Toning thighs??
jackies620
Posts: 37 Member
I know there is no way to target any specific areas when exercising. But I'm curious...I've been counting calories, lifting weights and taking a class at my local Y. I'm losing weight like crazy, and inches in my arms and waist. But nothing in my thighs. Now granted, I've had 4 babies in an 11yr time frame. But since my thighs aren't toning at all, I can't change my pant size, leaving them loose in my waist.
Am I doing something wrong? Should I add more elliptical workouts?? Perhaps more running? Maybe something that does specifically use more leg muscles to help with the thighs?? Please, help me get these things under control!! Lol, I'm not a big girl at all, just have larger thighs and they are my one problem area I can never seem to figure out!
Am I doing something wrong? Should I add more elliptical workouts?? Perhaps more running? Maybe something that does specifically use more leg muscles to help with the thighs?? Please, help me get these things under control!! Lol, I'm not a big girl at all, just have larger thighs and they are my one problem area I can never seem to figure out!
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Replies
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That's the last place I lose. I'm losing weight like crazy in my waist and everywhere else is staying. Lol0
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Keep consistent - it will come off eventually! Unfortunately us women tend to let go of the fat around our bottom/hips/thighs last....0
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Yup, last place to lose for sure -- under the belly button, thighs and lower back (muffin tops) -- are the stubborn spots for women. Here are some things you can try (not really knowing your current training programme):
Train legs 3x week - squats, deadlifts... whatever you like... training the large muscle groups is the best way to promote fat loss
You can incorporate some accessory movements to add more definition to the leg muscles - so cable adduction, abductions, and glute kickbacks
Do some HIIT style workouts 3x week to get your heart rate up and a sweat going.
That being said, nothing will "spot" reduce and you just have to be patient with the last little bit and keep moving forward
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jackies620 wrote: »I know there is no way to target any specific areas when exercising. But I'm curious...I've been counting calories, lifting weights and taking a class at my local Y. I'm losing weight like crazy, and inches in my arms and waist. But nothing in my thighs. Now granted, I've had 4 babies in an 11yr time frame. But since my thighs aren't toning at all, I can't change my pant size, leaving them loose in my waist.
Am I doing something wrong? Should I add more elliptical workouts?? Perhaps more running? Maybe something that does specifically use more leg muscles to help with the thighs?? Please, help me get these things under control!! Lol, I'm not a big girl at all, just have larger thighs and they are my one problem area I can never seem to figure out!
I know you can't spot reduce - but how do I spot reduce.0 -
jackies620 wrote: »I know there is no way to target any specific areas when exercising. But I'm curious...I've been counting calories, lifting weights and taking a class at my local Y. I'm losing weight like crazy, and inches in my arms and waist. But nothing in my thighs. Now granted, I've had 4 babies in an 11yr time frame. But since my thighs aren't toning at all, I can't change my pant size, leaving them loose in my waist.
Am I doing something wrong? Should I add more elliptical workouts?? Perhaps more running? Maybe something that does specifically use more leg muscles to help with the thighs?? Please, help me get these things under control!! Lol, I'm not a big girl at all, just have larger thighs and they are my one problem area I can never seem to figure out!
I'm also pear shaped and for me, I just had to lose enough weight/get my bf% down. My lower half was the last place to lose, but I did eventually go from a size 14 jean, down to a current size 4.
eta: I did no exercise to get my lower half down-was all because I lost enough weight (15lbs more than my initial goal weight), and in the process getting my bf % around 22 percent.0 -
Iron_Feline wrote: »jackies620 wrote: »I know there is no way to target any specific areas when exercising. But I'm curious...I've been counting calories, lifting weights and taking a class at my local Y. I'm losing weight like crazy, and inches in my arms and waist. But nothing in my thighs. Now granted, I've had 4 babies in an 11yr time frame. But since my thighs aren't toning at all, I can't change my pant size, leaving them loose in my waist.
Am I doing something wrong? Should I add more elliptical workouts?? Perhaps more running? Maybe something that does specifically use more leg muscles to help with the thighs?? Please, help me get these things under control!! Lol, I'm not a big girl at all, just have larger thighs and they are my one problem area I can never seem to figure out!
