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Thread: slimming down legs

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    Default slimming down legs

    Hey everyone! Quick body question...

    I'm getting ready to tone up my body before heading out to auditions, but I'm not sure about the right way to go about it. I'm a pretty petite girl; small shoulders, chest, waist, etc. However, I've been blessed with larger thighs and calves. I know a lot of it is due to genes and body structure, but I'm sure something has got to get this babies down in size.

    I'm all for exersize, but I'm afraid that if I do certain kinds of workouts my muscles will increase in size and I'll end up with tree trunks for legs. Does anyone have suggestions for more of a "slimming down" thigh/leg exersize that doesn't promote too much muscle building?

    Thanks so much!

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    God/dess Bella21's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    I've also been "blessed"with "strong" legs. When I ran track in highschool, it always seemed like the short distance ppl had legs like mine and long distance ppl hand slimmer legs. I know short distance requires more muscle, but I think long distance running at a slow jog would help. It's just like any muscle. Lots of reps at a low weight tone instead of bulk.
    If you think school is hard, try being stupid.

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    Featured Member georgiapeach's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    i have the same problem. even a lot of cardio exercises, like the stairmaster and elliptical trainer, cause my legs to bulk up. running does a number on my knees. so i do a lot of brisk walking. a Lot. and i always stretch afterwards.

    pilates has done wonders for me too. i love the winsor buns and thighs workout. i do it 4 or 5 times a week and it really helps to keep my legs leaner and more shapely. it only takes a week or two to start noticing improvement. just make sure you're doing the exercises properly and watch your breathing. it makes a difference.

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    Senior Member CC_Mist's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    I do pilates almost everyday. The reason why I love pilates is that it really seems to help sculpt my shape and I do not bulk up. I have also noticed that it helps my posture as well which helps make me look long and lean.

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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    Walking on a treadmill or outside has helped my legs slim down. I've found that riding an exercise bike or using the Stairmaster makes my legs too muscular and bulky.

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    Member Bonn's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    GET THE BUN AND THIGH ROLLER!!!!! It is a GOD send. only 5 min a day, their commercial ain't bull shitin'. i've lost six pounds of thigh and ass in 9 days!! i have big hips and butt. i wear a 4/6 in shirts and a 10/12 in pants ( i measure 34B-25-42)...talk about bottom heavy (i've been a glutton lately, though, so it's my fault).

    don't be afraid about the muscle it takes about 1-2 monthes to gain 2-4 lbs of muscle and that's if you're a weight lifter. plus fat is larger that muscle. 5 lbs of fat is the size of a grapefruit, while 5 lbs of muscle is the size of a tangerine. it will be a long long while before you bulk up.

    i'm not crazy...i was a physical trainer in the Air Force.

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    Senior Member OliviaDC's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    Long distance running. There's a reason Bella21 noticed the distance runners had slimmer legs... your muscles develop in a slimmer way in order to "conserve" weight for long distances, for endurance reasons- as opposed to a sprinter, who needs that "burst" of energy and larger muscles to hold the fuel for said burst.

    The only thing that makes my legs slimmer is distance running, if I develop my leg muscles any other way my legs looks the same, but are harder.

    Keep in mind though that some guys and chicks (eh-hem coughmecoughcough) like seeing bigger legs on the ladies!
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    Thanks so much everyone, great advice

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    Featured Member tRoUbLeMaKeR's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    Okay I'm bringing this thread back to life! LOL!

    I'm very interested in this topic because I too want to slim down my thighs (I'm pear shaped) without adding to much bulk all the while toning up too!

    I get the whole long distance short distance thing...but I'm wondering how to achieve the long distance pace and mode of running? I normally use the treadmill and sometimes elliptical anywhere from 4.5 - 6.5 when it comes to the speed indicator thingy. Can anyone help me figure out what speed I should be going to achieve my goals? Should I be looking at heart rate instead of speed and just keep my heart rate lower?

    Oh goodness this working out crap is so confusing! LOL!
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    Featured Member aussiebelle's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    ^Like the other girls said long distance running.
    I really find a difference after a few weeks of running on the treadmill about 4 times a week for half an hour.

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    Featured Member tRoUbLeMaKeR's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    so how fast should I be running is what I'm confused by. do I go off of treadmill speed or heart rate?
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    Featured Member aussiebelle's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    I don't use a heart rate monitor but I tend to know how hard I'm working because I've used them a lot in the past.

    What I usually do which I find keeps my motivation up is to run on the treadmill with music and start off running at 9. Then every three minutes, I increase the speed up two points, like to 9.2, 9.4 etc until I reach 9.8 and then I keep it there for my half an hour.

    I find that this helps me warm up and get into it because I always think that the first ten minutes or so are always the hardest.

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    Featured Member aussiebelle's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    ^ Also for the last three minutes I run at 10 (which is hard for me) but it makes me feel so good when I've finished.

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    Featured Member tRoUbLeMaKeR's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    9 and 10? when I run at 6 on the treadmills at my gym it's pretty steady and fast...if we're talking about the same thing then wouldn't 9 or 10 be totally sprinting?
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    Featured Member aussiebelle's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    I don't think the treadmills are the same because when I powerwalk I do it between 7 and 7.2, so 9 is a steady jog.
    Anyway, I do find that by slowly increasing the intensity, it makes me up my workout and pushes me to work harder and I can see results in my legs when I do this.

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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    I used to run, and that helped, but I find that if you walk on a treadmill, increase the incline so that it feels like you are hiking up a steep hill. I usually make it steep and walk at 3.5 MPH. It's better for your joints, but it is more challenging than just an average walk.
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    Featured Member aussiebelle's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    I used to run, and that helped, but I find that if you walk on a treadmill, increase the incline so that it feels like you are hiking up a steep hill. I usually make it steep and walk at 3.5 MPH. It's better for your joints, but it is more challenging than just an average walk.
    Actually I read somewhere ages ago that Fergie from the black eyed peas does this to get her legs how they are. I remember something about her saying the incline allows her legs to be slim but toned.

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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    Yep...that and Pilates. Pilates gets your leg muscles nice and lean/long.

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    Featured Member flickad's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    I've heard deep water running is the way to go.

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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    so more incline with a brisk walk slight jog would be good? the resistance of the incline wouldn't bulk up my thighs or calves?

    Yoga seems like it has so many benefits! I wish my gym had yoga classes! LOL!
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    Banned Eric Stoner's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    Distance running ; biking or walking. Avoid bulk builders like squats in the gym. Use light weight and LOTS of reps.

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    Veteran Member babystripper's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    so would 30-40 mins running at a jog pace get my heart elevated enough to burn fat? would it not be better to do interval, so 5 mins brisk walk/jog pace, the 5 mins sprint, then back to brisk jog? or would that just bulk me up?

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    God/dess ahmeerah's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    lots of stretching helps me.

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    Banned Katrine's Avatar
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    Default Re: slimming down legs

    Its going to take a hell of a lot of work to significantly "bulk" up the legs. If you don't have the genetic disposition to have long, slender, tulip-stem legs, very few things are going to work.

    My legs became much more slender as I got older from a combination of bellydance, salsa dance, yoga, and stripping.

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