Trimming down thighs without putting on muscle?
Replies
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I understand what you are trying to get across OP. It's not that you are opposed to muscle, but you aren't looking to have big thighs or calves. I feel your pain, I'm 5' and I have always had an extremly powerful lower body, so it is much harder to have a long, lean looking leg. Running worked for me to achieve lean muscle and a less "built" look.
That it is exactly what the OP was saying. Others don't want to get it. If you are short why would you want bulky legs. Also, if you tend to gain most of your fat in your thighs it will look more bulkier. You want to try and remove as much fat as possible and sculpt a muscle size that suits your frame. You hear some female bodybuilders, fitness models who say that they tend to bulk up in legs so don't work them as much etc.0 -
Thanks for all the helpful comments.
It is not that I don't want muscle, I have muscle and am at a good weight (only need to lose a little bit of fat and tone).
My problem is that I dont want to add more muscle in the thigh area...my body is longer than my legs and with more muscle they look very short and stocky. While I am aware that it is not that easy to build muscle as a woman, I find that I personally get muscle very easily from exercise. So, I want to trim a little muscle off and tone so as to not emphasize the stockiness (make them look more elongated).0 -
You can mix in pilates and yoga if you'd like. Long distance running will strip type II muscle (fast twitch/bulky) off and develop type I muscles if you prefer. As will any endurance endeavor really. I'd still continue to lift heavy up top as to not get the typical skinny fat look endurance athletes, myself included, tend to get. See lifting heavy and doing interval work increases GH which builds muscle and burns fat where as endurance endeavors increase cortisol which aids in retaining belly fat. But I digress.
FWIW I my feeling is that not everyone can achieve the long, lean look that is the "ideal" in society today. We are not all graced with that type of body. If you're low teens in bf% and a bit stocky I say embrace it, love it, and utilize it to the fullest.0 -
FWIW I my feeling is that not everyone can achieve the long, lean look that is the "ideal" in society today. We are not all graced with that type of body. If you're low teens in bf% and a bit stocky I say embrace it, love it, and utilize it to the fullest.
Agreed - you can improve your body but you can't change it fundamentally. Don't try to be someone else, just be the best you. You couldn't very well get someone else's lips or eyes (without surgery) the same goes for their legs. You've got what you've got and you can make it better but you can't trade it in. Once again, lowering body fat is your best bet here.0 -
I am never going to have narrow hips. I carry excess weight on my thighs and *kitten*, and while I could lose more weight and some of it will come from my hips, my skeletal frame will not allow me to shave much off the size. If I lose too much weight, I just end up bony... with a wide bony *kitten*.
[img]http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa353/isthisbliss/fitness/IMG_4854.jpg[/quote] Personally, I think it's a lot healthier to embrace what you have, and wear flattering clothes. The looser fitting top balances my hips and the mini and wedges lengthen my legs.[/img]
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try running and doing exercise or weight training do some weight training on your legs not to put on muscles but just to tone it up and trim it down http://bestadjustabledumbbellsreviews.com/0
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DIET... get rid of the fat and the lean muscle with look more trim. You can't bulk up very much you're a girl.
what she said0 -
I understand where the OP is coming from. I gain almost exclusively in my thighs. But in spite of this, my thighs have always been very muscular---never flabby and difficult to pinch. I'm 5'10 and have had a long lean body when I ran a lot and did pilates. But mixed results with weight training. There have been times when my thighs continued to get bigger from weight training and times when I got positive results. So it may take some trial and error to find what will work for you. Don't settle for wide leg pants if you believe you can make your body better.0
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Add some good old fashioned walking outside for 40-40 minutes a day, something with hills.0
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Muscle burns fat, and muscle is not as bulky as fat. A pound of fat and a pound of muscle weigh the same but the muscle is so much smaller.0
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I understand what you are trying to get across OP. It's not that you are opposed to muscle, but you aren't looking to have big thighs or calves. I feel your pain, I'm 5' and I have always had an extremly powerful lower body, so it is much harder to have a long, lean looking leg. Running worked for me to achieve lean muscle and a less "built" look.