I know you can't spot reduce - but how do I spot reduce.
Like I said NOT spot reduce, BUT am I missing key exercise or tool! I'm new to this, so that is why I was asking! Thanks for trying to make me feel like a fool for reaching out.0 -
jackies620 wrote: »Iron_Feline wrote: »jackies620 wrote: »I know there is no way to target any specific areas when exercising. But I'm curious...I've been counting calories, lifting weights and taking a class at my local Y. I'm losing weight like crazy, and inches in my arms and waist. But nothing in my thighs. Now granted, I've had 4 babies in an 11yr time frame. But since my thighs aren't toning at all, I can't change my pant size, leaving them loose in my waist.
Am I doing something wrong? Should I add more elliptical workouts?? Perhaps more running? Maybe something that does specifically use more leg muscles to help with the thighs?? Please, help me get these things under control!! Lol, I'm not a big girl at all, just have larger thighs and they are my one problem area I can never seem to figure out!
I know you can't spot reduce - but how do I spot reduce.
Like I said NOT spot reduce, BUT am I missing key exercise or tool! I'm new to this, so that is why I was asking! Thanks for trying to make me feel like a fool for reaching out.
There's always going to be one. Don't take it personally.
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jackies620 wrote: »Iron_Feline wrote: »jackies620 wrote: »I know there is no way to target any specific areas when exercising. But I'm curious...I've been counting calories, lifting weights and taking a class at my local Y. I'm losing weight like crazy, and inches in my arms and waist. But nothing in my thighs. Now granted, I've had 4 babies in an 11yr time frame. But since my thighs aren't toning at all, I can't change my pant size, leaving them loose in my waist.
Am I doing something wrong? Should I add more elliptical workouts?? Perhaps more running? Maybe something that does specifically use more leg muscles to help with the thighs?? Please, help me get these things under control!! Lol, I'm not a big girl at all, just have larger thighs and they are my one problem area I can never seem to figure out!
I know you can't spot reduce - but how do I spot reduce.
Like I said NOT spot reduce, BUT am I missing key exercise or tool! I'm new to this, so that is why I was asking! Thanks for trying to make me feel like a fool for reaching out.
They weren't making you sound like a fool but pointing out that you know you can't spot reduce, but you went ahead and asked, how do I spot reduce?
Like everyone else has mentioned, you're genetically predisposed to lose fat in areas first. That's the one part about weight loss that people get tripped up about and then get discouraged and stop. You're doing great work though!! Keep going and you'll body will turn to the excess fat in your thighs for energy.
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mizzlarabee wrote: »jackies620 wrote: »Iron_Feline wrote: »jackies620 wrote: »I know there is no way to target any specific areas when exercising. But I'm curious...I've been counting calories, lifting weights and taking a class at my local Y. I'm losing weight like crazy, and inches in my arms and waist. But nothing in my thighs. Now granted, I've had 4 babies in an 11yr time frame. But since my thighs aren't toning at all, I can't change my pant size, leaving them loose in my waist.
Am I doing something wrong? Should I add more elliptical workouts?? Perhaps more running? Maybe something that does specifically use more leg muscles to help with the thighs?? Please, help me get these things under control!! Lol, I'm not a big girl at all, just have larger thighs and they are my one problem area I can never seem to figure out!
I know you can't spot reduce - but how do I spot reduce.
Like I said NOT spot reduce, BUT am I missing key exercise or tool! I'm new to this, so that is why I was asking! Thanks for trying to make me feel like a fool for reaching out.
There's always going to be one. Don't take it personally.
Or do. How a person takes a thing is on them, but the deliverer of the message. Even this latest response was "I said NOT spot reduce, but am I missing the key exercise or tool.....that will help me spot reduce?"
