Reducing thigh muscle mass?

rvaug031
rvaug031 Posts: 11 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
My upper body is pretty lean, 27' waist, pretty much no hips, but my thighs are VERY muscular. I have always had to fit my jeans to my thighs and then use a belt to hold up the large waist. My calves have also become quite large and muscular to support my thighs.

I horseback ride on an almost daily basis in the summer. During the university year, I try to exercise 4 times a week. When I exercise at home I use the NTC training workouts. At the gym, I run for half an hour between 7-7.8 mph (my normal pace) then do a variety of core and arms.

Between exercise and eating, what could I do to help modify the shape of my thighs? It would be nice if my thighs were proportional to my upper body, and I don't want to bulk up my upper body.

Any suggestions?
Thanks :)
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Replies

  • msliu7911
    msliu7911 Posts: 638 Member
    I'm interested to see the responses and understand how frustrating that might be!

    My natural thought to reduce muscle would be to just stop working that area.. however when you're active its kind of hard not to work your quads. I've always had very shapely quads and calves... I'd be afraid to lose the muscle because I wouldn't want my thighs to turn to all out flab. :)
  • iulia_maddie
    iulia_maddie Posts: 2,780 Member
    What's with all the leg muscle hate today?:grumble:
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    IN to nuke another thread where a thin woman claims to have to much muscle and wants to find a way to reduce muscle mass

    SJeH2br.gif
  • Joehenny
    Joehenny Posts: 1,222 Member
    Your muscle shape is based on genetics you cannot "modify them" a muscle can only atrophy or hypertrophy. If you were too eat in a deficit and skip training legs you'd probably lose some weight quick since the body likes to burn unused muscle. This just seems so wrong though, so wrong...
  • Joehenny
    Joehenny Posts: 1,222 Member
    IN to nuke another thread where a thin woman claims to have to much muscle and wants to find a way to reduce muscle mass

    SJeH2br.gif

    DEAD

    I love BB
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Use a wheelchair everywhere you go. Your legs should atrophy with time. Your arms and shoulders will get stronger too. Win/win!
  • rvaug031
    rvaug031 Posts: 11 Member
    I would like to keep up my activity level I think :)
  • Joehenny
    Joehenny Posts: 1,222 Member
    Use a wheelchair everywhere you go. Your legs should atrophy with time. Your arms and shoulders will get stronger too. Win/win!

    Cracking up lol
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    Use a wheelchair everywhere you go. Your legs should atrophy with time. Your arms and shoulders will get stronger too. Win/win!
    Hate to say it, but it's true.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Mouse_Potato
    Mouse_Potato Posts: 1,512 Member
    It's the curse of the equestrian. Do you, by any chance, ride Hunter Jumper? All that posting and two-point...! I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but I've learned to love mine. They give the appearance of curves where Mother Nature did not give me any. :grumble: I guess you could do more bareback work or ride from your core a bit more. I know I've ridden proper dressage when my abs are sore the next day.
  • violettatx
    violettatx Posts: 230 Member
    What's with all the leg muscle hate today?:grumble:

    Seriously, we need a love thread for muscular legs. With pictures!
  • PDXContessa
    PDXContessa Posts: 49 Member
    I'm guessing that you may have a little bit of a distorted view of what a woman's body is supposed to look like? Having strong thighs sounds super sexy. Super skinny "model" legs are not sexy. They are just skinny.

    Maybe just try a different brand of jeans? Really. I'll bet you look great. Most guys don't want "skinny" women, they just want a woman that's in shape (AKA not flabby).
  • mamasmaltz3
    mamasmaltz3 Posts: 1,111 Member
    Seriously? You are beautiful. You are strong and healthy and you have strong legs to carry you around all day doing everything you ask them to do. Love yourself and your strong thighs. You are blessed.
  • supplemama
    supplemama Posts: 1,956 Member
    Tailoring is an easy fix for the pants issue.
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    Are you sure you are viewing yourself accurately and/or possibly shopping for the wrong size clothing?

    I looked at your profile -- your upper body is lean and toned and though it's hard to see in sweat pants -- your legs do not look disproportionately large. At all. I actually would find it odd if somebody with your upper body had slender, untoned legs.

    Also, as to clothes, if I remember right you are in Canada and I don't know how your sizes work, but in the US, even numbered sizes are cut more generously in the hips and thighs are narrower in the waist. While even sizes are cut for wider waists and smaller legs. I used to work in a women's apparel store was always surprised how frequently women chose the wrong sizes for themselves.

    Best advice: Don't try and rid yourself of muscle, work on liking the body you have.
  • ecw3780
    ecw3780 Posts: 608 Member
    probably not really possible, but I would try Pilates. The focus is not at all on bulk, and I have seen some tightening as opposed to bulking. I too have big legs, and I just try to work legs less.
  • lina011
    lina011 Posts: 427 Member
    i have the same problem........... all i did was accept them, make em super toned and show them off.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Just looked in your pictures and there was one that sort of showed your leg. You DO NOT have big thighs. You might have a bit of body dysmorphia going on though.
  • kairisika
    kairisika Posts: 131 Member
    Generally, replacing strength work with distance/endurance work can keep muscle with less overall bulk, but if you got plenty of thigh muscle without actively working at it, it's probably a body shape thing, and it's not going anywhere.
    Put your energy into taking in the waist of your pants instead.
  • DawnEH612
    DawnEH612 Posts: 574 Member
    Topic: Reducing thigh muscle mass? I cant imagine why youd want to. I workout hard to develop muscle. Muscle is something to be attained and mantained. Work WITH your genetic tendency, learn to love your body. I tend to have larger, mo musclular frame for a female. I have truly leanred to apprecaite MY body type and now cherish the muscle, strength, and size that I am. If one type pf pant doesnt fit, i fine another. I tend to buy jeans with a bit of spandex or lyra in them, that helps with the fit. I also wear more dresses for work that ever before. I shows off my strong calves and doesnt bind my quads and hamstrings.
  • rvaug031
    rvaug031 Posts: 11 Member
    It's the curse of the equestrian. Do you, by any chance, ride Hunter Jumper? All that posting and two-point...! I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but I've learned to love mine. They give the appearance of curves where Mother Nature did not give me any. :grumble: I guess you could do more bareback work or ride from your core a bit more. I know I've ridden proper dressage when my abs are sore the next day.

