How to get rid of thick thighs

[steph]

Hi ladies for the first time in my life I am suffering with thick thighs and hips. At the end of last year they were spreading out, but they were under control when i started jump roping and walking/jogging. Now i if jump rope too much it seems like they just get thicker. I do not know what to do. If i walk and ran more will they go down. I am afraid they won't. I had always had problems in waist, but it has changed. i do not know what to do. I miss my toned smaller thighs and legs.

[hotshot]

how old are you? have you had kids? if you are in your early 20's it could be just that your body is changing.

[steph]

I am in my early 20s. I am just 22. It just so hard for me to accept a thicker lower body. I looked so different at 21 and just few months ago. I just want to modify my diet and exercise more. I am hoping this will work. I am just willing for any suggestions or specific exercies that will get rid of the fat.

[Lucia]

Hey Steph,
Cardio=fat burning, power walk, jogg/running, biking, Tae bo/kick boxing squats, lunges all those things will target the thighs but you should do some cardio at least 30 mins before you do the toning excercises like squats and lunges. Also Winsor pilates has a series that focuses on diff parts of the body and all over body sculpting-I reccomend the series it works if you're consistent. hth

[hotshot]

why should you wait 30 minutes? im trying to gain and do my lunges and squats pretty soon after a 10 minute cardio warmup session on the inclined treadmill.

[bettydavis]

I think diet and exercise will work. You probably just tend to gain weight more in that area, I'm the same way. You'll find that when you lose weight, they will go down. Running and areobics are great for that, and also eating smaller portions.

[bimbabe]

bump
should you drop more resistance and do more cardio?

[Natural_Girl]

Squats/Lunges did not work for me - only made those areas thicker!
I find pilates mixed with some fast paced walking work.
The walking helps to get your heart pumping and the pilates/yoga/dance conditioning helps to strech out your muscles thus lengthening the muscles in tose areas versus bulking them up.
This works for me - hope you find what works for you!

[gsu_girl]

They say diet is 70-80% of your weight loss (some say more). Reduce your fat intake, up your cardio, and do LOTS of stretching. I have those thick thighs too from gymnastics, dance, track, and cheerleading. I'd think if you're going to have thick thighs, at least make sure they are toned and tight and not flabby.

[Boadicea]

I did leg circles and it went away in less than a year!

I did 20 big circles per leg, backwards and then fowards and then 20 small circles per leg backwards and fowards. I did this 3 times a week.

[LiLi]

Can you explain how to do the leg circles? Thank you!

[Brooke007]

I would check out the DVD "NYC Ballet workout" or the "Lotte Berk Method" DVD. Both are for lean, long legs.
You may be able to rent from your local library. You can have strong legs without the bulk...it's all in the stretching.

[Boadicea]

Sure!

I learned this exercise from Winsor Pilates.

Lie on your side (it doesn't matter which you start with because you will doing the same thing with each leg). I'll say right side for example.

Make sure that your body is in a straight line. Now, keeping your ankles together, bring your legs out a little so that your body forms an obtuse angle. You should be able to see your toes and your body should still be fairly straight.

Lift your top leg (in this case, your right leg) 4-5 inches off of the ground. Begin making 20 large circles foward. When you're done, do 20 large circles backward.

Next, one the same leg, do 20 small circles backward and 20 small circles forward.

Do the same thing for the left side.

I used to read a lot of fitness magazines and they all said that this is one of the best and most effective exercises that you can do to get right of thick thighs. I definitely worked for me. I have got rid of the saddlebags that I had for years!!

If you want another great exercise to go along with that, buy a Balance ball. They sell them at Target.

Once inflated, place the ball between your legs, as for up as you can get it. It should be resting comfortably between your thighs.

Squeeze in with both legs and count to 10. Slowly relax your legs to the starting position. Do this for 10 counts to start and then work your way up to 15.

[HealthyHair]

check out workout videos by THE FIRM. I know people who have used them and have say they got better results with THE FIRM videos than their trainers, I think the website is www.firmdirect.com (http://www.firmdirect.com) and you could probably find their videos for cheap on ebay. They have different videos, some have more cardio than others, I would recommend the ones with more cardio since some of the sculpting videos can add more muscle or bulk to your thigs, I do them, plus squats and lunges which is good for building thickness since I have birdy legs. I hope this helps http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[LiLi]

Thank you sooooo much Boadicea! I am definitely going to start doing this!!

[Boadicea]

You're welcome. I hope it works for you, too!

I didn't see any progress for 6-7 months. I swore up and down that it wasn't doing anything for me and that I would get liposuction as soon as I saved up the money (which would have been a long, long time). I didn't want to give up I had made a commitment.

I woke up one morning in the summer and my saddlebags were gone. Of course, they were shrinking day by day, but I didn't notice the progress until it was a major difference.

Keep at it, and you'll see for yourself. http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Lucia]

Just to clarify, I mean for those 30 mins your actually doing cardio then right after start the toning.

[Poohbear]

Can leg circles help with abs???

[Nonie]

Leg circles will help with abs if you lie face up. Both legs raised to the ceiling. Now keeping one leg still, circle the other forward-outward-back-then back to starting position, making the circles as big as possible. Then the same with the other leg. Alternate like that for as long as you're comfortable. You may not feel a thing in your tummy while doing it, and I don't think it'll give you a firm/tight tummy. But it will definitely pull it in so that it looks good under clothes. You would have to do aerobics to burn fat and crunches or other toning exercises to firm the muscles for a washboard look, but these circles are a great way to give yourself the confidence you need to keep going coz your tummy will start to look nice under clothes, at least, if not without.

ETA: Any time you don't want bulk, think of ways to exert the least amount of weight on the part you're exercising. That's why pilates work better than jumping coz not even your body weight is being exerted on the part you're working. A little weight won't hurt, because your body does need to do work to burn fat, but just think too much weight = bulk.

[Dido111]

[ QUOTE ]
steph said:
I am in my early 20s. I am just 22. It just so hard for me to accept a thicker lower body. I looked so different at 21 and just few months ago. I just want to modify my diet and exercise more. I am hoping this will work. I am just willing for any suggestions or specific exercies that will get rid of the fat.

[/ QUOTE ]

The same thing is happening to me . I 'm also 22 and at 21 my thighs were not as thick. So I am also interested in knowing any good exercises. http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif