The Leg Thread - Toning, Firming and Questions

[Ybmug]

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

I was actaully thinking about thatB)
It would be fun!!

 

[Meg]

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

We already have two threads that do this, Daily Exercise and The Weight Thread.

 

[Ybmug]

We already have two threads that do this, Daily Exercise and The Weight Thread.

Didn't know that!!! Thanx Meg

 

[ilovegemma]

Didn't know that!!! Thanx Meg

i didnt know that either!! thank you!

 

[melanchonika]

you dont even have to run real long distance. running 30 minutes, for a person who is overweight, would definitiely get them to lose weight. it isnt so much about how far you go-but how much time you spend running. im not overweight at all (size 6) but put 8-9 pounds on every winter (cause i quit running and wuss out every winter) but now in the spring ive been running 3 weeks and already lost 3 pounds. so if it works for me, people who are struggling with their weight would probably lose even quicker. running can be intimidating for someone who never really has-so i just wanted to be sure people understood to lose weight long distance isnt necessary. though it helps tone more; that id agree with. and i run rather slow and still manage to lose weight-it realy tones the stomach too.

 

[UNiQFashionista]

im thin..some ppl say skinny even..but i have FAT legs..not thighs..but legs..i mean i can sqush them..i can sqoush my calves..mind u i work out atleast 3-4 times a week doing atleast an hour on the elliptical..why do i have sqoushyy legs? even some cellulite...im 5'7 and a size 2..im confused?!

 

[Tierney]

oooh same here! i am thin... about 5'4" 103 lbs. but i am not toned at all! i have no fat... just flab haha. Any suggestions on getting toned for people that are thin? i dont want to do too much... or build too much muscle... haha idk

 

[Erin]

It's just important for a lot of us to remember that if we have larger bones (yes, there IS such a thing as "big boned" and... having a "little frame" and such)... that the hopes for thinner everything is touch.

Just remember to be realistic.

My legs are pretty toned. I either walk or bike to work every day of the week... so that's about 50 minutes of walking (just counting my transportation) or 30 minutes of biking. These are my base workouts. I do many, many squats and butt lifts... and they've done amazing things to my legs. Definitely keeps me going.

 

[smartarse]

For the legs walking is good, but not the kind of "browsing the store windows of boutiques", or talking on the cellphone while walking either.

Squats is good too. Or taking the stairs instead of elevator. Or leg press but I suggest if you do this have a trainer. They guide you properly.

 

[estherlouise]

this is what i love to do to work the legs and bum area:

get some elastic band material (i mean thick hardware stuff) you can get it from tool/work/hardware shops . you only need about a metre not even and tie it together to form a circle then put your feet through it and put it around your ankles . then do side walking exercises with it. so two steps to your left and then back to your right. but keeping your feet apart so the elastic is taught. and then you can do squats iwith it too.

does that kind of make sense? it can be so hard ot describe without showing

 

[estherlouise]

at my gym they have this special "gym" elastic to do this too, so see if your gym has it

 

[Assembler]

Ok, i have weight to lose for a summer trip, and legs to get toned.

My legs are awful, I've really let myself go. I don't have much time, less than 4 weeks, to get in as good shape as possible for a beach vacation. I'm working abroad right now and don't have access to a gym. This is my plan.

Do the following routine twice a day:
100 sit ups (various kinds)
100 side leg lifts (outside and inside, so total 200)
80 squats (I feel like i have no more juice left after 80, i'm not in very good shape) with resistance band

I walk to and from work (including lunch) which is a little over an hour of walking every day. I brought running shoes to start running, but i hate running and haven't gone yet.

Any other suggestions on in the hotel room type exercises? I should add lunges, or maybe do more exercises throughout the day. Right now i'm doing early evening and before bed (i don't wake up in time for morning, though I'm going to add that too). I guess I really should start running... sigh.

 

[Erin]

^ A month isn't enough time to truly makeover your legs. You may see slight results at this time, but you can't expect a transformation in a month.. Plus, you'll have to mix it up. In addition to squats and leg lifts, try lunges, plies, butt lifts, etc. The more, the better. All of these can be done in your hotel room.

 

[Assembler]

^Yeah i know a month isn't enough. Sigh. I can't say that I wish I had started earlier, because I knew this was an issue for me MONTHS ago, and though I tried, I never really got into the groove of anything. I almost feel stuck in this shape (that I LOATHE).

I think I need to do something to improve my confidence because right now i feel like things aren't going to change. I went a month exercising twice per day on weekdays and nadda. Then I gave up, then i tried something else, then I gave up. Sometimes it feels so pointless. Nothing is changing. But I don't think I stick to it hard enough. It's tough though to keep doing something every day for a month and not see results, and then hear of someone who saw "great" results after only a week. Argh.

Thanks for the other suggestions. I know what plies are, but what are butt lifts??

 

[Erin]

^ But lifts... get on all fours... hands on floor, knees on floor... and left your legs up so you feel it in your rear. Works wonders. I can vouge for that.

 

[fleur137]

how do you do plies?

 

[Assembler]

Thanks ERin, I'm adding those to the routine. I've added lunges as well, and I'm going to add rubber band side walks (someone referred to something like that in this thread, side stepping with resistance band). I REALLY have to start running though, all this muscle tone isn't going to do anything for me if i have a huge layer of fat on top, and unless I want to starve myself (which I don't) I better start doing some more vigorous cardio. The walks just aren't cutting it. Ok, tomorrow morning, or tonight even, first run. YUCK!

Fleur - Plies are sort of like squats but with your feet angled outwards. Like what a ballerina does .

 

[Tushka_BeLLa]

100 side leg lifts (outside and inside, so total 200)
80 squats (I feel like i have no more juice left after 80, i'm not in very good shape) with resistance band

How do you do these? I've always wondered what the correct form/method of doing squats/leg lifts and lunges are???

Does anyone have any good exercises for legs that you can do on a fitness ball? I just got one and I really want to use itto make my legs more shapely.

 

[Tushka_BeLLa]

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....

I love my Windsor Pilates dvds! They are really really easy to use and you dont really have to worry if your form is correct because it is all explained so well ... and since you are a ballet dancer, I'm sure you'll have no problem picking up the techiniques!

I had really tight muscles and I did Pilates to become more flexible and I am alot more lithe now. What Pilates has done to my THIGHS is amazing.... definitely recommend! You dont even need any equipment, just a mat and maybe a pillow behind your head if you have a sensitive neck.

 

[fleur137]

thanks Assembler!