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Suggestions for Big Thighs

Any suggestions about what exercises can help slim/ tone big thighs?

Tue. Feb 7, 9:10am

Walking, lunges, and anything (like the thighmaster) that you can squeeze with your legs.

Tuesday, February 7, 2006, 9:15 AM

Pilates is supposed to help create long lean muscles. Not sure how true that is, but I find it great. You could look for a pilates dvd that focuses on lower body, or google "pilates moves" to try and find some good ones. It usually involves a lot of variations of leg lifts.

Tuesday, February 7, 2006, 9:27 AM

Pilates has been known to slim thighs and target muscles that are normally difficult to target. Winsor pilates is a good place to start.

Tuesday, February 7, 2006, 9:27 AM

Check this out:
http://www.shape.com/getfit/7789

Link

Tuesday, February 7, 2006, 9:30 AM

Be carfull with weights and the legs, if you are not losing weight, but building muscle your legs will get bigger. This is what happened to me, so I am in the weight room only 2 a month for legs. The best place to start is in the kitchen, eat a clean diet, and your legs will get smaller.

Tuesday, February 7, 2006, 9:45 AM

ugh...I have the same problem. Thanks for the suggestions!

Tuesday, February 7, 2006, 1:07 PM

rollerblading. it's cardio and strength training in one. I can't do it in winter here, but every summer I have killer gams from rollerblading.

Tuesday, February 7, 2006, 3:08 PM

do a lot of stretching. stretch out the muscles. while some believe that ballet will give you slimmer legs, i've learned from my own experience that it only does the opposite. I guess it also has to do with how you use your muscles.

Tuesday, February 7, 2006, 6:12 PM

I ride a bike or walk 30 minutes a day and find that helps me. I too have large legs, years ago my waist was the size my legs are now ouch.

Tuesday, February 7, 2006, 7:23 PM

Thanks

I just wanted to thank you for telling me about the website http://www.shape.com/getfit/7789. It is so kool.

Tuesday, February 7, 2006, 8:41 PM

I have big thighs, but luckily, it's mostly due to muscle. It's kind of a pain when it comes to finding pants that fit, But I've decided to learn to live with it instead of fighitng it. :-) (The good thing is that muscle helps to burn calories, so I'm hoping that by getting them even firmer, I will burn off more calories!

Have you tried snow shoeing (if you have snow in your area)? It's an awesome workout for the legs and will get them toned if that is what you need. If you are concerned with building muscles, I agree- don't do thigh-intensive work (bicycling is one that will build thigh muscles or doing leg presses or squats in the gym when doing weights. Stick with more aerobic activities, and it should help. (Swimming is a great activity if you have access to a pool!)

Tuesday, February 7, 2006, 10:44 PM

Some of us are just built with big thighs. When I was young and slim I thought I was fat. I wasn't, I just was made with bigger hips and thighs. I would have had to starve myself to an unhealthy weight to make a dent in those thighs. Sure, you may carry weight in your thighs, but if you are normal weight that may just be the way you are. You can always tone and strenthen but I've been told that true spot reduction is not possible.

Wednesday, February 8, 2006, 4:40 AM

I have large thighs in proportion to the rest of my body. I used to do a lot of spinning. I went to a trainer who told me to walk (at a pace where my heart rate was 105 bpm..this is a pretty slow rate) for about 1-2 hours a day. I really resisted doing it because I thought I would gain weight by working out so leisurely. I've since lost 10 pounds and my thighs have really shrunk.

Wednesday, February 8, 2006, 9:11 PM

Your trainer is right-- spinning will only bulk up the thigh muscles as will bicycling. Walking uses a different set of muscles so it will lead to less bulky thighs. Swimming is also good exercise as well.

Wednesday, February 8, 2006, 9:20 PM

walking on a treadmill at a incline of 5 -8 without going too fast has done wonders for me. i also do a few glute lifts. it works, you'll be able to feel it

Wednesday, February 8, 2006, 10:24 PM

be careful ... thigh weight gain from weights

i saw a post regarding building leg muscle to firm up and thus increasing leg size. i've had this problem. large thighs, not firm. been working out with weights, treadmill and jump rope for 3 months and now my thighs are firmer but also larger. did not want this! what can I do? reduce leg weight exercise? that's the only thing consistenly different from what i've done in the past. i'm a regular (5-6 day a week) exerciser. former jogger only. swim occasionally, not much opportunity. also lousy inner knee situation. now firmer but want that stuff gone!! help!

Wednesday, March 7, 2007, 3:48 PM

PILATES, PILATES, PILATES!! If you can find a class or dvd that works on the legs it will work wonders for you. It helps slim you down while building your core. Walking is great too.

Thursday, March 8, 2007, 2:56 PM

You can't spot train to burn fat in a specific area

There is a late-night TV myth that says you can train a certain part of your body to get it to reduce in fat, but this is simply not true.

You have to lose fat all over to work on problem areas. Cardio, resistance training, and healthy eating will get you there. But as previous posters said, don't do a lot of resistance training with the area you want to decrease. It will increase in size instead.

Thursday, March 8, 2007, 3:55 PM

I have larger thighs, and I've learned not to take step classes (bulks them up), but walking, jogging, and losing lbs. has shrunk them a few inches. Also, the elliptical and pilates are good. All my weight comes off the top of me first, so the progress on the thighs is slow, but still progress! I've lost 2" off each thigh in 5 months.

Thursday, March 8, 2007, 4:25 PM

does anyone know how to slim thighs while not slimming your butt or hips ? Only my thighs are large, not the rest of my lower body. It looks very strange. On the other hand does anyone know how to build a muscular butt and hips while not making your thighs bigger?

Friday, July 11, 2008, 10:51 PM

Maybe I'm just crazy, but working out with weights (and cardio) are the ONLY WAY I've slimmed my thighs. I absolutely love my legs now that I do regular strength training. I've never had a problem "bulking up" from weights or biking.

Saturday, July 12, 2008, 3:03 PM

I'm pear-shaped with big hips and thighs. I'd say learn to love your big thighs. When you're in a good place mentally you'll train your body, not punish it.
;)

Sunday, July 13, 2008, 2:05 AM

Running has worked wonders for me !! Slow pace, long distance.

Monday, July 14, 2008, 7:54 AM

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