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I played soccer and danced when i was younger and have thick thighs-they are rather muscular but do have some extra fat-but i want to have slimmer legs and not build the muscle but lose the fat. is this just diet or what exercises should i be doing?
i have a bubble butt, but it shakes-would like to firm it up a bit....so i have heard to lift heavy but that contradicts the building of legs
thanks
This is definitely a diet issue....I lift heavy but watch what I eat and my legs have slimmed down and got more shapely...so I would definitely go with this being a diet issue
If you feel your legs are too big, you are carrying too much fat in that area and need to tailori your diet for fat loss.
[QUOTE=bluebandana457;585488623]I played soccer and danced when i was younger and have thick thighs-they are rather muscular but do have some extra fat-but i want to have slimmer legs and not build the muscle but lose the fat. is this just diet or what exercises should i be doing?
i have a bubble butt, but it shakes-would like to firm it up a bit....so i have heard to lift heavy but that contradicts the building of legs
thanks[/QUOTE]
Diet and cardio are important for slimming the legs. I have this same issue. But I still continue to do weightlifting in a rep range of 15-20 reps per exercise.
If you don't want to add more mass to your legs in training limit the squats and presses or keep them light and do more extensions, curls, lunges... Go for the bike and the treadmill on flat for cardio.
Thanks
Tightening up diet
Will also focus on just bodyweight exercises except for those that target glutes and hams-deadlifts, curls, Glute extensions
Going to bump up cardio-heard that steady state can help slim legs
I have muscular legs but also carry my fat in my legs which makes them look worse. Since I have been lifting (and doing almost no steady state cardio) my legs have got stronger but also the circumfrence of my legs has decreased quite a bit and they look much slimmer. Dont get discouraged, there is nothing you can do about where your body stores fat so just make the best of it and be proud of your muscles and loose some fat! Diet is important but dont stop squatting gaddangit!!!
[QUOTE=hmotb555;585499923]This is definitely a diet issue....I lift heavy but watch what I eat and my legs have slimmed down and got more shapely...so I would definitely go with this being a diet issue[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=bluebandana457;585596043]Thanks
Tightening up diet
Will also focus on just bodyweight exercises except for those that target glutes and hams-deadlifts, curls, Glute extensions
Going to bump up cardio-heard that steady state can help slim legs[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=blue14;587227353]I have muscular legs but also carry my fat in my legs which makes them look worse. Since I have been lifting (and doing almost no steady state cardio) my legs have got stronger but also the circumfrence of my legs has decreased quite a bit and they look much slimmer. Dont get discouraged, there is nothing you can do about where your body stores fat so just make the best of it and be proud of your muscles and loose some fat! Diet is important but dont stop squatting gaddangit!!![/QUOTE]
I second/third the idea that I wouldn't dump your leg work!!! Its about your diet and getting rid of the fat over the muscle. Start to lose the muscle there and you will lose some of the nice tightness and lean mass. Coming from someone with naturally muscular legs that build readily, I still have fat to drop but I wouldn't give up the tightness/lift I have gained in my thighs/butt from heavy leg work. You could end up with bigger, more jiggly legs and the need to drop even MORE fat there because you lost the lean muscle mass.
I have naturally big legs myself and when I work them intensely .. no lie .. I have men, MEN, comment on how big they are. My boyfriend said one time 'dang honey, your legs are getting big' and I stopped working them then and there. Probably the wrong thing to do but I can fit in my pants again and they don't look like they are taking over my body.
The thing is .. when you stop training them .. like everyone says they do drop a bit. My butt is no longer 'up there'. Albeit smaller , but jigglier, yes. (on a side note, the bf likes it jigglier..what a weirdo).
I know there is fat over them .. I see it and I feel it. But how long does it take for the fat to go away? Cause my thighs have NEVER been lean even when I was meticulous with my diet and training. Just muscular and massive.
Today I am going back to working them. I know they are going to expand like crazy but you ladies are right, they must be worked. They are the biggest calorie burner of all the muscle groups .. just wish they wouldn't get so darn huge!
[QUOTE=MsFit;585590733]If you don't want to add more mass to your legs in training limit the squats and presses or keep them light and do more extensions, curls, lunges... Go for the bike and the treadmill on flat for cardio.[/QUOTE]
Ms Fit,
What do u recommend for reps/sets and weight if you're cutting and just want to maintain the muscle on your butt and legs but want to lean down? Should the weight be kept the same but less sets?
AND,
how about the cardio...flat on a treadmill, but running or walking??
Much appreciated!
[QUOTE=MsFit;585590733]If you don't want to add more mass to your legs in training limit the squats and presses or keep them light and do more extensions, curls, lunges... Go for the bike and the treadmill on flat for cardio.[/QUOTE]
No.
Strength and fitness are built in the gym, size is built at the dinner table.
Energy in vs energy out.
If energy in > energy out you will get overall bigger - gain some fat, and if you exercise, gain some muscle.
If energy in < energy out you will get overall smaller - lose some fat, lose some muscle, and if you exercise, mostly keep the muscle.
Whether the energy out comes from cardio, leg curls, low rep deep barbell squats, walking, hot and heavy sex, doesn't matter. It's all energy out. In terms of weight loss, a calorie expended in lifting a little pink dumbbell 100 times is the same as a calorie expended in squatting 200lbs once, it's just a calorie to your body. The type of exercise does not affect how much fat you lose, it only affects whether you improve your cardiovascular fitness, whether you keep your muscles, and so on.
Most people want to keep the muscle. The muscle needs a reason to stick around. Light weight high reps and endless hours on the treadmill do not provide your muscles with a good enough reason to stick around. Heavy weights do.
If you have "big legs", you are unlikely to have as much muscle in your legs as you think. Just ask [url=http://www.stumptuous.com/honesty-is-the-best-policy]stumptuous[/url]. This does not make you as hideously ugly as you think. Less self-loathing, less Sis-science, and more heavy lifting and eating good food will improve how you look, feel and perform.
I would rep you for this ^^^^^ if I could!
[QUOTE=MsFit;585590733]If you don't want to add more mass to your legs in training limit the squats and presses or keep them light and do more extensions, curls, lunges... Go for the bike and the treadmill on flat for cardio.[/QUOTE]
People need to stop thinking like this.