That it is exactly what the OP was saying. Others don't want to get it. If you are short why would you want bulky legs. Also, if you tend to gain most of your fat in your thighs it will look more bulkier. You want to try and remove as much fat as possible and sculpt a muscle size that suits your frame. You hear some female bodybuilders, fitness models who say that they tend to bulk up in legs so don't work them as much etc.
I'm only 5'2, just but I have that long lean look, might be due to yoga, but I think it's more genetic. I know many here disagree, but yoga works and builds different muscles, might help. However, I need to include squats and lunges to get the lift in my butt I want, yoga does not do that.
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slow cardio such as jogging and body weight squats so that you can burn the fat around that area and "tone" your thigh0
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slow cardio such as jogging and body weight squats so that you can burn the fat around that area and "tone" your thigh
You can't spot reduce fat.0 -
Ive been putting on muscle for the first time (purposefully) in my life this year and ive never had smaller thighs. I mean...since ive been an adult lol. Seriously the muscle is what you want. You don't want thin flabby legs! You will have cellulite! Muscles are good! And you can run and do cardio faster so you can burn fat more efficiently!0
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Check out the pics here of a woman's legs and hip area (cross section pics, so not for the squeamish): http://www.stumptuous.com/honesty-is-the-best-policy0
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Squats, lunges & running/power walking are excellent for thighs & eating healthy. My legs have completely thinned down & I've gained muscle since starting MFP by doing this 0
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1) I'm assuming the OP is eating at a caloric deficit. This makes it very difficult to build muscle. even for men....All the dead lifts and leg press exercises are going to build beyond what you are likely working towards.
2) She's a female. Females lack the hormonal environment (i.e., testosterone) to build significant amounts of muscle.
3) Couple #1 with #2 and you have very, very difficult conditions for muscle building.
I'm not sure where people come up with this idea that if you pick weights up you're going to become a musclebound mutant size freak overnight. There are plenty of guys in their teens and twenties with tons of testosterone coursing through their bodies, eating at a significant caloric excess, taking lots and lots of protein on board, lifting on well-designed programs and putting up some staggering amounts of weight, who STILL fight hard for every pound of muscle they gain. They're in an optimally anabolic situation, yet the muscle still doesn't just happily climb aboard for the ride. Now take away the testosterone, the caloric excess and the ultra-high protein intake and you now have a very sub-optimal situation for muscle gain. Basically, it ain't gonna happen.
Lifting heavy weights in a caloric deficit will preserve what lean body mass you have and help burn the fat. It will strengthen connective tissue and help preserve bone density. It will facilitate neurological adaptation which will result in strength gains. But it *won't* pack on pounds of muscle. If one discovers that they're a truly genetic freak who is somehow able to defy the laws of thermodynamics and finds themselves gaining too much muscle, it's easy to remedy....don't do that anymore.0 -
1) I'm assuming the OP is eating at a caloric deficit. This makes it very difficult to build muscle. even for men....All the dead lifts and leg press exercises are going to build beyond what you are likely working towards.
2) She's a female. Females lack the hormonal environment (i.e., testosterone) to build significant amounts of muscle.
3) Couple #1 with #2 and you have very, very difficult conditions for muscle building.
I'm not sure where people come up with this idea that if you pick weights up you're going to become a musclebound mutant size freak overnight. There are plenty of guys in their teens and twenties with tons of testosterone coursing through their bodies, eating at a significant caloric excess, taking lots and lots of protein on board, lifting on well-designed programs and putting up some staggering amounts of weight, who STILL fight hard for every pound of muscle they gain. They're in an optimally anabolic situation, yet the muscle still doesn't just happily climb aboard for the ride. Now take away the testosterone, the caloric excess and the ultra-high protein intake and you now have a very sub-optimal situation for muscle gain. Basically, it ain't gonna happen.
