What exercises get skinny legs, not muscular legs?

Perhaps if you post a picture of what you're looking for people can give better advice?

I love yoga, but it doesn't lengthen your muscles, nothing can do that. You can only lose fat (through a calorie deficit), put on fat, make your muscles bigger (through strength training), or let them shrink (through not exercising them). I get that you don't like "snarky" responses, but on this thread, those are the responses that are actually giving you the best advice.

I can relate to how you feel about them - I don't like my calves either. I'm hoping to lose a bit more fat from them, but otherwise I'm just trying to accept them as they are. It IS unfair that some stupid guy called you a man, but that says far more about his own insecurities. You're a very attractive young woman - maybe try to work more on how you feel about yourself rather than getting too hung up on one part of your body.

Bump

Do weighted lunges, squats, deadlifts, leg lifts, donkey kicks. They will not only tone and tighten your legs but your butt too. Also, your diet needs to be netting 1200-1400 calories, depending on your current weight. I'm not too sure about the yoga and pilates. They may work, but it will take longer. Lift heavy and don't believe the hype that you will bulk up, because you won't. Unless you are full of testonerone and are taking 'roids you will not bulk up but tone up and slim down. I am doing this very thing because I am short and want to tighten my legs up for summer. It is working.

stretching after exercise helps elongate the muscles pilates leg exercises are good for this

Yoga and pilates are supposed to be the best way to elongate your muscles rather than develope them.

stretching after exercise helps elongate the muscles pilates leg exercises are good for this

Seriously, you can't elongate your muscles.

Lowering your body fat percentage. No other way around it.

Lack of exercise. Which is lack of muscle.

I agree!! No workout and starvation will give you skinny - but not muscular - legs.. Who'd want to look like that?

I was going to ignore the first comment but really? I didn't ask for this. All I asked for was what exercises will slim my legs down but won't bulk them up. I'm pretty sure a lot of women feel the same way.
Yes, I want skinny legs. But that's my personal choice. That's what I find attractive. I get that maybe you prefer the musclier look, that's totally up to you, your personal choice but I don't like that. I don't want chunky, muscley legs. I want thin, slightly toned legs. Having slim legs & having anorexic legs is totally different. If I wanted to have anorexic legs, I would not be here looking for help.
I'm sorry if that was slightly rude but I came here for help, not for people to leave snarky responses.

Just like you don't think slim legs = anorexic legs, many of us do not think muscled legs = "chunky" legs either... So judge not, etc.

Give them to me because I WANT bigger calves.

Mine are shrinking with the running I'm doing

I only scanned the replies here, so I might have missed if anyone said this, however, the one thing you must remember is that you cannot overcome your genetics. For so many years I cried and raged over my legs. My mom and dad both (and probably everyone else in my bloodline) have heavy legs. My dad's are and have always been muscular, my mom (and me) have always gained weight first in our legs/hips. It's also the last place I lose weight. So you can do all the stuff everyone is suggesting but remember, you cannot negate the effects of your own genetics.

I agree you cannot change your genetics. At only 5'0, I am very tiny but always gain weight first in my butt and thighs. It sucks, but I got it from my momma! It is true that you cannot change your genetics, BUT you can change your shape with a healthy low calorie diet and a consistent exercise plan where you target your leg muscles. I have seen a plethora of before and after pictures of women on here with short, chubby legs completely slim down all over with a good diet plan and the exercises I mentioned above.

Do some yoga on top of your biking! The yoga helps stretch out your legs which will make them look nice and lean!

I was going to say this. Even with my weight being the same, yoga has made me look so much longer and leaner. It completely transforms your muscles and your entire body.

Lack of exercise. Which is lack of muscle.

I agree!! No workout and starvation will give you skinny - but not muscular - legs.. Who'd want to look like that?

I was going to ignore the first comment but really? I didn't ask for this. All I asked for was what exercises will slim my legs down but won't bulk them up. I'm pretty sure a lot of women feel the same way.
Yes, I want skinny legs. But that's my personal choice. That's what I find attractive. I get that maybe you prefer the musclier look, that's totally up to you, your personal choice but I don't like that. I don't want chunky, muscley legs. I want thin, slightly toned legs. Having slim legs & having anorexic legs is totally different. If I wanted to have anorexic legs, I would not be here looking for help.
I'm sorry if that was slightly rude but I came here for help, not for people to leave snarky responses.

I'm glad you responded to this so i didnt have to.

Absolutely no exercises can help you with this.

You must simply reduce body fat. it's easy!

Okay, maybe I don't have something terribly helpful to say, except that I feel your pain and that my calves have shrunk a little (half an inch, a little) since I started running, but I haven't been doing it for very long either, so it's possible they will shrink more.

What I really wanted to say, is just why does anyone think it's at all helpful to tell the OP that muscly legs are hot? If she doesn't like them, no amount of your saying it's a good thing or beautiful will change her mind. It's probably not my place to be saying this at all, I felt the need to do it because I'm annoyed for her by people who think trying to convince someone they're wrong helps. It reminds me of when I said I didn't want to be heavy, even if it's only muscle-heavy and everyone jumped straight for my throat saying that I *should* want to be heavy.

I read most of the first page, but have no desire to read through all of the pages so if this has already been said, sorry for repeating.

First, you cannot spot reduce. There are no exercises that will make your leg more skinny. Fat loss is primarily a function of diet, ie how much you eat. You will burn off fat with a moderate calorie deficit over time and that will make the legs look slimmer.

Second, There is a very high likelihood that a good amount of that seemingly muscular calf size is fat. You could be someone with really muscular ones, but unless your at a healthy body fat percentage, you are probably someone who has a fair amount of fat held there, and that can very easily look like muscle depending on exactly where it is stored.

Third, cycling will not make your legs huge and muscular. The top cyclists get those big muscular legs from lifting weights, not primarily from cycling. This is especially true for sprint cyclists. I cycle a lot, and while there is some calf work, it is primarily my thighs that get the work.

Finally, my suggestion is keep working on losing fat with a moderate calorie deficit and exercise. Cycling is a great cardiovascular exercise, so keep that up. If when you are at a healthy weight you still hate the way they look, you can try various things.