs/tighs.

i disagree with this entirely - no such thing as spot reducing/toning

but to each their own

Fit_French

Im pear shaped as well, Im almost to my goal weight and just need to tone my legs. I love POP Pilaties and long distance/low resistance on my bike. Seems to be slimming and not bilking for me

TheKitsune6

Anything that you do for your thighs that doesn't involve weights (ie. all the machines at the gym meant for your legs/thighs) is going to help tone and lengthen your legs. Running, Walking, Squats, Lunges, etc all use your own body weight as resistance. When you do these things you're not adding "extra bulk", you're melting fat and toning the existing muscles, therefore you get longer and leaner legs/tighs.

I question the ability to "lengthen" ones legs. Doesn't that have to do with bone structure over muscle? Would someone please explain that concept?

quirkytizzy

Anything that you do for your thighs that doesn't involve weights (ie. all the machines at the gym meant for your legs/thighs) is going to help tone and lengthen your legs. Running, Walking, Squats, Lunges, etc all use your own body weight as resistance. When you do these things you're not adding "extra bulk", you're melting fat and toning the existing muscles, therefore you get longer and leaner legs/tighs.

I question the ability to "lengthen" ones legs. Doesn't that have to do with bone structure over muscle? Would someone please explain that concept?

I think the idea is that one's legs will LOOK longer because they'll be leaner. You can't add inches onto your bone without breaking it and resetting first.

LoraF83

Anything that you do for your thighs that doesn't involve weights (ie. all the machines at the gym meant for your legs/thighs) is going to help tone and lengthen your legs. Running, Walking, Squats, Lunges, etc all use your own body weight as resistance. When you do these things you're not adding "extra bulk", you're melting fat and toning the existing muscles, therefore you get longer and leaner legs/tighs.

I question the ability to "lengthen" ones legs. Doesn't that have to do with bone structure over muscle? Would someone please explain that concept?

You can't lengthen muscle.

chels0722

Jumping sumo squats will burn those inner thighs like a motha trucka

3dogsrunning

Anything that you do for your thighs that doesn't involve weights (ie. all the machines at the gym meant for your legs/thighs) is going to help tone and lengthen your legs. Running, Walking, Squats, Lunges, etc all use your own body weight as resistance. When you do these things you're not adding "extra bulk", you're melting fat and toning the existing muscles, therefore you get longer and leaner legs/tighs.

I question the ability to "lengthen" ones legs. Doesn't that have to do with bone structure over muscle? Would someone please explain that concept?

I think the idea is that one's legs will LOOK longer because they'll be leaner. You can't add inches onto your bone without breaking it and resetting first.

I'm crushed now. I was hoping for longer legs.

I also have bigger legs, always have, I have seen the most improvement from lifting heavy - squats, leg press, lunges, etc after years of just running ( I still run though). Before and after in my profile.

diodelcibo

Anything that you do for your thighs that doesn't involve weights (ie. all the machines at the gym meant for your legs/thighs) is going to help tone and lengthen your legs. Running, Walking, Squats, Lunges, etc all use your own body weight as resistance. When you do these things you're not adding "extra bulk", you're melting fat and toning the existing muscles, therefore you get longer and leaner legs/tighs.

I question the ability to "lengthen" ones legs. Doesn't that have to do with bone structure over muscle? Would someone please explain that concept?

In order to lengthen the legs the epiphyseal plates (made of hyaline cartillage )must be "open" then chrondrocytes must undergo mitosis, older cells are pushed away to the diaphysis ( middle part of bone ) then new cells group on the epiphysis with these in place oestoblasts ossify then there is new bone ( longer bone overall).

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

Hi! Dunno what your thoughts on running are but I have noticed that my thighs have slimmed down quite a bit sence I started running. They are usually where I hold most of my weight. Most runners that I see are pretty lean...

lean =/= small thighs.

notworthstalking

Something I read about health. Women with pear shapes tend to have a small waist, so less fat putting pressure on vital organs, even if they have larger legs. So don't go mad on the dieting. I am an apple shape, skinny but carry it arround the middle, so I need to watch my waist. So don't stress, but doing strength work will make your legs and butt look hotter evsn if they aren't skinny. Embrace your shape, some people would love a butt

jenilla1

...I have a lot of fat on my thighs so building muscle is great. Less jiggle and more nice looking thigh.