Lifting heavy weights in a caloric deficit will preserve what lean body mass you have and help burn the fat. It will strengthen connective tissue and help preserve bone density. It will facilitate neurological adaptation which will result in strength gains. But it *won't* pack on pounds of muscle. If one discovers that they're a truly genetic freak who is somehow able to defy the laws of thermodynamics and finds themselves gaining too much muscle, it's easy to remedy....don't do that anymore.
Outstanding post. I want to frame it.0 -
so much spot reducing fail in this thread it's hilarious :laugh:
body weight squats burn leg fat :laugh:
lean muscle vs bulky muscle :laugh:
some of you really need to go back to high school and take a human anatomy class.0 -
Go and look at the legs of the women who compete in the 10,000 meter marathon. Then have a look at the legs of the women who compete in the sprints, gymnastics and strength sports.
Guess who looks better?0 -
Eat better.
Weight loss happens with a good diet, now through exercise. As long as you are eating at a deficit you'll lose weight. Unfortunately you can't control how/where you lose it, but be patient and it will come off.
^^This is the only way to trim down thighs without putting on muscle, only spot reduction that works is liposuction...0 -
1) I'm assuming the OP is eating at a caloric deficit. This makes it very difficult to build muscle. even for men....All the dead lifts and leg press exercises are going to build beyond what you are likely working towards.
2) She's a female. Females lack the hormonal environment (i.e., testosterone) to build significant amounts of muscle.
3) Couple #1 with #2 and you have very, very difficult conditions for muscle building.
I'm not sure where people come up with this idea that if you pick weights up you're going to become a musclebound mutant size freak overnight. There are plenty of guys in their teens and twenties with tons of testosterone coursing through their bodies, eating at a significant caloric excess, taking lots and lots of protein on board, lifting on well-designed programs and putting up some staggering amounts of weight, who STILL fight hard for every pound of muscle they gain. They're in an optimally anabolic situation, yet the muscle still doesn't just happily climb aboard for the ride. Now take away the testosterone, the caloric excess and the ultra-high protein intake and you now have a very sub-optimal situation for muscle gain. Basically, it ain't gonna happen.
Lifting heavy weights in a caloric deficit will preserve what lean body mass you have and help burn the fat. It will strengthen connective tissue and help preserve bone density. It will facilitate neurological adaptation which will result in strength gains. But it *won't* pack on pounds of muscle. If one discovers that they're a truly genetic freak who is somehow able to defy the laws of thermodynamics and finds themselves gaining too much muscle, it's easy to remedy....don't do that anymore.
Outstanding post. I want to frame it.
Agreed. Superb post!0 -
Why do people keep asking the original poster, "You don't want muscle? Are you sure? You sound crazy." Let them want they what they want, damn. If they don't want muscle, instead of freaking out about it, you can just offer advice, or let them know, as some did, things like, "You can't really spot reduce."
Can you imagine if every single person questioned every little thing you wanted for yourself?
- You don't want facial hair? WHY?!?
- You want to grow your hair out long?
- You're dying it brown?
- You're wearing long sleeves today? Are you sure?
- You don't like the Sharpie mustache I drew above your lip while you were asleep?
Are you guys the paparazzi?0 -
Why do people keep asking the original poster, "You don't want muscle? Are you sure? You sound crazy." Let them want they what they want, damn. If they don't want muscle, instead of freaking out about it, you can just offer advice, or let them know, as some did, things like, "You can't really spot reduce."
Can you imagine if every single person questioned every little thing you wanted for yourself?
- You don't want facial hair? WHY?!?
- You want to grow your hair out long?
- You're dying it brown?
- You're wearing long sleeves today? Are you sure?
- You don't like the Sharpie mustache I drew above your lip while you were asleep?
Are you guys the paparazzi?
