toning hips/butt/thighs

**Lavinea** · 09-03-2011 07:49 PM

Hey, just wondering what work out have you guys found to work best for toning hips/butt/and thighs.

I already have a good diet and I run.. but I know theres more that I can do...

Videos would be great..

loves
Anna

**Jessalilbit** · 10-05-2011 08:09 PM

Walking lunges.

**snooks** · 10-06-2011 01:24 AM

There are heaps of exercises to tone those areas. Why don't you google something like what you want and see what pops up.

Yoga is a great way to tone those problem areas and any yoga DVD will give you plenty of those choices. Pilates is another great toner and once more there are just masses of DVDs to be had. If you wished you could look up you tube to get a taste of these disciplines to see what you think. I just go to Yoga/Pilates for beginners and up it comes with dozens of alternatives.

I will offer one exercise though and that is Bird Dog.
Get down on the floor on all fours and lift opposite arm and leg and hold for a few seconds. Do a couple of sets of alternate sides 10 or 12 times. This always makes my butt a bit sore!! LOL The longer you hold the pose the better.

If you try walking lkunges as Jess says, try doing them with dumbbells. This adds to the intensity. The link will be edited off soon so once more just google what you want to try. Best of luck.

**Pocahontas** · 10-12-2011 07:43 AM

I also have the same question. My weakest area so far. I am skinny but have fat legs. I guess that makes me skinny fat. One of my friends who trains at home said she got great results from doing squats and romanian deadlifts. I know what squats are but do you have any information on romanian deadlifts. I found information about the exercise but I couldn't find a step by step guide or something on how to do romanian deadlifts. I have an 8kg kettlebell. Can I use that?

Thank you.

**Pocahontas** · 10-12-2011 02:39 PM

Hey I found this website explaining the Romanian deadlift. It's called romaniandeadlift net

So no need to answer. Anyway thank you.

**Butterfly1987** · 10-23-2011 04:57 PM

Hi :-)

I go to a kettlercise class at my gym once a week and it's really good at toning everywhere, especially the bum and thighs. There are lots of vids on youtube :-) x

**fitlaura** · 10-25-2011 04:59 AM

Hiya,

Ive been on a mission recently to tone my bum and thighs, ive been using a cross trainer for a bout 30 mins a day, worked REALLY well. I use a Kettler Unix P cross trainer. brilliant machine!

**MeghanCouture** · 10-27-2011 03:28 PM

I do a lot of the stairmaster, squats with weights, lunges, running, hiking, also som leg presses at the gym. you can also try the p90x and do the leg workout, its the best. it will kick you're and leave you sore for a few days but it works!

**Aeryn Sun** · 11-11-2011 11:48 PM

Squats, jump squats and lunges.
A stair stepper machine is also great...

**donnaatthegym** · 11-29-2011 12:27 PM

Squats are one of the best exercises you can do for your hips, butt and thighs and they're also a functional exercise, helping us build strength for a variety of daily activities.

Stand with feet hip-width apart and, for added intensity, hold weights at shoulder level or at your sides.
Bend the knees, and lower into a squat, keeping the knees behind the toes. Imagine that you're sticking your butt out behind you, but keep the torso upright and contracted.
Press into the heels to stand up.
Repeat for 2-3 sets of 8-16 reps

Lunges are a challenging exercise because they work so many muscles at the same time. On the front leg, you'll work the glutes and hamstrings and, on the back leg, you'll work the quads and calves. What's nice about lunges is that there are a variety to choose from such as:

Step ups are another great exercise for the glutes. For step ups, place one foot on a step or platform and push through the heel to lift the body up. This is an excellent exercise for the glutes, providing you use a step that's high enough, although you may need to work up to a higher step if you're a beginner. You eventually want a height were your knee is at about a 90-degree angle.

The other key is to concentrate all your weight on the stepping leg. In other words, lower down gently, barely touching the toes of the other leg to the ground. You'll really feel this when you take it slow and concentrate on the working leg.

While I'm fond of more compound moves (like the squats, lunges and step ups listed above) since they work more muscle groups, the hip extension is an exercise that specificially targets the largest muscle in the body...the gluteus maximus.

For this move, you can hold a dumbbell behind the knee or use ankle weights for added intensity.

Deadlifts are great for your hamstrings, butt and lower back, but this one-legged version is a great way to add intensity to the exercise and engage your stabilizer muscles to keep your body balanced. Form is critical and you should skip this exercise if you have any back problems.

To do this move, take the left leg back just a bit, lightly resting on the toe. With the weights in front of the thighs, tip from the hips and lower the weights as low as your flexibility allows. Keep your back flat or with a natural arch and make sure you keep the abs contracted to protect the back. Squeeze the glutes of the working leg to raise back up. Do 2-3 sets of 8-12 reps.

Running, like walking is accessible, easy to learn, reduces stress, helps in weight loss, and it makes you feel good. Plus, it really works your butt, especially when you add a few hills to your regular running route. Sprints are another option for folks wanting to both burn more calories and tighten up the tush. A 140-lb person burns 475 calories during a 45 minute jog.