That particular poster is trying to help the OP understand....that they already understand. Keep losing and eventually the fat will go away from all over.0 -
mizzlarabee wrote: »jackies620 wrote: »Iron_Feline wrote: »jackies620 wrote: »I know there is no way to target any specific areas when exercising. But I'm curious...I've been counting calories, lifting weights and taking a class at my local Y. I'm losing weight like crazy, and inches in my arms and waist. But nothing in my thighs. Now granted, I've had 4 babies in an 11yr time frame. But since my thighs aren't toning at all, I can't change my pant size, leaving them loose in my waist.
Am I doing something wrong? Should I add more elliptical workouts?? Perhaps more running? Maybe something that does specifically use more leg muscles to help with the thighs?? Please, help me get these things under control!! Lol, I'm not a big girl at all, just have larger thighs and they are my one problem area I can never seem to figure out!
I know you can't spot reduce - but how do I spot reduce.
Like I said NOT spot reduce, BUT am I missing key exercise or tool! I'm new to this, so that is why I was asking! Thanks for trying to make me feel like a fool for reaching out.
There's always going to be one. Don't take it personally.
Or do. How a person takes a thing is on them, but the deliverer of the message. Even this latest response was "I said NOT spot reduce, but am I missing the key exercise or tool.....that will help me spot reduce?"
That particular poster is trying to help the OP understand....that they already understand. Keep losing and eventually the fat will go away from all over.
True I guess better worded would be don't read into it. 0 -
If you're losing weight like crazy I wouldn't change anything. Stay consistent and be patient. I get an 8-pack and still have chubby thighs. Some people get these gorgeous legs and hips, but have a belly or big arms at first. It will come off your legs eventually, just don't give up.0
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Hang on in there! Something will happen sooner or later! I was wearing trousers mainly at the higher end of Large, and started losing on my waist first. Before my weight loss all my trousers were too wide there already. Then I lost even more, but could still not fit any other size due to my thighs (and my calves! I hate those trousers with tight lower legs!). But this week I bought trousers in size S, and they fit!0
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mizzlarabee wrote: »jackies620 wrote: »Iron_Feline wrote: »jackies620 wrote: »I know there is no way to target any specific areas when exercising. But I'm curious...I've been counting calories, lifting weights and taking a class at my local Y. I'm losing weight like crazy, and inches in my arms and waist. But nothing in my thighs. Now granted, I've had 4 babies in an 11yr time frame. But since my thighs aren't toning at all, I can't change my pant size, leaving them loose in my waist.
Am I doing something wrong? Should I add more elliptical workouts?? Perhaps more running? Maybe something that does specifically use more leg muscles to help with the thighs?? Please, help me get these things under control!! Lol, I'm not a big girl at all, just have larger thighs and they are my one problem area I can never seem to figure out!
I know you can't spot reduce - but how do I spot reduce.
Like I said NOT spot reduce, BUT am I missing key exercise or tool! I'm new to this, so that is why I was asking! Thanks for trying to make me feel like a fool for reaching out.
There's always going to be one. Don't take it personally.
Or do. How a person takes a thing is on them, but the deliverer of the message. Even this latest response was "I said NOT spot reduce, but am I missing the key exercise or tool.....that will help me spot reduce?"
That particular poster is trying to help the OP understand....that they already understand. Keep losing and eventually the fat will go away from all over.
That was very well worded. Are you an empath?0 -
It's funny because for me, that was the first thing I started toning and suddenly I found them too bulky (I posted about it a while back, asking if I was over exercising them lol). So it depends on your body type! Any way, what helped my legs was running, squatting, lunging plus pilates like exercises. It took me about 3 months to see actual toned results.0
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myfitterlife wrote: »It's funny because for me, that was the first thing I started toning and suddenly I found them too bulky (I posted about it a while back, asking if I was over exercising them lol). So it depends on your body type! Any way, what helped my legs was running, squatting, lunging plus pilates like exercises. It took me about 3 months to see actual toned results.