    I do ride hunter! It bugs me how I can be so curvy muscular wise yet there are other riders who are twigs! The curse of the equestrian is right, thanks for the tips!
  • rvaug031
    rvaug031 Posts: 11 Member
    Just looked in your pictures and there was one that sort of showed your leg. You DO NOT have big thighs. You might have a bit of body dysmorphia going on though.

    I will post another photo to show you :) The photo in sweats is very flattering, which is why I put it up hehe
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Muscle is good. Just because you don't look like a model doesn't mean you are disproportionate. A LOT of women have big thighs. I have a 28" waist, 40" and 24" thighs. I'm trying to reduce my body fat but I'd never try to lose muscle.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Just looked in your pictures and there was one that sort of showed your leg. You DO NOT have big thighs. You might have a bit of body dysmorphia going on though.

    I will post another photo to show you :) The photo in sweats is very flattering, which is why I put it up hehe

    I'm looking at your other photo. It's still a little hard to tell, but they look fine. What are your measurements?
  • IMD918
    IMD918 Posts: 49
    Ok, well maybe I'm wrong here, but I think it might be good to try to help her with getting what she wants rather than trying to change her opinion of herself. She wants smaller thighs. Is this achievable? The not so simple answer is MAYBE.

    It is true that genetics plays a part into the shape of your body, and it may be easier for you to have a lot of muscle mass in your thighs than the average girl. That being said, I think it is a little bit of a cop out to just tell you that you should just accept it, or change your own opinion, especially when you are having trouble finding comfortable pants. Personally, I happen to think a girl with muscular legs is sexy, but my opinion is not the one that matters here.

    It is also true that how you exercise can SOMEWHAT control the shape of your body. A girl that never skips leg day is probably going to have bigger leg muscles than one who skips it frequently, just as you as a horse rider are more likely to have larger thighs. I would suggest that you "lighten" your leg workouts. Try things with less intensity and resistance. Maybe walking over running, less/no weight on leg exercises. Less minutes/sets working out, or even skipping every other leg day. Those things and a caloric deficit may help your particular cause. Also, if you're taking in a lot of protein, you may consider replacing some of that with carbs instead, as they will burn faster, rather than build and restore muscle mass.

    Again, this is just my opinion of how it MAY be possible to achieve what you are talking about. Personally I think the leg muscles are sexy, but its your body, and you are the one that is going to have to be happy with it at the end of the day.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    @IMD918 - I get what you are saying, but I have to disagree.

    There are too many people that pass through here thinking that certain parts of their body are bulky and it turns out that they really just have a skewed view of their own bodies. And some of them end up hurting themselves to try to obtain whatever "image" of what the "perfect body/body part" is.

    So if someone starts claiming their thighs are huge, etc and wanting to reduce muscle mass...I'm not going to support something that is potentially harmful and unhealthy - mentally as well as physically.

    And sometimes, these people aren't aware that they may have some body dysmorphia issues. Sometimes, pointing it out and letting them "hear/see" opinions that inform them that things aren't what they were thinking....sometimes that helps them a lot more.
  • rvaug031
    rvaug031 Posts: 11 Member
    Ok, well maybe I'm wrong here, but I think it might be good to try to help her with getting what she wants rather than trying to change her opinion of herself. She wants smaller thighs. Is this achievable? The not so simple answer is MAYBE.

    Thank you for your detailed reply, and I think it's a two step process for me. One, I always strive for better fitness and health goals, and I like to have that mindset for an overall healthy lifestyle. It has never been about a short term goal. Second, I have to work on my self image, because being constantly unhappy about myself is not healthy. So for fitness goals AND for self image sake, I would like to at least work for a small change that could make a big difference in the long run :)
  • rvaug031
    rvaug031 Posts: 11 Member

    I'm looking at your other photo. It's still a little hard to tell, but they look fine. What are your measurements?

    @Joy_Joy_ My measurements are 27" waist, 32" hips, 37" butt, and 23.5" thighs (around the largest part)
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    The OP has the same measurements as my wife. That bikini picture is more about angle and lighting than actual bigness. She looks great. If she wants to tighten up, that's her call. But shrink muscle is nuts and fueled by too many photoshopped magazine images.
  • IMD918
    IMD918 Posts: 49
    @ Joy_Joy, I also understand what you're saying, and yes, it would be better if she just liked her own image more. That being said, she didn't come here asking for self image help. She came here to find out how to get smaller thighs. And I didn't suggest anything that would be considered unhealthy. But nobody really knows if what she wants is truly possible, but making a few simple changes isn't going to hurt her to try.

    I'm trying to see things from her side. If I go to forums asking how to get bigger biceps, i don't want a bunch of people telling me that I should just love them the way they are, or telling me that I need to change the way I see my own body.

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