The Leg Thread - Toning, Firming and Questions

[Bluestar07]

can anybody suggest ways to tone the inner thighs? I do pilates and/or NYC Ballet workout for an hour each day (with one rest day) and so far am seeing good results. If my measuring is correct i have slimmed my thighs by 3cm, only this is the outer thigh and the innner is way too flabby. I hate it! I can feel the muscle underneath but this part won't budge. My calves have also slimmed by 1.5 cm, though they weren't really my concern! I am happy my hard work is paying off but do I just keep going with what I am already doing and hope this improves or will i need to do extra on this part? this 'spot reduction' stuff confuses me so i don't know if i am doing the right things! thanks for any help.

I need to tone my inner thighs too ..... any suggestions? Any yoga moves?

 

[urd]

does walking fast give you bulky muscles?

I doubt it

 

[fleur137]

I doubt it

cool!

 

[Annabel]

Attention all Spoons! The author of the book never says anything about Pilates and yoga on iVillage; are these acceptable ways to lose weight in your lower body? Thanks

 

[urd]

Attention all Spoons! The author of the book never says anything about Pilates and yoga on iVillage; are these acceptable ways to lose weight in your lower body? Thanks

why not, as long as you are doing something.
I lost some weight doing astanga yoga. it also gives you energy and makes you more flexible!

 

[catherinea]

Matt Roberts says yoga and pilates will not help you lose weight. So add yoga etc on for flexibilty

 

[darkintragedy]

Hello all!
After reading all 9 pages, I've seem to have gathered a lot of useful information, but I'd just like some clarification.

I use to be an avid tennis player for 3 years, but haven't played anymore since (2001-2004). Consequently, playing tennis built up my thigh and legs into 'muscle'. Now that I've been inactive, it's just fat, I presume. I want to fit into some nice slim jeans, but have never done so, do to me having the look of 'big thighs and skinny calves' which imo looks unattractive.

The general consenus here seems to say that a combination of running/pilates are your best bet for slimming down your legs. Now my question, is that since I have that extra fat building up from tennis inactivity, how hard would it be to lose/slim it down, and what combination of running/pilate would be most effective?

Would it be running one day and pilate the next, or pilates before running or something of that nature. Thanks.

 

[fleur137]

^good question! i really want to know too!

 

[traveller]

Thanks to those who mentioned the book "Escape your Shape". Intrigued, I checked it out on Amazon.com and immediately assumed that I was Spoon shape. After all, I've got the thunder thighs right? I'm skinny on top with the shoulder blades sticking out and visible rib cage but bulky on the bottom.. bleh. As well, I always assumed that an Hourglass shape meant a significant bosom (mine's swell and all but no one in their right mind would consider it bountiful )

It wasn't until I found this on eReader.com that had an excerpt of the the book that I realized that I was actually an Hourglass shape. [This excerpt is very useful because he explains how to figure out your body shape]

So what's an Hourglass shape? There must be at least a 6-inch difference between your chest and waist, and between your hips and waist. For a Spoon shape, there is no significance difference between the gifth of her chest and waist, but a significant difference between the girths of her hips and chest.

Visually, I knew I had an hourglass shape whenever I see a mirror but I have more dislike for my thighs than I do for my upper body that I immediately assumed that I was a spoon shape. According to the author, this is a common misconception for most women. As well, it is also possible to be a bottom-heavy Hourglass shape.

Exercises recommended for an Hourglass shape are: jumping rope, stationary biking with light to moderate resistance, fast walking with little to no incline, jogging or running for distance slowly (5 to 6 MPH without resistance or hills), jumping jacks, swimming for distance (crawl stroke only), etc..

The author recommends that you avoid all this IF you're an Hourglass shape: step classes, spinning, high-impact aerobic or exercise classes, walking, jogging or running on an incline, especially with hand weights simultaneously, stationary biking with high resistance, etc..

**Sigh** I work as a field researcher on very hilly terrain and I've always suspected that those darn hills have not been kind to my thunder thighs. Whenever I'm in town however, I walk and jog on flat terrain whenever I can. I still wish for much smaller thighs however (that dreaded saddlebag region) so I need to step up on the exercise.