I'd rather have firm, well defined large thighs than flabby, jiggly large thighs. Just keep up with your exercises. You might be surprised by the results. A healthy, fit body makes any shape look good.

DollyMiel

Even if you have muscular legs, if you have weight to lose, that means you have fat on your legs. You will lose that fat eventually. Just stick with it and keep going. Lose weight = get smaller legs.

Squats and lunges (especially with weights....as heavy as you can for 5-8 reps, preferrably) will help you get smaller legs, faster. But any exercise will make your legs smaller because exercise helps you lose weight.

Thanks so much for the info! Not just to you but everyone. Glad to know squats and lunges won't make it all worse. Haha. I worry too much.

I already knew losing weight is the only real answer but I just somehow never see pear shapes break out of pear shapes, whereas I tend to see other shapes (especially apples) actually shift shape when they lose and tone up. So I was curious what might be out there to give it a boost, especially since thunder-thighs are just... inconvenient for me in a lot of ways. :x

Embrace your shape, some people would love a butt

On the subject of inconvenient, I am an androgyne trying to lose the femme-hips to a bit more of an intense extent than perhaps most cisgendered women. So no, I have a few issues that really prevent me from just 'embracing' it like so many people keep telling me. Even if I know that is problematically unrealistic. But hey, the more I shoot for, the more I can accomplish, I suppose! But that's all extraneous info no one cares about.

dixiewhiskey

It won't.. but if you don't lose the fat, it will appear bulky at first.

I would suggest going for runs outdoors or on a treadmill.. that slims up the legs fast. But be sure to eat healthy and continue with your squats and whatever else you mentioned you do.

bellesouth18

Anything that you do for your thighs that doesn't involve weights (ie. all the machines at the gym meant for your legs/thighs) is going to help tone and lengthen your legs. Running, Walking, Squats, Lunges, etc all use your own body weight as resistance. When you do these things you're not adding "extra bulk", you're melting fat and toning the existing muscles, therefore you get longer and leaner legs/tighs.

I question the ability to "lengthen" ones legs. Doesn't that have to do with bone structure over muscle? Would someone please explain that concept?

I think the idea is that one's legs will LOOK longer because they'll be leaner. You can't add inches onto your bone without breaking it and resetting first.

Ballet barre exercises. You won't lengthen the bone, but the muscles will look longer because of the specific movements ballet dancers perform. Lifting weights and running cause the muscles to contract and tighten. Ballet stretches and elongates the muscle with specific exercises. Do plies in first and second position in very slow and controlled motion/speed. Google it for some examples.

edit spelling.

upgetupgetup

I already knew losing weight is the only real answer but I just somehow never see pear shapes break out of pear shapes, whereas I tend to see other shapes (especially apples) actually shift shape when they lose and tone up. So I was curious what might be out there to give it a boost, especially since thunder-thighs are just... inconvenient for me in a lot of ways. :x

Sorry to say, but if you're saddled with the same endocrinological baggage as us cisgenders, you're also stuck with the same tools to deal with it, and will probably have to face some level of acceptance too... there's only so much you can do, given leptin etc, without going into single-digit body fat, which is medically bad for everyone not genetically Y.

You're right that no matter how much pears slim down, we always look a bit pearish. Getting down to low body fat - even into 17-18% ish - usually makes people look super bony up top, with resistant fat still on the thighs. IME straight cardio with no strength can make thighs skinnier, as in, lower circumference, but they're a bit looser, too. Things at least look firm with a bit of muscle.

I don't know what look exactly you're going for, but if you wanted more symmetry you could emphasize lats & shoulders to get breadth up top, and calves to balance things out at the bottom.

That said, I was just actually rereading this study, which showed preferential fat reduction in women, from thighs and trunk, with cycling sprints (8 seconds on, 12 off, for 20 minutes, 3 x a week, 5 min w/u & 5 min cool down). One of the main investigators, in an interview, said you could optimize the catelcholamine response he thinks is responsible for the result by doing it in the early am, with nothing (no other caffeine, no protein, no sugar) except for green tea (complicated hormonal reasons for that). I haven't tried it myself:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18197184

Interview:

He says similar results could probably be expected with rowing and stairs, but not elliptical (not challenging enough) or running (bc it takes serious speed to get up to the requisite bpm, and most people can't handle it for lots of reasons).

