Pilates or ballet = remedy for chunky thighs?

I'm 5'8, 150lbs with a relatively slim waist but chunkier thighs and as my friends like to put it 'definition of curvy' hips (har har lol). Plus I have chunkier (but muscular) thighs.

I run daily, but was looking for a way to slim down my legs more. I'm planning on losing 10-15 more lbs, but my problem is that it all melts from my waist and chest before starting on my hips and thighs, and I'd like to find something to help tone that more.

Someone reccomended pilates 2-3 times a week or even ballet dancing. Has anyone had experience with either of these, but after starting laster in life? Besides plays at my school, I've never dances and have never done pilates before. (I say this because obviously long term dancers have amazing legs, but what if I take a beginner's course?)

Thanks for any input, guys! :]

Tue. Apr 8, 7:01pm

I have started a few things "late" in life and I have always been really well received... some instructors are delighted to have an older, dedicated person to teach.
I don't have much experience with ballet... I say you call up a dance studio and ask to talk to the instructor and talk with them about it.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008, 7:53 PM

Nevermind all that - eat less and cardio more - done.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 10:22 AM

I was a dancer for almost ten years as a child/teen, and that is exactly why I have such chunky muscular legs now! I'm finally (after two years of strength training and cardio) seeing my legs become a bit trimmer. I suppose it could be assumed that dancing later in life, obviously after your body has developed fully, could help slim down your lower body.

Honestly, I have found that weight training is making my legs smaller. Everyone always worries about their legs bulking up from weights, but I have not seen this problem. I use light weights (5 or 8 pounds) and do lots of reps (up to 25 or 30). It's worked for me, slowly.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 10:25 AM

Whatever exercise you do, make sure you stretch your legs a LOT. That's what I was always told growing up - if you don't stretch well, then you will bulk up. That's why, I was told, ballet dancers have such lean long legs - they spend so much time stretching. Pilates may help too. But I think the key is just to spend a lot of time stretching, to make the muscles long and lean instead of short and thick.

Cardio and diet will help the most to lose the weight though.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 11:41 AM

I have almost exactly the same stats as you do - 145lbs, 5'8", nice hour glass that ends in chunky thighs. Sigh.

I've been doing pilates for a while, and I definitely think it's helping tone...but slowly. I've also found that dancing salsa ( in heels) has made my calves much more shapely.

Not to sound too depressing, but I am also working on resigning myself to the fact that I'm never going to have gorgeous legs. I'm picking clothes that emphasize my good parts and minimize my chunky thighs...doesn't help for swim suit season, but the rest of the time it works ok.

Oh - also, tan chunky looks slimmer than pasty white chunky. I've thought about the spray-on tans for the couple of days I do spend in a swim suit.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 12:12 PM

People please - appearance is 90% diet - to lose cellulite eat less - end of story

oh and run a little more or do eliptical to burn more - nevermind that other stuff if you want to lose 15 lbs !

Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 2:24 PM

I've done both! Pilates and ballet! Both very similar! If you are new to ballet your workouts will not be strenuous enough to see slimming of your thighs as you would with pilates, though.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 5:40 PM

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