THESE DAMN THIGHS, TIPS?
courteneygetshealthy
Posts: 8
The area I hate the most is my thighs and I need some more tips on how to make them smaller they're fat and gross, I do the cross trainer, running, walking, squats, leg press. sometime lunges, is there other things I can do? Any suggestions welcome thankyou very much and feel free to add me looking for positive people!
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Replies
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There is no way to spot reduce fat. None at all. All you can do is lose fat and hope that it comes off your thighs. Where you store your fat has a lot to do with genetics. Eventually fat will come off from everywhere but sometimes you need to get very lean for your genetic problem areas to finally shed their fat.
You can do leg workouts to help with muscle mass in the area but that will not do anything to make the fat from the area fall off any quicker.0 -
God, I wish there was a way to deduct fat from just one spot. I hate my thighs. It's almost like they're normal 80% of the way up, then that last fifth is gigando. Looks worse now that the rest is more normal.
I swim, I diet, I work the thighs as much as I can and I wait.
If there is some better way, I'll be happy to hear it, too.
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Embrace them and squat, lunge, etc...0
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Ahh okay thankyou very much this is a learning experience I guess, but it's just annoying haha all the women in my family have big thigh hahah! Hopefully I'll start to see a small change in a few weeks0
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Learn to like them, or at least accept them. Preserve muscle underneath the fat with weight lifting, reduce the fat (eventually) by calorie deficit.0
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It sounds like you're doing all the right things. I do exercises that you listed plus I bike a LOT which has made a big change to my body overall. I think it just takes people like us a long time to lose the extra stuff on the thighs. I would also sugges learning how to work with them and not against them as they may never be exactly perfect 0
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Im going to try and change my attitude towards them and hope for the best..
I bike a lot too but mainly for getting to places not such as a hobby..0 -
There is, but it requires surgery.God, I wish there was a way to deduct fat from just one spot.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Ahh okay thankyou very much this is a learning experience I guess, but it's just annoying haha all the women in my family have big thigh hahah! Hopefully I'll start to see a small change in a few weeks
it sounds like your efforts at slimming your thighs are going to be wasted if your genetics are predisposed to larger thighs. embrace it and get under a barbell and get a 1x bw squat and 1.5x bw dead lift.0 -
I have huge thighs but I did lose 4 inches in the thigh/hip area from the "diet"/calorie deficit. Squats and deadlifts have improved their appearance. Still big though!0
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I know those feels, but you really have to learn to be kinder to yourself. They really are almost certainly not as gross as you think.0
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Go to fitnessblender.com. Do a search for thighs and it should pull up several workouts. The one I'm doing right now is Pilates for Thigh and Buttocks. If a burn is a good indicator of how well it works, then this workout works just great!0
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You can't lose fat from your thighs by exercising your thighs. All that will do is build muscle. You're making the problem worse by building muscle in the areas you want to have smaller.
It's counterintuitive, but for slimmer thighs, stay away from exercises that will bulk you up there. Squats and lunges are bad. Biking is bad, especially uphill or with high resistance on the machine. Quad press is bad. These are the exercises that men do when they're trying to bulk up their legs so they won't look like Foghorn Leghorn. That's the opposite of what you want. If you must do these things in the gym, go for light weights and lots of reps.
What's good - dieting, of course. Walking and gentle running for overall fat burn. Upper body strength training / heavy lifting to give you bigger shoulders, back and chest to balance your body out. Rowing, swimming, dancing, or any other cardio exercise you can think of that will burn fat without bulking your legs.
Avoid this:
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When I was lean and fit (once upon a time), my larger (toned) thighs actually looked damn good!
However, they never looked slim, I'm sorry to say. But I'm not against toning them (just don't bulk to the extreme).
If you keep doing what your doing, I'm sure you will see how beautifully you can shape them!0 -
You can't lose fat from your thighs by exercising your thighs. All that will do is build muscle. You're making the problem worse by building muscle in the areas you want to have smaller.
It's counterintuitive, but for slimmer thighs, stay away from exercises that will bulk you up there. Squats and lunges are bad. Biking is bad, especially uphill or with high resistance on the machine. Quad press is bad. These are the exercises that men do when they're trying to bulk up their legs so they won't look like Foghorn Leghorn. That's the opposite of what you want. If you must do these things in the gym, go for light weights and lots of reps.
What's good - dieting, of course. Walking and gentle running for overall fat burn. Upper body strength training / heavy lifting to give you bigger shoulders, back and chest to balance your body out. Rowing, swimming, dancing, or any other cardio exercise you can think of that will burn fat without bulking your legs.
Avoid this:
This is not true. Exercising a muscle will make it stronger, not bigger. The OP is in the process of losing weight, and while in a deficit, it's extremely difficult to gain any new muscle, especially since the OP is a woman. Heck, there are many cases that women can gain muscle and they get more lean. Below is a story of a power lifter. Look at how lean she gets throughout her 20 lb weight gain. Now consider what will happen if they OP is looking to lose weight?
