What do you do to slim your legs and bottom area?

[Anonymous]

These are by far my trouble areas. I am pretty slim and fit on top. Classic hour glass figure. I really want to slim down my legs and rear area. What exercises for those with this trouble spot seem to work well for you? I need to lose some weight to (about 10 lbs.) which will help, but what else can I do? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Stop Eating Fatty!

[Anonymous]

lose weight, exercise. you can't "spot reduce."

[Anonymous]

I use the classic "The Firm" exercise videos which focus on squats, step ups, and lunges. I also do Turbo Jam for the cardio. I am an hour glass as well but manage to keep down to a good weight, eat what I want and keep my legs slim. I packed on 50 pounds both pregnancies and was able to take it off and slim down using these videos.

I dont think the solution is to "stop eating fatty" as a PP suggested. You need to eat to burn fat. Just eat healthy. If you cut out too many calories your body will go into starvation mode and hold onto the fat.

[Anonymous]

I have the same problem spots and have found that running by far has helped the most (in addition to dieting) in those areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:lose weight, exercise. you can't "spot reduce."

Correct, you cannot spot reduce but you can work the legs and butt to build muscle which will give a more toned appearance. Do squats, lunges and step ups with weights. Same as a bicep curl, it will build the muscle the arm, the exercises I mentioned will build and tone leg muscle.

[Anonymous]

Buy Jillian Michaels' two new videos. But the shred away. Do them. They work.

[Anonymous]

Can you recommend a good at home step up and dvd for exercises with step up and weights? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

running, running, running. Doesn't have to be fast or even very far.

In fact, I guarantee you, stranger, that if you jog for 20 mins., 4x a week, you will completely make your tush go away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:lose weight, exercise. you can't "spot reduce."

Correct, you cannot spot reduce but you can work the legs and butt to build muscle which will give a more toned appearance. Do squats, lunges and step ups with weights. Same as a bicep curl, it will build the muscle the arm, the exercises I mentioned will build and tone leg muscle.

But the OP asked how to slim your legs and bottom. The only correct answer is cardio. You can't spot reduce. Period.

The reason building muscle is good is because your body burns more calories maintaining muscle tissue than fat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:lose weight, exercise. you can't "spot reduce."

Correct, you cannot spot reduce but you can work the legs and butt to build muscle which will give a more toned appearance. Do squats, lunges and step ups with weights. Same as a bicep curl, it will build the muscle the arm, the exercises I mentioned will build and tone leg muscle.

But the OP asked how to slim your legs and bottom. The only correct answer is cardio. You can't spot reduce. Period.

The reason building muscle is good is because your body burns more calories maintaining muscle tissue than fat.

Muscle also tightens the skin, makes you look toned and lessens the look of cellulite (see tightens skin). Muscle does more than just burn calories.

[Anonymous]

I have the same type of figure as OP, and I found the most effective way to sculpt that area to my satisfaction was when I used to go backpacking in the mountains. Carrying a 40-pound pack and hiking up and down mountain trails for a couple of weeks resulted in making the seat of my pants quite baggy! Plus I was out in the fresh air and enjoying incredibly beautiful scenery. I wish I could reproduce that experience now, but my life is so different.... I suspect the next best thing would be spending time every day climbing something while holding weights.

[Anonymous]

yoga

[Anonymous]

Another vote for running. I started running as a kid and have been running my entire adult life, and am often told I have great legs. I ran (albeit slowly and not as far) up until my 9th month and started running again in my first month post-partum. While it didn't help me avoid gaining 50+ lbs in the pregnancy, it did help me take off all but 5 of those lbs. (I'm 5 mos postpartum, still working on it.)

I run every other day and do the arc trainer (like an elliptical) on the off-days. sometimes i'll throw in some stationary bike time, too.

I also do weights and yoga, but suspect the running probably has the biggest effect on my legs.

Good luck!

(notes: start slowly and for short distances, and work your way up. make sure you're cleared to run, physically. invest in a decent pair of running shoes that are right for your feet. Support "the girls" with a good sports bra. Stay hydrated. Eat a little something an hour before you run.)

[Anonymous]

Stairs. After college I moved to a small town in China and walked many, many flights of stairs every day, plus bike riding around town, plus ate more fruits and veggies and ate zero junk food. Some college friends came to visit 6 months later and they couldn't believe how good my butt and thighs looked. I'm a fit person but I've never looked as good as when I walked all those stairs.

If you aren't interested in running, you could try walking 3-4 miles a day. I used to do that when my children were willing to stay in the stroller that long. Now I try to walk with one of my children to her school and that's 3 miles round-trip. Takes 45 minutes and feels good. Bet my legs would look pretty good if I did that daily!