He also said if you could work up to 5x20 minute sessions a week, greater fat loss could probably be expected.

upgetupgetup

I'm really frightened that continuing with my favorite exercise (hiking and walking and just kicking my legs in general), as well as squats and lunges everyone says to do, will just make my thighs even bulkier.

1. Is that fear unreasonable?

as for this, yeah the fear does not correspond with what reality would offer you. If you like doing those things, do them!

lovelyleanne

I'm very much a pear and am under no illusion that whether I lose weight or put it on, my proportions will always be larger on my lower half (my top half is 1 -2 dress sizes smaller)

I have accepted this and rather than try to get kate moss thighs, I'm going to be spending the next three months working out my sholders, chest, back and arms. By doing so it will make me look more balanced. keeping the cardio up to help improve fitness and keep working off the fat.

Hope this helps

Emilie04444

I'm very much a pear and am under no illusion that whether I lose weight or put it on, my proportions will always be larger on my lower half (my top half is 1 -2 dress sizes smaller)

I have accepted this and rather than try to get kate moss thighs, I'm going to be spending the next three months working out my sholders, chest, back and arms. By doing so it will make me look more balanced. keeping the cardio up to help improve fitness and keep working off the fat.

Hope this helps

That is great advice. I feel that the more that i work my top I look more balanced and more hour glass shaped. Plus my posture is better

RubyInParadise

bump

giveMEbeauty

I have the same problem with my thighs

Lupercalia

I'm pear shaped so naturally I have huge freaking thighs. I hate it.

I'm really frightened that continuing with my favorite exercise (hiking and walking and just kicking my legs in general), as well as squats and lunges everyone says to do, will just make my thighs even bulkier. Even if it's muscle and not fat, that is absolutely, positively not what I want.

Sooo...
1. Is that fear unreasonable?
2. Got any thigh-slimming exercises for me to try? (Preferably ones that don't involve going to the gym.)

1. Yes, it's unreasonable.
2. Any exercise that helps you lose body fat.

Seriously. You might *think* your thighs are getting bigger because as you lose weight, you will probably lose more everywhere else first. However, I would encourage you to take measurements - because what you think will be wrong.

Even if you have muscular legs, if you have weight to lose, that means you have fat on your legs. You will lose that fat eventually. Just stick with it and keep going. Lose weight = get smaller legs.

Squats and lunges (especially with weights....as heavy as you can for 5-8 reps, preferrably) will help you get smaller legs, faster. But any exercise will make your legs smaller because exercise helps you lose weight.

THIS.

I love my big legs, providing they are muscular. They are getting smaller even though I do those things you'e worried about, and I know that because I measure every month and record it.

I lift heavy weights for low reps and I walk a lot. Since you don't want to go to the gym, you could find a bodyweight strength building program and work on that. You Are Your Own Gym is a great one. Others recommend Convict Conditioning.

Losing the fat is what shrinks your thighs. Building strength (via lifting weights or body weight strength training) gives them a nice strong shape, but does NOT increase their size, so long as you are eating at a caloric deficit.

mlogantra76

I have the same problem but I am learning to "embrace my shape." I currently wear a size small/medium shirt and a size 10/12 pants. I do cardio and weight training and have noticed toning. I have just a few lbs left to lose but will still definitely be a "pear shape" at my goal. If I go lower than a size 10 pants, I start getting comments about being too thin and I personally think I look too thin(from the waist up, that is).

Katerina67

I have huge thighs with saddlebags and I was very reluctant to sterts weight training because I was afraid to get my thighs even bulkier. I managed to burn a lot of fat through the dieting and cardio, but it did not change my body proportions, the legs became much slimmer but they looked relatively fat. So I tried squats and lunges and deadlifts with weights and was very happy with the results. I gained a lot weight afterwards and the best way to slim and shape mye thighs and glutes was weight training. Yes, you don't get slimmer bottom right away since you will build muscles faster than you burn fat, but you will look better. But the most efficient way is to do both weight training with something like brisk walking/jogging/running/elliptic machine.
And when I do weight training I never increase my protein intake, so my muscles are getting stronger and more toned, but they don't get much bulkier.