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How do I Shrink Big Thighs?

Sheri Cyprus
Sheri Cyprus

Through perseverance in diet and exercise, it's possible to get rid of big thighs, at least somewhat. The thigh area is often one of the last places to show results from a weight loss and exercise plan, so it does take patience when trying to get your thighs to be less flabby. Limiting fat intake as well as calories and doing effective exercises is essential in shrinking big thighs.

Both fat burning and toning exercises are best for reducing thighs. It's important to get your doctor's permission before starting an exercise routine. Good fat burning thigh exercises include aerobics, bicycle riding and running.

Bike riding is considered to be a good fat-burning thigh exercise.
Bike riding is considered to be a good fat-burning thigh exercise.

Aerobic exercises are those which get the whole body moving to help oxygen circulate in the body and get the heart pumping. If you want to do aerobic exercise to burn fat to help shrink big thighs, it's best to start with low impact aerobics in which your feet and arms are moving minimally to moderately in terms of height. Increasing the speed and how high you raise your knees and arms once you master low impact workouts can burn fat easier and faster.

Losing fat is important if you want to slim down your thighs.
Losing fat is important if you want to slim down your thighs.

Running can slim thighs; it burns fat as well as tones thigh muscles. You should jog, or run at a slower pace, before gradually running longer in more strenuous workouts. Cycling offers a versatile way to exercise to shrink big thighs, as it may be done outdoors on a regular bicycle or indoors on a stationery bike. Cycling uphill or using a setting on a stationary bike that requires extra effort to move the pedals can really give thighs a toning workout if done regularly.

Increasing the speed and intensity of aerobic workouts will help burn fat faster.
Increasing the speed and intensity of aerobic workouts will help burn fat faster.

It's likely to take at least a month of thigh workouts done at least five days a week for a half an hour each to see any shrinkage of fat. Adding a mat routine of leg lifts to workouts such as cycling, running or aerobics can help in toning thighs. If you're a muscular person and your thighs aren't flabby, but you want to get them narrower, this likely won't happen. It's possible to shrink big thighs in the case of flabbiness due to not enough exercise and/or too much fat and calorie intake, but basic body build can't be changed.

Adding a mat routine of leg lifts can help in toning thighs.
Adding a mat routine of leg lifts can help in toning thighs.

If you want to shrink fatty thighs, wearing the most flattering shorts can help give you the appearance of leaner legs while you're doing thigh exercise regularly and monitoring your diet. Cellulite, the dimply skin that many people with plump thighs have, isn't easy or often even possible to remove with products, diet or exercise. Diet and exercise to tone and burn fat are likely to create a leaner line which may make the cellulite look less noticeable. Wearing shorts that end at the knees is a flattering length for heavier as well as shorter women, as it visually makes the leg appear longer.

Discussion Comments

Mor

@Fa5t3r - I'm all for people being positive about themselves, but I also think it's OK for anyone who wants to change something about themselves to do so. It's making people feel shame that is wrong.

I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with a woman wanting to slim her big thighs, but I also don't think there's anything wrong with a woman wanting to beef up her thighs, as long as she's happy with herself and doesn't see her appearance as being the only way she can find value in herself.

Everyone has a preference in the way they present themselves to the outside world. It's just important to realize that most people aren't going to be able to achieve that preference most of the time. And that's OK.

Fa5t3r

@clintflint - Actually, having big thighs is like winning the genetic lottery because statistically women who put on weight on their thighs and hips tend to live longer and have fewer cardiac problems, probably because the fat is stored away from major organs.

So big hips and thighs are a good thing. Although, honestly, the body you have right now is perfect as it is. If you want to be fitter, that's fantastic, but don't do it because you're worried about the way you look. You look beautiful. Don't let anyone tell you different, even yourself.

clintflint

Really, the only way to lose big thighs is to make everything smaller, or possibly to get liposuction on that one part of your body. Your body just doesn't do spot trimming. Either you lose weight everywhere at the pace you were genetically designed to lose it, or you don't lose any at all.

You can make your legs look a bit trimmer by toning them up with strength exercises, but other than that it's a matter of losing weight in general. If the only thing you're worried about is big thighs and you are generally fit and healthy then I wouldn't change everything just to change that one thing.

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    • Bike riding is considered to be a good fat-burning thigh exercise.
      By: Diego Barbieri
      Bike riding is considered to be a good fat-burning thigh exercise.
    • Losing fat is important if you want to slim down your thighs.
      By: vladimirfloyd
      Losing fat is important if you want to slim down your thighs.
    • Increasing the speed and intensity of aerobic workouts will help burn fat faster.
      By: .shock
      Increasing the speed and intensity of aerobic workouts will help burn fat faster.
    • Adding a mat routine of leg lifts can help in toning thighs.
      By: Gabriel Blaj
      Adding a mat routine of leg lifts can help in toning thighs.
    • The thighs are one of the last places to show the results of weight loss, so a person must persevere through proper diet and exercise to see the results they want.
      By: Andres Rodriguez
      The thighs are one of the last places to show the results of weight loss, so a person must persevere through proper diet and exercise to see the results they want.
    • Wearing slimming underwear may give the appearance of skinny thighs.
      By: photo25th
      Wearing slimming underwear may give the appearance of skinny thighs.
    • Running burns fat and tones thigh muscles.
      By: Warren Goldswain
      Running burns fat and tones thigh muscles.