so it took you 3 months to drop body fat to the extent that it reached your legs based on where you store / lose fat from first as an individual
the running, squatting, lunging, pilates is great for fitness and preserving LBM whilst in a defecit .. but it isn't spot working really
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so it took you 3 months to drop body fat to the extent that it reached your legs based on where you store / lose fat from first as an individual
the running, squatting, lunging, pilates is great for fitness and preserving LBM whilst in a defecit .. but it isn't spot working really
No, it took me about 2 years to lose the first 15 kgs. The last 3-5 took me about 3-6 months I think. I only started exercising the last 3 months and saw a change in my legs, shape, (plus stomach and arms a little bit) while not losing any more. So I started to see toning results I never targeted my legs specifically, but this is where it started to show first. Later on, more and more my stomach and now I'm starting see my arms changing as well! 0 -
No you can't spot reduce, but I have found that since I started road cycling my legs have leaned out quite a lot. You need to ride quite fast and at a high cadence but I certainly have seen significant improvement in my 'big' muscular legs more from cycling than anything else. I used to run (2 half marathons in the last couple of years) and I do lots of other exercise including squats, lunges and specific leg work but for my cycling has been the key...0
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juleszephyr wrote: »No you can't spot reduce, but I have found that since I started road cycling my legs have leaned out quite a lot. You need to ride quite fast and at a high cadence but I certainly have seen significant improvement in my 'big' muscular legs more from cycling than anything else. I used to run (2 half marathons in the last couple of years) and I do lots of other exercise including squats, lunges and specific leg work but for my cycling has been the key...
Funny you mention this, because I actually just started cycling as well. Interested to see if it will change the shape of my legs in any way 0 -
It is interesting that people are saying that you can't spot reduce, obviously you can't just loose weight from one particular part of your body, but you can definitively tone a particular part of your body.
My training regime includes LOTS of leg work, mainly different variations of squats, lunges, polymeric jumps(great for cardio and strength training at the same time but make sure you have a proper instructor), leg lifts, leg presses, etc. and I do carry most of my weight around my thighs and hips but my thighs are also one of the most defined and strongest areas of my body. I'll never have large "thigh gap", that is just my body type, but you can definitively have toned strong athletic thighs by working the muscles. It is not a quick process, but you will see progress.0 -
PhysicsOnIce wrote: »It is interesting that people are saying that you can't spot reduce, obviously you can't just loose weight from one particular part of your body, but you can definitively tone a particular part of your body.
My training regime includes LOTS of leg work, mainly different variations of squats, lunges, polymeric jumps(great for cardio and strength training at the same time but make sure you have a proper instructor), leg lifts, leg presses, etc. and I do carry most of my weight around my thighs and hips but my thighs are also one of the most defined and strongest areas of my body. I'll never have large "thigh gap", that is just my body type, but you can definitively have toned strong athletic thighs by working the muscles. It is not a quick process, but you will see progress.
Exactly my experience 0 -
Of course, you can't spot reduce fat by training an area, but you can definitely sculpt it!0
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myfitterlife wrote: »Of course, you can't spot reduce fat by training an area, but you can definitely sculpt it!
No just no.0 -
myfitterlife wrote: »Of course, you can't spot reduce fat by training an area, but you can definitely sculpt it!
No just no.
To clarify, I don't mean sculpting fat lol. But muscle 0 -
Some people have tendencies to store more of their adipose in certain places. The only thing you can do is keep going with the caloric deficit, and you will see results guaranteed.0
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Just to be clear muscle just is - you can't elongate it / change its shape .. you can make it bigger or lose muscle mass
that in conjunction with Body Fat % leads to what people refer to as 'toning'0 -
myfitterlife wrote: »Of course, you can't spot reduce fat by training an area, but you can definitely sculpt it!
No just no.
Can you clarify what you mean?
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the above statement. You won't be sculpting fat, you'll be sculpting muscle, which means more muscle which will help burn more calories and in the long run help reduce some of the fat around the thighs. No-one is saying that you can sculpt fat, but you can sculpt and gain muscle in the desired areas.
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PhysicsOnIce wrote: »myfitterlife wrote: »Of course, you can't spot reduce fat by training an area, but you can definitely sculpt it!
No just no.
Can you clarify what you mean?
