The Most Effective Exercises for Slimmer Thighs

Summer’s coming, and the thighs are usually the last place extra weight comes off.

Stress, eating badly and skipping workouts all show up on the scale, and for a lot of people the hips and thighs are where it stays the longest.

Studies show losing hip and thigh fat is more difficult than losing belly fat.

Fat on your hips and thighs sits just under the skin (subcutaneous fat). The fat deeper around your belly (visceral fat) usually goes first when you exercise and eat better.

To burn subcutaneous fat and slim your thighs you’ll need to balance cardio with resistance training. Cardio burns fat. Resistance training tones muscle.

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But Wait – Exercises For Slimmer Thighs Alone Are Not Enough

There’s no replacement for regular exercise but regular exercise alone will not help you reach your goal in a healthy and efficient manner.

Eating clean will arm your body with the nutrients it needs to help you along the way.

Drink water instead of other drinks. In one study, overweight women who drank an extra liter of water a day lost about 2 kilos more over a year. Around 2 liters a day is a good target.

Cut back on soda and alcohol too.

The Best Exercises For Slimmer Thighs

Now, let’s get to work. Here are the best types of exercise for trimming your thighs.

Squats

Squats work everything from your waist down, including your hamstrings, which makes them the first exercise to learn for your hips and thighs.

The best part?

You don’t need a gym for them. Do a set during a movie, or while the laundry’s running.

If you’re new to squats, start with 2 or 3 sets of 15 to 20.

When that gets easy, hold a pair of adjustable dumbbells or use a squat rack.

Yoga

Yoga helps with weight loss, flexibility and muscle tone, and it can take the edge off the stress that leads to overeating.

Some poses work the lower body harder than others.

Need a few example of yoga poses that act as exercises for slimmer thighs?

1. Chair Pose works your legs and arms.

2. Deep squats work your whole lower body.

3. Ananda Balasana or Happy Baby Pose releases tension in your lower back and hips.

4. Warrior Pose works your thighs, back, arms and shoulders.

5. Three-legged dog opens your hips and works your thighs and balance.

6. Bridge Pose works your back and glutes, and it’s a good one to relax with.

HIIT

HIIT stands for High-Intensity Interval Training. It operates according to the philosophy that pushing your body for a few minutes equals a 45 minute to an hour session at moderate intensity.

It’s short bursts of hard work with short rests in between, and it’s good for fat loss and your heart.

It’s easy to get hurt if you go too hard too soon. If you’re new, start with easier cardio first.

Pilates

Pilates stretches and tones your thighs using your own body weight, so it builds flexibility without adding bulk.

Good Old-fashioned Running

Try going back to basics. Any compiled list of exercises for slimmer thighs should include running.

Running is an endurance exercise, and it tones your legs without building the bulk that heavy lifting can.

If you’re new to running, walk and mix in some jogging. You’ll be running most of the way before long.

Looking For A More Specific Exercise Routine?

While the exercises for slimmer thighs listed are helpful, they aren’t exactly prescriptive. Having a starting point of specific exercises will help you grow comfortable as you work toward slimmer thighs.

What You’ll Need:

• Yoga mat or a soft surface
• An interval timer app (there are plenty of free interval timer apps available for you to use)
• Free weights

Perform the following exercises in different manners depending on your level of experience.

Beginners: 30 seconds per exercise with no rest between them. Do three rounds, with 1 minute of rest between rounds.

Intermediate: 45 seconds per exercise with 10 seconds of rest. Three rounds, 30 seconds between rounds.

Advanced: 1 minute per exercise with 10 seconds of rest. Three rounds, 30 seconds between rounds.

Do this three times per week on non-consecutive days no matter your experience level.

Exercises For Slimmer Thighs:

1. Walking Dumbbell Lunge
2. Wall Squats
3. Single Leg Pushup
4. Mountain Climbers
5. Kneeling Side Kicks (make sure to do both legs before advancing)
6. Split Squat with Side Leg Raise (make sure to do both legs before advancing)

Conclusion

Dreaming about slimmer thighs? Make it your reality.

Now you’re ready to put these exercises for slimmer thighs into action. Remember to mix-up your workout every once in a while and ease into it. Pushing your body to extremes as a beginner can result in injury.

Don’t let being a beginner discourage you.

Most important, don’t forget that healthy weight loss involves a combination of regular exercise and clean and healthy eating. As you apply this practices to your daily life more and more, they’ll soon become healthy habits!