Best exercise for losing weight on hips and thighs?

As a former swimmer who was semi-professional at one point, I have to say that swimming has many benefits but a lean body is not one of them.

There are studies of runners and swimmers spending the same calories in workouts but runners losing weight & getting leaner while swimmers don't or do at a significantly slower rate. Afaik the reason why is still a mystery, although there are theories: body doesn't heat up while swimming, appetite is suppressed after running but is boosted after swimming, etc.

Scots - swimming. This will 'elongate' your muscles and tone all over. If you have the time and the inclination. Most local authority pools will offer basic lesson(s) IF you need tuition. It's really effective and again non-impact.

While we're on a thigh-theme, can anyone suggest a solution to my thigh-related ishooos? (sorry to hijack)

I've been religiously stair climbing and going to numerous PowerPlate and HIT/cardio classes for months now in an attempt to de-wibble my hips and thighs and achieve the elusive 'thigh gap' prior to going on holiday at the end of next month.....unfortunately due to my natural tendency to bulk/build muscle all I've achieved in doing the above is a pair of big, bulky muscular thighs Toned - yes. Long/lean/slender - most definitely not.

My preference is not to look like a shot-putter in my bikini so can anyone suggest a way to slim down my rugby-player-thighs?!

All suggestions welcome.....

Thank you

www.stumptuous.com/learning-the-squat-3-how-to-squat

Dummies guide on how to do a squat

Squats and lunges are a great way to screw up your knees & hips

I really would disagree with this a lot and I know quite a few older women - waaaay over 35 - who would also disagree.

As has been said above, squats and lunges are great. By all means just start off with some exercises without weights, but to really lose fat you need to be working with weights. Just start off with some dumbbells:-

www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/GluteusMaximus/DBFrontSquat.html

www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/GluteusMaximus/DBWalkingLunge.html

There's some more about squats here:-

www.stumptuous.com/dork-diva-squat

You may also want to think about doing some deadlifts and hip thrusts. Some info here:-

www.niashanks.com/2013/04/best-exercises-deadlifts-quads-hams-glutes/

Glad others feel the same about squats and lunges, but YY - technique is key!

They got me in my wedding dress anyway!

Spinning classes at the gym. Really good for both toning and building muscle on thighs and helps the overall weight loss on hips. And non-impact. AND you sweat a lot and have clearer skin.

Squats and lunges are a great way to screw up your knees & hips
Cote, I agree they can cause problems if the technique isn't good, I see an awful lot of very dodgy looking squatting and lunging in the gym

However with good/safe technique and starting out with light weights it should be ok...I do favour lunges though over barbell squats

My PT gives us lunges and squats as warm ups! Then more as the session Progresses

I've got that curvy muscle look on them now... If you do them properly there is little risk.

Squats, lunges etc with kettlebells have made a dramatic difference to the shape of my bum thighs and hips. I haven't lost many pounds, but I have lost inches.

Mum have a look at your gym timetables, step, body pump and body conditioning all good. I also have a sadistic gym teacher that hosts the most vicious aqua class ever. Last one I went to I could barely drive home!

I rate Jillian Michael's Killer Buns and Thighs. My thighs look a lot leaner and firmer now.

No idea, my knees have had attitude since I was at school

Er, why over 35??

Muminthecity - Nobody is any good at running to start with. That is why we have started slowly and with run/walk/run type interval training programs like C25K.

Squats and lunges are a great way to screw up your knees & hips, especially if your relevant muscles aren't reasonably strong to start with and/or you are over 35.

Is that about 10k then? Rubbish at converting miles

Have you heard of the couch to 5k challenge?

Have a google or there is a long standing thread on here somewhere.

I've almost 3 stone to lose and im hoping to start this very soon hoping I will see benefits of weight loss all over but particularly on my thighs!

sure, but if you measured your hr during the double / triple high intensity aerobics classes and compared it to a run I suspect it'd be higher and/or more sustained with the run?

but I do hear you CooEee there does seem to be something 'magic' about running

I always agreed with you mercury, and do a lot of double / triple high intensity aerobics classes, which definitely keep me trim. But running (and for me it's 6mile plus runs that show benefits) really show quickly, so if I'm conscious of wearing a tight dress a couple of runs in the days before always sort me out, and sustained periods of running dramatically changed my waist shape. On the other hand I think there's a knack to getting to know what impacts you as an individual.

hmm, I suspect that other exercise would work as well if it was performed at the same intensity as sprinting, but no matter, glad to hear that people have found things that work:)

I think fat stored below the waist tends to be the last to go?

Running! The only thing that really impacts your body shape I find.

If you mean"lose weight" as in "make smaller" as in "tone up" the. Heysoulsister is right - squats are your friend.

Check out YouTube for technique videos, or ask someone at the gym to show you. Technique is really important! Lunges are also great. Once you get your technique right you can add weights to make it suitably hard.

If you're working your muscles in this way, up your lean protein intake too.