Hope some of you might find the above information useful.

 

[fleur137]

^thankies for the info but now i'm kinda confused as to what body shape i am. i think i'm a spoon too but now i dunno...the difference between my chest and my waist is exactly 6 inches, difference between my waist and hips is 10 inches and the difference between my chest and hips is 4 inches. so what am i? oh and my thighs are just so icky.

 

[Golden_butterfly]

I think I'm a fork.

 

[darkintragedy]

^ LOL. ;D

I believe I'm a ruler from reading the descriptions. ugh. Time to pick up that book.

 

[Vintage Mischa]

I think I'm a fork.

hahaha

 

[Charlotte560]

Legs for short shorts!1

Hi All,
Short shorts are definitely in fashion and likely to stay in fashion for some time. Just wondering what you are planning to do to get your thighs in the right sort of shape for this unforgiving garment!
I am going running - I am building up to a half marathon in March. Then I am torturing my inside/outside thighs on the adductor and abductor machines in the gym. Two sets of 100 reps at 50 kg on each - it burns!!
Oh, and to get my legs used to being out in the cold I am wearing shorts for my morning runs even though it is the middle of winter here.
My legs will look good I am determined!
What is anyone else doing?
Charlotte

 

[niki03]

Kate Moss has the best short shorts legs!!!!

 

[Trista]

I'm going to try to find recipes for apple cider vinegar cocktails. I'm also going to try the abduction/adduction machine because my school's gym just got it fixed. I'm going to try the Pilates butt/legs DVD every day. I also walk uphill to get to my bus stop and twice a week I walk 9 blocks each way to get coffee at lunch.

 

[darkintragedy]

Hello all!
After reading all 9 pages, I've seem to have gathered a lot of useful information, but I'd just like some clarification.

I use to be an avid tennis player for 3 years, but haven't played anymore since (2001-2004). Consequently, playing tennis built up my thigh and legs into 'muscle'. Now that I've been inactive, it's just fat, I presume. I want to fit into some nice slim jeans, but have never done so, do to me having the look of 'big thighs and skinny calves' which imo looks unattractive.

The general consenus here seems to say that a combination of running/pilates are your best bet for slimming down your legs. Now my question, is that since I have that extra fat building up from tennis inactivity, how hard would it be to lose/slim it down, and what combination of running/pilate would be most effective?

Would it be running one day and pilate the next, or pilates before running or something of that nature. Thanks.

Wanted to see if anyone had a response to this.

 

[SiennaInLondon]

You are in the same boat as everyone else in the fat thigh category now. Fat technically is easier to lose than muscle but it depends upon where you naturally store fat. As you are male it is probably going to be easier than for us gals. I have never got into pilates because you always need a teacher and a class so you don't hurt yourself blah blah blah. I prefer yoga because you can do it at home. Therefore I would concentrate on running for fat loss and toning and yoga to keep things slender. I think stretching is one thing that hasn't been emphasised in this thread. How many yogis do you know who are bulky? Probably not that many. So stretch, stretch, stretch

 

[Erin]

the cheapest and the most efficient one--climb the stairs.

i live in walk-up building at the 3th Floor, mine is the living proof that by climbing the stairs regularly your butt and thighs get to work out, mine are in good shape now.

Stairs are awesome. A couple of summers ago I worked in a highrise insurance building, the 12th floor... every day, not matter if it was coming or going or breaking for lunch... I took the stairs. Actually, I ALWAYS take the stairs if it's an option.

 

[Erin]

it helps if you bicycle for about hour and a half and really make yourself sweat. and repeat several times a week

I used to bicycle to work, (2hours of cycling every day) I thought it didn't make that big a difference, but now that I don't work there anymore, and don't do any exercise, I've noticed that it did help, a lot

Once it gets warmer, I'll start biking to work again. It's like killing two (or even three) birds with one stone... saving the environment from extra pollution, I'm getting to work for free, and I'm squeezing in a workout. It's really.. a benefit to be able to do that.