Quick Tips for Toning Your Thighs
If you want to tone your thighs, the first step is to decide what goal
you have in mind. Some exercises or toning strategies will let your legs keep
the same shape but make them stronger while others will help them get thinner
or build muscle. You also need to consider what part of the thighs you want to
focus on with the most common options being upper thighs and inner thighs
although some exercises will work the entire area. Here are some of the best
exercise tips to help you strengthen and tone your thighs.
Squats
One of the ideal ways to tone your thighs in a small number of
repetitions each day is by doing a squat. This exercise focuses on the upper
thighs although it can help the surrounding areas as well. The reason so many
people like squats is that they are incredibly versatile. You can do a
free-standing squat if you want or if you want to lean your back against something,
try out a wall squat. Just be sure to keep your feet about shoulder width apart
for both variations.
Toe Squat and Reach
This variation of a squat is different enough to be considered
separately. Start in the chair pose from yoga (your knees partly bent in a half
squat, abs engaged, ankles and inner knees touching and your arms up above your
head). Be sure to keep your legs controlled and move onto your balls of the
feet, raising your butt a few inches. Keep lifting and lowering it until you’ve
done about 8 to 12 reps. This type exercise is also good for
toning flabby skin on the arms as well.
Lunges
Lunges are another excellent way to tone your thighs, once again
focusing on the upper area. Just doing eight repetitions per leg will give you
results but you should still try to work your way up to 20 or 24. To do a lunge
start with your feet slightly apart and with your hands on your hips take a
large step forward with your right leg. Make sure the knee is bent and the leg
is parallel to the floor. Bring your right leg back and repeat with the left
side.
Leg Circles
A leg circle can also help you tone your thighs and the great thing
about it is that you get to lie down. Just lie on your back and put one of your
legs flat on the ground and point the other foot up towards the sky. With your
leg rotated slightly outwards, make five circles moving clockwise then do the
same going counter-clockwise. Then repeat the exercise on your other side.
Plie
Plies are ideal for those looking to tone the back of their thighs (and
their buttocks as well). This ballet move requires you to stand with your feet
far apart (they should be wider than shoulder-width) and the toes pointing out.
With your arms in front of you, go down into a
squat and
then lift back up. When doing this stretch keep your “glutes” contracted and
repeat for about a minute before moving onto another exercise.
Creams & Lotions
Many folks like to supplement their workout with creams or lotions
developed to help reduce cellulite or sagging in the thigh, legs or arm areas.
Products such as
Body Sculpt by Nourish not only tone and tighten the thigh
area, they also help improve collagen development and add hydration reducing
unsightly cellulite and smoothing the skin. Products like Skin Tight have been
developed specifically for tightening tissue reducing sagging and wrinkles to
flabby or loose tissue.
These are some quick tips for toning thighs…and it’s never too early to
start getting into shape for the Spring and Summer for shorts, dresses and
bathing suits!
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