Does anyone know of any good leg exercises? Especially for thighs?
My legs are horrible, but other than walking, I don't know what else to do, and I'm afraid its just not gonna cut it. I need something more specific for this problem area...
I found that Pilates and Yoga really help strengthen and shape your legs. Especially the leg exercises. I too have thunder thighs, I also do the treadmill I try to aim for 4 miles 4 times a week. It really helps!
Exercise and Weight Loss
1. Exercise is vital for a healthy lifestyle
If you don't exercise, you are likely to have an unhealthy lifestyle. Result? As well as developing a weight problem and a 'shape' problem, you run an increased risk of developing several nasty diseases in later life.
2. Exercise is NOT a quick-fix solution to a weight problem
In my experience of treating thousands of slimmers, I have not found any evidence to suggest that exercise is an effective solution to weight loss. Yes, it helps to improve the long term work-rate of the body, which can assist weight maintenance in the long run. Yes, it helps to re-shape parts of the body. But it won't cure your weight problem. Only sensible dieting can do this. In addition, over-exercising may actually lead to weight gain and can be dangerous.
3. A balanced approach is best
In order to get the most out of exercise, I recommend that you make it a regular part of your life without going mad about it. Don't walk your butt off and expect to lose weight. Don't try to be an Olympic athlete in the gym and expect to turn your fat thighs into slim thighs, because it won't happen.
Be aware of your personal physical limitations
If you're unfit, or worried about your health, get professional advice before starting
Make a realistic personal exercise plan for yourself
Make a plan which you can accomplish without too much inconvenience or effort
Take things one step at a time and aim to gradually improve your overall fitness
Never over-exercise or strain yourself. Too little is better than too much
General Exercise for Fat Thighs
General exercises for slimmer hips, thighs & butt
Aerobic Exercise Classes
Join a local aerobics class. Excellent exercise to help you slim thighs
Skipping
Buy a skipping rope and skip for 10 minutes, 3-4 times a week
Swimming
All swimming is good. Even better is swimming on your back, using your legs only
Brisk Walking
Find a friend and go for regular, fast walks (20-30 mins each), 3-4 times a week
Exercise Bike
But instead of sitting on the saddle, stand up and pedal as fast as you can
Specific Exercises for Slimmer Thighs
To exercise the back of your thighs
Stand with feet apart.
Bend forward from the waist.
Reach to your right with both hands and clasp your ankle with both hands.
Push your upper body downwards towards the floor.
Count to 20.
Return to start position and repeat exercise on the left-hand side.
To Exercise the Front of your Thighs
Kneel upright on the floor, with knees together.
Lean backwards and clasp your right ankle with your left hand.
Do not sit on your ankles - that's cheating!
Hold this position for a count of 20.
Return to start position and repeat exercise on the left-hand side.
To Exercise the Inside of your Thighs
Sit down on the floor in front of an ordinary straight back chair.
Stretch your legs straight out in front of you, with your feet on either side of the chair.
Keeping your back straight and place your palms on the floor on either side of you.
Clasp the legs of the chair with the soles of your feet as though trying to push both chair legs together.
Press hard and hold for a count of 50.
To Exercise Thighs & Butt
Stand with feet apart, toes pointed outwards, and hands on the outside of your thighs.
Keeping your back straight, at right-angles to the floor, bend knees and allow your hands to slide down your thighs until they reach your knees. (Keep back straight!)
Hold your knees for a count of 5, then slowly return to start position.
Repeat 10-20 times.
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Stand with feet slightly apart.
Stretch your arms straight out ahead of you.
Slowly bend your knees, until your thighs are roughly parallel with the floor.
Slowly raise yourself back to the starting position
The slower you do this, the better.
Start with 10 real slow ones.
But please don't strain yourself. Go at your own pace.
After-exercise Stretching
To avoid bulky muscles, always stretch the area you have exercised, afterwards
Example
Sit on the floor with legs apart and stretched out in front of you
Reach upwards with both arms
Then reach forwards and try to clasp your right ankle. As you do so, push your upper body towards the floor
When I weighted 231 pounds the best thing I could do was walk. I had a sprained my knee last summer and had a fear of jumping or running.I had a couple of Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pound DVDs ( and VHS tapes).I did 30-60 minutes a day almost every day for a couple of months. She has simple steps and on the really simple tapes I didn't really sweat.
When I got past 199 ( onederland) I started doing other things because I could do jumping jacks. I could do simple aerobics. If you have had a knee injury before or have been overweight for a long time the basic walking can help you get the weight off and strengthen your knees so that later you can do other things.
I still have inner thigh fat deposits that are really stubborn- but I am not finished yet- there may be hope !
My suggestion would be to just focus on losing weight overall for now. Walking is a great way to strengthen your legs, so definitely keep that up and try to lengthen the amount of time you spend walking each day. In my experience (I have lost over 100 pounds once before almost exclusively walking up to 5 miles a day and eating right) the areas that are the most troublesome for me (i.e. the fattest) are the very last to shrink since they have the most fat to lose. From everything I've heard, spot reducing doesn't work, so keep exercising and eating right and you'll see results in your thighs eventually. Once walking and eating right start to get a little less effective, I'd add in strength training for all parts of your body.
Hang in there, and try not to focus on any one trouble area. Just work on being the healthiest person you can be and the rest will work itself out.
I just noticed when I got out of bed this morning that I think my thighs are actually shrinking. They're still there, mind you, but no longer need their own zip code. I think the overall weight loss must be doing it, because I haven't changed anything else. I walk/run two miles most days and lift a full circuit at least twice a week. I have upped the weights on the leg press and leg curls, but that's just part of lifting.
Hang in there - they'll shrink when you're not watching!
Definitely try the squats and lunges. If you have access to a smith machine, even better. I have naturally large thighs... they've always been that way. I do yoga, squats, lungs, and a few leg presses, and it's working really well. I agree with others, too- focus on overall loss for now. Spot reducing is extremely difficult, but if you stick with it, it'll come off all over
A nice incline on the treadmill or elliptical also works wonders!
Thunder thighs