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/0 -
I love my big thighs! I wouldn't be able to deadlift 230lbs without them! :bigsmile:0
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haha i hate my legs too they're my worst enemy- even when i was at my lowest weight they were still "big" to me. all you can do is try and accept your body for what it is. the best thing that my gma said to me is when you get older it's much better to have strong built legs than little scrawny ones and the big ones can take you more places- so just think of it like that 0
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I say embrace your thighs. They are powerful and have a lot of muscle.
Why yes, I do have thunder thighs myself.0 -
Women tend to gain and retain fat around heir hips and thighs. Men tend to retain fat around their abdomen. Just the way it is.
both are photoshopped in mags to an unobtainable appearance. Both are susceptible to body dysmorphia, becoming obsessed with how one or another body area is unattractive. That is a diagnosable illness. More likely, you are just disappointed, not obsessed. Don't sweat it. You are probably eating well and working out.
zarckon, I loved that little animated movie about cyclists. It got stranger as it progressed0 -
Oh. You are only 18 yo. Your body has not yet expressed what it will finally look like. Dance, play tennis, have fun with this wonderful machine you were given. The more you move, the better you will feel.0
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seriously??You can't lose fat from your thighs by exercising your thighs. All that will do is build muscle. You're making the problem worse by building muscle in the areas you want to have smaller.
It's counterintuitive, but for slimmer thighs, stay away from exercises that will bulk you up there. Squats and lunges are bad. Biking is bad, especially uphill or with high resistance on the machine. Quad press is bad. These are the exercises that men do when they're trying to bulk up their legs so they won't look like Foghorn Leghorn. That's the opposite of what you want. If you must do these things in the gym, go for light weights and lots of reps.
What's good - dieting, of course. Walking and gentle running for overall fat burn. Upper body strength training / heavy lifting to give you bigger shoulders, back and chest to balance your body out. Rowing, swimming, dancing, or any other cardio exercise you can think of that will burn fat without bulking your legs.
Avoid this:0 -
seriously??You can't lose fat from your thighs by exercising your thighs. All that will do is build muscle. You're making the problem worse by building muscle in the areas you want to have smaller.
It's counterintuitive, but for slimmer thighs, stay away from exercises that will bulk you up there. Squats and lunges are bad. Biking is bad, especially uphill or with high resistance on the machine. Quad press is bad. These are the exercises that men do when they're trying to bulk up their legs so they won't look like Foghorn Leghorn. That's the opposite of what you want. If you must do these things in the gym, go for light weights and lots of reps.
What's good - dieting, of course. Walking and gentle running for overall fat burn. Upper body strength training / heavy lifting to give you bigger shoulders, back and chest to balance your body out. Rowing, swimming, dancing, or any other cardio exercise you can think of that will burn fat without bulking your legs.
Avoid this:
She is so misguided. Why don't you smart ladies tell her how nutrition can do wonders for women who lift heavy weights?0 -
Hey, I am sure your thighs are not fat & gross - That's just your opinion!
The only way for them to appear smaller, is if you lose weight.
Just watch your calories, and keep doing what your doing.
Measure them with a tape measure0 -
Guys. I lift heavy weights. And I did years of biking and hiking. I have MASSIVE THIGHS and I don't want them. The OP is a woman who wants to be slim, not a guy who wants to look muscley. Women do not have the same issues as men, because women naturally have big legs and small upper bodies. Men are the opposite. That's where the bro "never skip leg day" thing comes from. For women, it really needs to be "never skip shoulders day".
Lifting is great. Running is great. Exercising is great. For a problem area, you have to fat-reduce all over, not spot-reduce by working the area you want to improve. We all agree on this. So why are we telling her to do squats and lunges when AT BEST it will do nothing to reduce her thighs, and AT WORST it will bulk them up like mine.
I love being strong. I can quad-press almost 500 lbs (if my knees don't give out!). That is a lot for a 5'5" woman. It's not because I did a ton of leg training or because I "tried" to builk up. It's from years of biking, first as transport and then in a misguided attempt to lose weight. You see women here at size 0 and 2. I'd love to be size 2. But even if I were scary-skinny (for me) like 15% bf, I'd never be less than size 8 or maybe 10 because of my muscle build. Ugh.0 -
Guys. I lift heavy weights. And I did years of biking and hiking. I have MASSIVE THIGHS and I don't want them. The OP is a woman who wants to be slim, not a guy who wants to look muscley. Women do not have the same issues as men, because women naturally have big legs and small upper bodies. Men are the opposite. That's where the bro "never skip leg day" thing comes from. For women, it really needs to be "never skip shoulders day".
Lifting is great. Running is great. Exercising is great. For a problem area, you have to fat-reduce all over, not spot-reduce by working the area you want to improve. We all agree on this. So why are we telling her to do squats and lunges when AT BEST it will do nothing to reduce her thighs, and AT WORST it will bulk them up like mine.
I love being strong. I can quad-press almost 500 lbs (if my knees don't give out!). That is a lot for a 5'5" woman. It's not because I did a ton of leg training or because I "tried" to builk up. It's from years of biking, first as transport and then in a misguided attempt to lose weight. You see women here at size 0 and 2. I'd love to be size 2. But even if I were scary-skinny (for me) like 15% bf, I'd never be less than size 8 or maybe 10 because of my muscle build. Ugh.
