Slimming down muscular thighs

[Anonymous]

Currently in the process of losing 36 lb (down 6-8 so far depending on the day!) and I'm wondering what exercises I should do and which to avoid if I have muscular thunder thighs. I'm trying to reach a weight I hit about 3 years ago and even them my thighs were thick and muscular. What exercises should I stick to? I'm afraid heavy weight lifting will only make them larger (which has happened in the past), but should I avoid it completely? And stick to running or walking? If so, how much cardio should I do? Intervals? Steady jogging? Walking on an incline?

Btw, the "trainer" at my gym suggests heavy weight lifting and little cardio, but I don't think that's the way to go if I still need to lose 30lb.

Basically I'm totally confused about what I can do to slim my thighs down. Any help would be appreciated!

[Anonymous]

I have large muscular thighs. I agree with trainer. Lift and do a bit of cardio. Muscle is better and burns more calories. When I am very thin, you can see the muscles. They get extremely cut. In my mid-30s, I just accepted that I am a muscular person and I can either spend hours to fight it or just accept it. Accept it. Embrace it. There are much worse things in life than being muscular. As you drop fat, your thighs will get leaner (and smaller).

[Anonymous]

OP, I, too, have large, muscular thighs.

I actually disagree with PP and your trainer, but with a qualification.

I find what works best for me is to do cardio and calisthenics.

You don't need weights to strengthen the body, and the beauty of calisthenics is that it uses dynamic stretching.

If I focus on lifting, I get bulky. If I just do cardio, I don't get any definition and it's an uphill battle to lose weight.

But if I alternate cardio with strength training that uses my own body weight and involves dynamic stretching, I get the best results and I also feel the best.

[Anonymous]

At least you can see your muscles. Be proud of it. I cannot get definition, ever. I am just not built that way.

[Anonymous]

I heard pilates is good for that. I read that Brittany Spears has muscular thighs and that is what she did to help (that that for what it's worth).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least you can see your muscles. Be proud of it. I cannot get definition, ever. I am just not built that way.

+1. In my 20s I was a competitive bike racer and long distance runner. My calves never ever had definition, even then. Love your muscles!

[Anonymous]

Embrace them! My thighs aren't huge but they are fairly flabby. They just don't get muscular no matter what I do even though my calves are. Would love to have your problem!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I, too, have large, muscular thighs.

I actually disagree with PP and your trainer, but with a qualification.

I find what works best for me is to do cardio and calisthenics.

You don't need weights to strengthen the body, and the beauty of calisthenics is that it uses dynamic stretching.

If I focus on lifting, I get bulky. If I just do cardio, I don't get any definition and it's an uphill battle to lose weight.

But if I alternate cardio with strength training that uses my own body weight and involves dynamic stretching, I get the best results and I also feel the best.

OP here: this sounds like a good suggestion that I hadn't thought of. What is your exercise regime like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard pilates is good for that. I read that Brittany Spears has muscular thighs and that is what she did to help (that that for what it's worth).

OP here. I used to do pilates a lot when I was younger, perhaps I should give it another try. I don't remember my thighs slimming out but overall its a great exercise. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My suggestion would be to slim down to desired weight and then mix weights with cardio. That way when you do lose weight your muscles don't atrophy. Weightlifting is great for metabolic fatloss but will need the proper diet and conditioning. Diet is something like 80% of weightloss.

Far as your thighs, it's probably genetics, but when you do lose weight it will slim down as rest of your body. I don't know too much about pilates and how effective it is, but weight training is becoming increasingly popular among women and there's a reason for it.

[Anonymous]

I have big thighs. My dad who I lost 15 years ago had big thighs too. He called me thunder thighs. As a child I hated it. Now I wear it as a badge of honor. I have strong muscular thighs. Nothing will change that. I'm 44. Finally accepted the fact that we are all born with a certain body type. Nothing we do short of surgery will change that. I have embraced running, cycling and yoga. My strong thigh muscles are celebrating. Show them off. You'd be surprised how sexy men find them

[Anonymous]

Cycling and weight lifting do bulk up my thighs. Running distance does not. Well, cycling long long distance at rapid rpms doesnt either. Yes embrace the build you have but adjust exercise program to manage your actual response to given types of exercise.

[Anonymous]

I've also accepted that I am never going to be skinny, so I might as well be muscular...oh well. If my thighs weren't muscular, they'd be flabby.

[Anonymous]

I have muscular thighs as well. If you need to lose 30 lbs, then you are carrying some of that fat on your thighs. As you lose weight, they will slim down some. I agree with your trainer that you should be lifting. You aren't going to add that much mass, but you will get the benefits of stronger bones and more defined muscles when you work off the fat.

[Anonymous]

Pilates and yoga. Also google ballet and muscular thighs - you will find some more tips on what to avoid - like cycling etc.