exercises / tips to get rid of saddlebags??

SQUATS!!!!! and you can do bowlers lunges- its where your in a lunge, but your back let goes off to the opposite side, sorta like your are doing a courtsey...hope that makes sense! if not, youtube, turbofire/ chalean extreme bowlers lunge! good luck!

That is my problem area too I have been told jogging/running helps as well as the typical inner and outer thigh strengthening exercises.

Lower your overall body fat percentage.

This.

Exercising a specific area won't make the fat disappear from said area.

I'm sorry to say hun, you can't actually spot reduce. It has to be an all over BF% loss. Squats and lunges are good to help gain muscle in your legs, but you will probably always have a little bit of saddlebag going on. I know. I have them too. They suck!!! But, one thing that has helped me....Jillian Michaels Killer Buns and Thighs DVD. It'll help you tone, but again, you cannot spot reduce.

PS. TOO much cardio will actually cause you to burn some of the MUSCLE that you already have. Strength training would be better.

Lower your overall body fat percentage.

This is true but you will have the same shape in a smaller version. That's me! Wide hips, skinny legs. I run a lot and have low body fat and it's still the last place on me to change shape.

hey!
i have saddlebags and don't know how to get rid of them. my weight is now 114lbs. i train cardio 4-6 times a week, and strength 2-3 times. does anyone have any suggestions for exercises i can do? it feels like the fat around my butt/thigh area just won't go away..!!

Do you know your current BF%?

bump

its around 13 % *

That's a good BF%. I wouldn't go any lower than that. Healthy for women is between about 13or 15% to about 25% depending on your build. Considering you're already very small it might just be genetics. Definitely try the exercises that everyone posted though. Good luck and let us know how it works. Maybe take before and after pics for your personal reference.

There is no such thing as target spot reducing. Yes certain exercises work certain muscles, Some will lengthen, others will strengthen, but you can't spot reduce body fat. Cellulite is fat, you have to improve (reduce) your over all body fat percentage and build muscle. Squats, lunges and other similar exercises will help. I have the same issue and at 60, my focus is building leg muscle to reshape my entire lower body to reduce the appearance by building strong leg muscles.

While there is no such thing as spot reduction if you are eating well and losing wt but still having issues with this area adding wt training to you routine is the way to go. Many people think of weight training and picture a lot of upper body exercises and neglect the lower half. I know I was the same way! I recently really started focusing on my lower half, its the part I am most unhappy with anyway.

Squats, Squats, Squats and more Squats. Do variations of these to keep it from getting boring, start with body wt, add dumbbells as you go along. My favorites are Prisoner Squats, Dumbbell Shoulder Press Squats and Squats using a medicine ball.

Lunges! Curtsey lunges, side lunges, stationary lunges, walking lunges all of the work that area but target different heads of the muscle.

Deadlifts. Many women hear deadlifts and think of some huge guy with a huge amount of weight. Google Stationary Dumbbell Deadlifts for women you'll probably get a million videos.

Step ups and what I like to call taps. Step ups you use a weight bench (use dumbbells if body weight is too easy) Step up with one foot then the other, then step down with the lead foot. Repeat then switch lead feet. Taps use a smaller step place one foot on the step and bend your knee slightly. Move your weight onto the leg on the step. Put your arms up infront of you and then lift the knee of the foot on the ground toward your chest while pulling your arms down too. Return to original position. The trick is to keep all your weight on the leg on the step, and just tap your back foot on the ground rapidly.

You should always do at least 3 sets. I don't like to have a set number of reps per set but at least ten. If you get to ten and can crank out 5 more DO it. Do it until you feel like if you do one more you are going to collapse. Its the ones you crank out when you are tired that are going to make the difference!