How does someone look muscular in a calorie deficit? Don't worry I got time to wait. Your second paragraph was good until (second bold). Once again how do you build muscle mass in a calorie deficit? Is there a secret you know that everyone else does not. Is it protein intake? Please tell me I want to get shredded and make muscle mass gains.0 -
seriously??You can't lose fat from your thighs by exercising your thighs. All that will do is build muscle. You're making the problem worse by building muscle in the areas you want to have smaller.
It's counterintuitive, but for slimmer thighs, stay away from exercises that will bulk you up there. Squats and lunges are bad. Biking is bad, especially uphill or with high resistance on the machine. Quad press is bad. These are the exercises that men do when they're trying to bulk up their legs so they won't look like Foghorn Leghorn. That's the opposite of what you want. If you must do these things in the gym, go for light weights and lots of reps.
What's good - dieting, of course. Walking and gentle running for overall fat burn. Upper body strength training / heavy lifting to give you bigger shoulders, back and chest to balance your body out. Rowing, swimming, dancing, or any other cardio exercise you can think of that will burn fat without bulking your legs.
Avoid this:
She is so misguided. Why don't you smart ladies tell her how nutrition can do wonders for women who lift heavy weights?
That can't be real....can it?0 -
Guys. I lift heavy weights. And I did years of biking and hiking. I have MASSIVE THIGHS and I don't want them. The OP is a woman who wants to be slim, not a guy who wants to look muscley. Women do not have the same issues as men, because women naturally have big legs and small upper bodies. Men are the opposite. That's where the bro "never skip leg day" thing comes from. For women, it really needs to be "never skip shoulders day".
Lifting is great. Running is great. Exercising is great. For a problem area, you have to fat-reduce all over, not spot-reduce by working the area you want to improve. We all agree on this. So why are we telling her to do squats and lunges when AT BEST it will do nothing to reduce her thighs, and AT WORST it will bulk them up like mine.
I love being strong. I can quad-press almost 500 lbs (if my knees don't give out!). That is a lot for a 5'5" woman. It's not because I did a ton of leg training or because I "tried" to builk up. It's from years of biking, first as transport and then in a misguided attempt to lose weight. You see women here at size 0 and 2. I'd love to be size 2. But even if I were scary-skinny (for me) like 15% bf, I'd never be less than size 8 or maybe 10 because of my muscle build. Ugh.
While genetics determines where you store your fat, one's perception is usually a bigger issues. Heck, I have heard women complain about having 16" calves and swearing its huge, but that was only .5" bigger than my arms. Also, the only thing that really bulks a women is fat.
And considering the OP is losing weight, doing squats, lunges, etc.. will not bulk her muscles up. Its very difficult to gain new muscle while in a calorie deficit.0 -
So lets say a woman with big thighs avoids thigh exercises while losing weight? Her thighs are a mixture of fat and muscle. She loses both fat and muscle. She gets to a healthy body fat percentage of 25%. That means she still has fat. Where is this fat? Probably on her legs. She's probably lost both fat and muscle from her legs but the end result might be slightly smaller, but still fatty legs. Legs that still jiggle when she walks and wears shorts, that squish out when sitting in shorts.
Lets say women with big thighs DOES her thigh exercises while losing weight. She loses more fat than muscle. Lets say she hits the same goal weight but this time she's 20% body fat because she's retained muscle. She's still storing fat on her legs because that's where her body dictates she store fat. Her legs might even be the same size as before but now they are stronger, more shapely, firm. Not so much jiggle when she walks, they still look good when sitting in a chair in shorts. There's lines down the side of her thighs, and definition above the knee and in the calf. They look awesome in heels.
I've been both women. I prefer the 2nd look.0 -
OK, but let's stick to the basics here. She wants thinner thighs. She doesn't say she wants "more shapely thighs" or "more toned thighs". She wants SMALLER thighs.
So the answer to her asked question is: diet and cardio to burn fat. That's it. Let's please stop perpetuating the "spot-reducing" myth, which is perpetuated by the diet industy and is completely false.
We've stopped telling people that they can get ripped abs by doing crunches if they have significant bodyfat, right? We wouldn't tell a bro to do bench presses or chest flies to get rid of his moobs, right? You can't get rid of a double chin with jaw exercises, right? The primary solution is diet.0 -
OK, but let's stick to the basics here. She wants thinner thighs. She doesn't say she wants "more shapely thighs" or "more toned thighs". She wants SMALLER thighs.
So the answer to her asked question is: diet and cardio to burn fat. That's it. Let's please stop perpetuating the "spot-reducing" myth, which is perpetuated by the diet industy and is completely false.
We've stopped telling people that they can get ripped abs by doing crunches if they have significant bodyfat, right? We wouldn't tell a bro to do bench presses or chest flies to get rid of his moobs, right? You can't get rid of a double chin with jaw exercises, right? The primary solution is diet.
If someone loses more muscle than fat the they will not necessary appear smaller. That why every one is saying to do weight training with calorie deficit. So the weight loss is more fat than muscle which means you will look smaller.
Also you did not answer my two questions I had for you.0
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