The Leg Thread - Toning, Firming and Questions

[fashionmad]

Gemma, most gyms do not have pilates machines, such as the cadallac, reformer, or wunda chair. You would generally have to go to a certified pilates studio to find those, but many gyms do offer pilates mat classes, and there are dvds and videos, although you should probably work with an instructor first, to make sure your form, etc. is alright.

 

[fashionmad]

I hear lots of contradictory things about thighs! I have heard that pear shapes shouldn't do any lower body toning or they will bulk up/get big thighs. I have also heard that pilates, ballet, etc. are good for thighs toning, but not squats and lunges. This seems contradictory, as I don't see how lunges or squats are any different from plies.

Will running quickly with lower resistance on the elliptical give me bulky thighs or running more slowly with higher resistance? Because sprinters always have huge thighs, but it seems that the more resistance, the more muscle you are buiding.

 

[Assembler]

Will running quickly with lower resistance on the elliptical give me bulky thighs or running more slowly with higher resistance? Because sprinters always have huge thighs, but it seems that the more resistance, the more muscle you are buiding.

My thought. I think the big muscles on sprinters legs are not for the quickness of the step but the power of the step. When they are hitting the ground, that is where the power (and therefore muscle) is needed. If you removed resistance, like running on an eliptical, you don't need as much muscle to keep up the same pace. So, I think the higher the resistance the bulkier the muscle. Speed only factors in slightly (actually, when you're going faster, cycling, running etc, sometimes feels easier at the same resitance because momentum is helping, so slower is probably more of a muscular work). That's my thoughts anyway.

I have an hourglass shape, which is equivalent (I think) to a pear in the bottom half on my body. I really REALLY want to slim them down, but it seems like they've always been big. I built up the muscle there when I was a kid, and it seems that even when I lose a lot of weight the size stays large (in comparison to some of my slimmer friends).

 

[baglover529]

^^ thank you baglover!!! youve inspired me to stick with pilates...no matter how much it burns at first. can i find the machines at a regular gym or do i have to go somewhere special???

you're very welcome well, as fashionmad said... a certified pilates studio would be your best option. they would have all the proper equipment and trained instructors. you can move on to mat classes at the gym when you've mastered the forms and exercises already. good luck with your fitness plan!

 

[tooprettyinpink]

wow, there is some great advice in this thread! i did ballet for 9 years of my life and i quit 3 years ago. when i was doing ballet, i had extremely toned muscles, though they were a little bit bulky for my body considering i am pretty skinny. Now, my legs are basically jiggly and I really want to get them in shape for summer etc....I think I am going to start running but how far is considered long distance? I am pretty good at stretching and I do that often (I can still do the splits!) but I think I am going to try a pilates video...how is the windsor pilates video with that little circle thing it comes with to use with your legs? my friend has it but she hasn't used it that much yet so she can't really tell me....

 

[Bonchic]

sprinters have bulky muscles because they have to run short distances really fast and like marathon runners,etc.. have leaner muscles because it's more about endurance

 

[sw33tricecakes]

I have a question: would swimming often tone your legs and make them leaner and longer-looking?

 

[melanchonika]

i think swimming would

i just began pilates and i went with gaiam. i bought the foundational video and now the beginner mat workout. i really like it. got my stuff on ebay.

answering the poster about long distance-if you are just beginning, id suggest doing no more than a mile. and do just that for awhile. progress slowly. its not really about how far you run...........to lose weight and tone, it is best to run 30 minutes and even paced. slower better than faster./ no inclines. and run on a track or softer ground for less resistance. get good shoes, for less resistance. less resistance is better for not encouraging "bulk". i am slender and take off 10 pounds in a few months about his time of year from beginning running. and i run anywhere from 2-4 miles. but even though ive been running for years, i start slow, just 20 minute runs (since i take the winter off). i used to run faster and inclines, thinking to run hills was good-but recently learned it adds to bulk. hope that helps.

i just began pilates, as i mentioned; earlier in this thread a lot of posters seemed to be thinking pilates and running work well together; weight loss benefits plus the stretching. while it sounds good, arent we kind of 'undoing' the limberness pilates gives us when we run? i know for me, approaching 37, i worry about running being hard on the joints (though ive never had an injury to date). and pilates is great for the joints. just wondering what everyone thinks. running definitely is the quickest and cheapest way to burn fat and feel great-so i certainly DONT want to give it up!

 

[laurea]

any good tips for shrinking the thighs or increasing the space between them? i like my lower legs, its just the upper part im dissatisfied with.

 

[scara]

wow what an amazing thread..
hope you can help me.
I've lost almost 15 pounds since last summer (the best part about it -I didn't do any exercise)
you can really see it on the upper part of my body
but somehow my legs didn't get much thinner
i still have my "dancer calves" and my big thights..

any idea what I can do to get them thinner (btw. I just want em to be toned -not muscular)

the only "sport" I'm doing right now is climbing stairs aoap

 

[ShuggaStiletto]

I'm a figure skater, and my leg muscles are extremely lean and toned...although figure skaters (and dancers too I'm assuming from this thread!) are notorious for big thighs, mostly because of jumps...but if you have a rink nearby I would seriously recommend getting comfortable out there ..at public sessions, if you're able to just do even once a month, just skating laps is so good for leg muscles.

Stairmasters/ellipticals/exercise bikes, are probably the best workouts for your legs at a gym, and (this is my own plan for my own body!) once you lose any weight that you may want to , add free weights in, leg press/calf press, etc!

Pilates is probably the best exercise for toning, because it creates long, lean muscles, because you are also stretching and increasing flexibility.

 

[Sweets]

where my runners at? anyone else think that running has the possibility to tone your entire body?

 

[*Clara*]

I have a real problem with my thighs...actually I'm quite skiny...but my thighs are really big compared to the rest of my body!
I tried to paint it:

(created by me)

Above the knee it suddenly starts to get huge...especially the inner thighs bother me.....

Do you guys know any special workouts to reduce the circumference of them? Especially of the inner thights.......I'm so frustrated ......because I would love to wear skinny jeans ...
The skin is quite tight because I apply lotion every day but they're big though..HELP PLEASE!

 

[scara]

@clara
that girl in the pic could be me too!

 

[laurea]

I have a question about ellipticals. Will going on an elliptical 3-4 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes at a time make my legs bulky? I put the machine on very low resistance but a steeper incline.

 

[Meg]

skating is what caused me to have big thighs as well. I did precision/synchro for about 6 years and figure for about 6 years and that basically bulked up my thighs except now it's no longer muscle So I understand

 

[Boluda]

god i gotta get in shape for the summer

im such a fat pig right now

 

[Vans]

Long distance running is the best. Avoid inclines, because uphill running can make your legs too muscular.

 

[*Princesse*]

I hear lots of contradictory things about thighs! I have heard that pear shapes shouldn't do any lower body toning or they will bulk up/get big thighs. I have also heard that pilates, ballet, etc. are good for thighs toning, but not squats and lunges. This seems contradictory, as I don't see how lunges or squats are any different from plies.

squats and lunges are different than plies because the former targets directly the outer thighs, whereas plies (when done correctly, which is actually difficult to do - I took ballet for 10 years, and it's still one of those things to remind yourself of), by pulling up through your inner thigh, and focusing on relaxing your outer thigh by feeling it long and lean without tension (easier said that done ) work other muscles.

 

[ilovegemma]

god i gotta get in shape for the summer

im such a fat pig right now

me too...we should start like a thread where we try to lose weight and tone up for summer!