How can I tone up my legs?

**ncrozier** · 07-25-2011 10:10 PM

So I've been trying to tone up my legs for years- sometimes with minor success and sometimes not.

I'm surrounded by friends with long, gorgeous slender legs and I've got these little stumps. Granted they're very strong and muscular, but I feel self conscious about them most of the time.

I understand that nothing in the world will make my legs longer or nearly as slender as my friends'- I understand genetics just fine- and that I cannot spot train, but I know I can at least do a little something about what I have. I don't know what that "something" is though.

Here's some background for assessment:
Age: 23
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 125-130 LBS
Exercise Routine: 30-60 minutes every day or every other day of lunges, calf raises, squats, dumbbell routines working my chest and arms, crunches/twists, pilates, then stretching & yoga. I have trouble with running because of various lung issues (I do not smoke), but I do try to go on long walks a few times a week.
Diet: Breakfast- Water/Juice, 1 egg, 1 cup cereal with diced strawberries, raspberries and/or banana; Lunch- 1/2 sandwich (ham or turkey, mustard, a little lettuce) OR 1 cup lettuce with 2 TBSP light dressing, a cheese stick for an in-between snack (usually btwn lunch & dinner), water; Dinner- soup or a bowl of fruit, water. I do drink one or two beers maybe once a week with friends. Otherwise I don't generally drink alcohol, and I haven't touched soda in years.

My calves about mostly bulk muscle and my thighs are longer than my calves. I'm looking for anything to slim down my calves a little bit, but primarily to loose at least 1 inch from each of my thighs.

Can anyone help me???

NOTE: I have a picture of them for a visual assessment, but I can't figure out how to post it on here. Can anyone help me with that too?

**fee200** · 08-10-2011 03:27 PM

Sounds like you're very disaplined with both diet and exercise, well done.
Your fitness routine doesn't appear to include any CV workouts besides walking.
Have you tried RPM or cycling, which is great for the thighs. Also how about some
gentle jogging for 45minutes twice a week. It doesn't surprise me about the bulky
calf muscles. considering your routine.
If you belong to a gym, get the trainer to show you some calf/thigh toning exercises or it would
even be worth paying for 3 or 4 personal training sessions which would also give you ideas of
the workouts you really need to do.
Finally, don't forget that many parts of our body are down to our genes. I have slender legs/calves
like my elderly mother, however my 3 sisters all have chunky legs like my father!