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What's the easiest way to tone legs?

Mmmprotein
Mmmprotein Posts: 17 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I run and I do yoga once a week. Should I add cycling into the mix or does anyone have any advice on good exercises to tone legs, namely backs of thighs.

Replies

  • derik999
    derik999 Posts: 73
    The whole concept of "toning" is a misnomer. Try resistance training with weights.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    lower your bodyfat...
  • SrMaggalicious
    SrMaggalicious Posts: 495 Member
    Didn't you know 'tone' is a four-letter word on this site?
  • Mmmprotein
    Mmmprotein Posts: 17 Member
    Weight training it is. Thanks for the helpful response!
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    lower your bodyfat...

    This.

    In terms of strength training, you want to target the glutes and hamstrings - so squats, deadlifts, straight leg deadlifts, etc.

    You may wish to check out Bret Contreras' book Strong Curves for further info.
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    I like heavy squats and deadlifts.
  • Mmmprotein
    Mmmprotein Posts: 17 Member
    All about the squats. Thanks for the book reference.
  • milmomto2
    milmomto2 Posts: 84
    Bump
  • emmaroid1981
    emmaroid1981 Posts: 45 Member
    Cycling, is great for toning legs :-)
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    I like heavy squats and deadlifts.

    This......so this!!!!! :love:
  • Galatea_Stone
    Galatea_Stone Posts: 2,037 Member
    For the hamstrings, HIIT sprints and straight-legged deadlifts will help a lot. I also do regular deadlifts and leg curl isolation work.

    I don't care what you call it - toning or recomposition or building strength. Just do those things.

    Cycling wouldn't hurt, but it is more quad dominant.
  • shapefitter
    shapefitter Posts: 900 Member
    Dancing, is fun. You should try it sometime...maybe, you'll like it.
  • fooninie
    fooninie Posts: 291 Member
    I like heavy squats and deadlifts.

    This......so this!!!!! :love:

    ^^^ YESSSS, I say this.
  • jchite84
    jchite84 Posts: 467 Member
    If you want to work the back of the legs more try Good Mornings, lying leg curls, or single leg planks or pushups (core, upper body, and back of legs get worked that way). Cycling is mostly going to work your quads, unless you have clip-ins or pedal straps and you can alternate pushing down with pulling up with your legs. If you clip in and do some hills though, you will definitely feel it in your glutes, bicep femoris, and hamstrings.

    In general "tone" is a 4 letter word because it is a bit of a misnomer. You can drop body fat, which will make your musculature appear more prominently, and you can spot work muscle groups, which give you that after gym swoll short term, and long term will add a little muscle mass, which will also make your musculature appear more prominently. But the idea of toning muscle vs. building muscle mass is a Sally Struthers Fitness Video era lie told to sell exercise videos to folks who thought that lifting any weights would turn them into Arnold.
  • ashlando
    ashlando Posts: 125 Member
    I know it's been said before, but spot reducing and spot toning is next to impossible.

    Incorporate heavy deadlifts and squats into your weekly workouts and your hammies will definitely get stronger!
  • fooninie
    fooninie Posts: 291 Member
    Dancing, is fun. You should try it sometime...maybe, you'll like it.

    Ohhhhh....I do LOVE dancing. Sadly I look like a convulsing blob... :grumble:

    <a href="http://s852.photobucket.com/user/fooninie/media/54t1zqhjpg_zps2091a2b6.gif.html&quot; target="_blank"><img src="http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab87/fooninie/54t1zqhjpg_zps2091a2b6.gif&quot; border="0" alt=" photo 54t1zqhjpg_zps2091a2b6.gif"/></a>
  • adiggs2777
    adiggs2777 Posts: 111 Member
    I've been doing squats with about 30 lbs in dumb bells, leg press on the leg press machine using 100 lbs and deadlifts with a 40 lb barbell. I don't do lunges because they hurt my knees real bad (and I have terrible balance so whenever I lunge I'm all wobbly). Can anyone suggest anything else to help a girl out? Should I just up my weights? I recently upped the weights on the squats and deadlifts.
  • Lofteren
    Lofteren Posts: 960 Member
    Heavy squats and deadlifts

    *Mic Drop*
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    Heavy squats and deadlifts

    *Mic Drop*
    609485983.gif?1341189273

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