Nah. It's more like the question "how can I avoid adding muscle when I exercise" is analagous to
- I am going for a haircut tomorrow. How can I avoid my facial hair getting shaved while I'm there?
- How can I wash my hair every day without it growing too long?
- I'm dying my hair brown but I don't want my nails painted red. How to avoid that?
- Will wearing long sleeves cause my pants to fall down?
- If I get a Sharpie mustache painted on me does that mean my regular mustache will grow in thicker?0 -
No, it's not like that. I mean, yeah, I see your point about asking that question, but I'm focused on specifically the people who are saying, "GASP YOU DON'T WANT MUSCLE?!" I understand if someone is saying, "You don't need to worry too much about that anyway," but I'm talking about the people who are only here to say, basically, "I want muscle, WHY DON'T YOU?! YOU CRAZY, GURL."Why do people keep asking the original poster, "You don't want muscle? Are you sure? You sound crazy." Let them want they what they want, damn. If they don't want muscle, instead of freaking out about it, you can just offer advice, or let them know, as some did, things like, "You can't really spot reduce."
Can you imagine if every single person questioned every little thing you wanted for yourself?
- You don't want facial hair? WHY?!?
- You want to grow your hair out long?
- You're dying it brown?
- You're wearing long sleeves today? Are you sure?
- You don't like the Sharpie mustache I drew above your lip while you were asleep?
Are you guys the paparazzi?
Nah. It's more like the question "how can I avoid adding muscle when I exercise" is analagous to
- I am going for a haircut tomorrow. How can I avoid my facial hair getting shaved while I'm there?
- How can I wash my hair every day without it growing too long?
- I'm dying my hair brown but I don't want my nails painted red. How to avoid that?
- Will wearing long sleeves cause my pants to fall down?
- If I get a Sharpie mustache painted on me does that mean my regular mustache will grow in thicker?0 -
1) I'm assuming the OP is eating at a caloric deficit. This makes it very difficult to build muscle. even for men....All the dead lifts and leg press exercises are going to build beyond what you are likely working towards.
2) She's a female. Females lack the hormonal environment (i.e., testosterone) to build significant amounts of muscle.
3) Couple #1 with #2 and you have very, very difficult conditions for muscle building.
I'm not sure where people come up with this idea that if you pick weights up you're going to become a musclebound mutant size freak overnight. There are plenty of guys in their teens and twenties with tons of testosterone coursing through their bodies, eating at a significant caloric excess, taking lots and lots of protein on board, lifting on well-designed programs and putting up some staggering amounts of weight, who STILL fight hard for every pound of muscle they gain. They're in an optimally anabolic situation, yet the muscle still doesn't just happily climb aboard for the ride. Now take away the testosterone, the caloric excess and the ultra-high protein intake and you now have a very sub-optimal situation for muscle gain. Basically, it ain't gonna happen.
Lifting heavy weights in a caloric deficit will preserve what lean body mass you have and help burn the fat. It will strengthen connective tissue and help preserve bone density. It will facilitate neurological adaptation which will result in strength gains. But it *won't* pack on pounds of muscle. If one discovers that they're a truly genetic freak who is somehow able to defy the laws of thermodynamics and finds themselves gaining too much muscle, it's easy to remedy....don't do that anymore.
Who told you women don't have testosterone. In fact some women have more androgens than they would care to have. Why do you think so many women spend so much time and effort waxing facial hair. Some women are more prone to muscular physiques. I have a cousin who doesn't workout and has always had visibly defined muscles in her arms and legs. She hated it when she was a teen because the boys teased her and called her Mrs. Man. She never looked like a bodybuilder. When women say they don't want to get bulky or too muscular so many assume we are referring to body builders. There is a lot between skin and bones and body builder. I'm watching the women's volleyball team play in the Olympics right now. None of them look like bodybuilders but their bodies may be more muscular than some women desire. And that is okay. We all have different goals, but women we get so little respect for ours.0 -
Bump to read later0
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