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the above statement. You won't be sculpting fat, you'll be sculpting muscle, which means more muscle which will help burn more calories and in the long run help reduce some of the fat around the thighs. No-one is saying that you can sculpt fat, but you can sculpt and gain muscle in the desired areas.
Sculpt muscle? As rabbitjb stated muscle can only grow and shrink. You can't "sculpt" or "tone", these are made up words.
Once fat starts coming off certain areas the muscle underneath will start becoming more noticeable (what you think the word toning means)
Sculpting, I don't even know what this is meant to mean? You are right that you can gain muscle in certain areas but you cannot choose how it grows, that is decided by your genetics...0 -
PhysicsOnIce wrote: »myfitterlife wrote: »Of course, you can't spot reduce fat by training an area, but you can definitely sculpt it!
No just no.
Can you clarify what you mean?
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the above statement. You won't be sculpting fat, you'll be sculpting muscle, which means more muscle which will help burn more calories and in the long run help reduce some of the fat around the thighs. No-one is saying that you can sculpt fat, but you can sculpt and gain muscle in the desired areas.
This makes absolutely no sense. Muscle is muscle and can only grow or reduce.0 -
jackies620 wrote: »I know there is no way to target any specific areas when exercising. But I'm curious...I've been counting calories, lifting weights and taking a class at my local Y. I'm losing weight like crazy, and inches in my arms and waist. But nothing in my thighs. Now granted, I've had 4 babies in an 11yr time frame. But since my thighs aren't toning at all, I can't change my pant size, leaving them loose in my waist.
Am I doing something wrong? Should I add more elliptical workouts?? Perhaps more running? Maybe something that does specifically use more leg muscles to help with the thighs?? Please, help me get these things under control!! Lol, I'm not a big girl at all, just have larger thighs and they are my one problem area I can never seem to figure out!
It all comes down to genetics, and to me, it just sounds like you're potentially pear shaped. Which may mean, that even when you hit your goal, you'll have difficulty finding pants as your hips/thighs will be significantly larger than your waist.
As someone who's pear shaped and could literally drop 20lbs below a healthy weight and not see any difference in them, I encourage you (at least in the mean time) to embrace things like leggings and "jeggings" or stretchy jeans. Most of the time, I literally look like I can't get into my pants (they get all snagged at the thighs/hips) but once they're up, they fit perfectly on my waist.0 -
PhysicsOnIce wrote: »myfitterlife wrote: »Of course, you can't spot reduce fat by training an area, but you can definitely sculpt it!
No just no.
Can you clarify what you mean?
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the above statement. You won't be sculpting fat, you'll be sculpting muscle, which means more muscle which will help burn more calories and in the long run help reduce some of the fat around the thighs. No-one is saying that you can sculpt fat, but you can sculpt and gain muscle in the desired areas.
Sculpt muscle? As rabbitjb stated muscle can only grow and shrink. You can't "sculpt" or "tone", these are made up words.
Once fat starts coming off certain areas the muscle underneath will start becoming more noticeable (what you think the word toning means)
Sculpting, I don't even know what this is meant to mean? You are right that you can gain muscle in certain areas but you cannot choose how it grows, that is decided by your genetics...
No one is saying you can choose to how to grow muscle. You can simply grow muscle, that is obvious and the official definition of sculpting, see below! And the OP, was asking if there is anything she can do to lose inches in her thighs.
As for the word choices
Tone: definition 9 in the Webster's dictionary states:
a : the state of a living body or of any of its organs or parts in which the functions are healthy and performed with due vigor
b : normal tension or responsiveness to stimuli; specifically : muscular tonus
And before you go of barking that at is a common usage of the words, sport doctors can test for the responsiveness of your muscles due to stimuli, with the use of electrodes and determine if they are within normal levels. This is just an expensive procedure because it is essentially an EKG for your muscles.
Scuplting also in Webster's Dictionary
: to make (something) by carving or molding clay, stone, etc. : to make (a sculpture)
: to make (a part of your body) more muscular by doing exercises
There is no mention of a specific shape. The above definition is what I mean by sculpting muscle, i.e. grow muscle.0
This discussion has been closed.
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