Leg workouts

gottabekd
gottabekd Posts: 46 Member
edited September 26 in Fitness and Exercise
So I've been debating with my husband what type of leg workouts I should do, if any at all. My legs are where most of my weight are, and I put muscle on my legs very easily. But I want to get them slimmer - my calves are almost too big for my rainboots. I'm really not sure what to do and my husband who has been pretty hardcore about working out for years insists that I shouldn't work on my legs beyond cardio, but I just don't know. Suggestions?

Replies

  • nikkicarter13
    nikkicarter13 Posts: 231 Member
    no suggestions :( But I wonder the same thing.
  • jsmith2377
    jsmith2377 Posts: 208 Member
    I love love love the stair climber! My calfs haven't looked this good in years. It's great cardio with huge amounts of calories burned. Also, as you burn off the fat, you're legs will get smaller. Fat takes up more space than the same amount (weight) of fat.
  • Amy62575
    Amy62575 Posts: 422 Member
    If you want to tone them up, you can do light weight with high reps. I have strong legs too and I started out lifting a bunch of weight, which made them bulk up...but then I learned if you do lower weights with more reps it will help tone them and not bulk you up. I definitely agree you need cardio, but if you are lifting weights for other areas on your body you really should include your legs.
  • Msaip
    Msaip Posts: 482 Member
    My legs are the same way! BUT there is nothing wrong with toned firm bigger thighs and calves! I do jackie warners one on one training its 20 minutes and the lower body routine is KILLER! It's all squats and lunges and my thighs have actually shrunk!
  • rileamoyer
    rileamoyer Posts: 2,412 Member
    I have large legs, walking and elliptical helped trim the thighs but without working out with some resistance they get pretty flabby! I have large calves too, but still lost a little off there. I just don't do a lot of 'calf' exercises.
  • shimmergal
    shimmergal Posts: 380 Member
    bump!
  • DeniseGdz
    DeniseGdz Posts: 592 Member
    . I'm really not sure what to do and my husband who has been pretty hardcore about working out for years insists that I shouldn't work on my legs beyond cardio, but I just don't know. Suggestions?

    If your trying to slim your legs and you put on muscle quickly then I agree with your husband. Keep the legs very light and focus on then double up on the cardio to slim up....
  • mponeil1982
    mponeil1982 Posts: 16
    While cardio is important and will help burn calories, consider toning exercises (light weight workouts) for yourself as well, including leg workouts. I've read that your legs are one of your major muscle groups and that doing 1 basic squat will work over 200 muscles in that full range of motion.

    I'm sure you've heard that muscle burns more calories at rest than fat. Toning and working those major muscle groups should only help in the long term with meeting your goals.

    FOR ME: I do cardio ALL the time! I'm a Zumba and Turbo Kick instructor and teach 6 times a week, an hour at a time, but I wasn't losing weight. When I started adding toning exercises, I started to lose weight. Just this week I put on a pair of pants and they were fitting better.
  • AEROBICVIC
    AEROBICVIC Posts: 159 Member
    you need variety. keep changing up your cardio, add weight training and interval workouts. cardio will shape and thin and weights will define them. a right combo of everything will give you the look you want and you can always change the look if not satisfied. i have very strong legs (leg press over 700 pounds) but yet im very short (4'11") and some ppl would consider my legs too thick and don't like the look. i do, i love my legs. i think muscle is sexy! i also have huge calf muscles from teaching aerobics the last 14 years and will never be able to fit in a pair of over-the-calf boots but that's ok with me. i could easily change the look of my legs if i would quit lifting heavy and lay off some of the classs i teach. for now, im proud of my huge legs, it's my reminder of what it took to drop over 70 pounds and the success of having such a high endurance level. it's all up to you and what you want from your body. add variety and keep trying new exercises! good luck!
  • gottabekd
    gottabekd Posts: 46 Member
    Thanks guys! I feel a little better about not having a full leg-concentration day at the gym now, I do a pilates class that always includes leg workouts in the routine so they are getting worked, but just with body weight.
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