To want straight legs at the top without the curvy bit?

[cultkid]

I am small I will start by saying I'm ;
5ft 1 and weigh 48-49 kg at the moment.
I know the legs with the curve at the thigh are appealing to lots of women.
I haven't exercised for years because I've had a very bad back. I've enjoyed Pilates on a reformer and also I do walk but my legs are not toned at all. My tummy is flat but legs are just really underwhelming
I have zero stamina. How do I make my legs tone up? I am actually really not clued in on this. Is there anything I can do in particular to bring the tops in so my legs are deeper instead of wider?
I don't want to run I haven't got the child care at the minute to make that happen.

Aibu to want deep set legs more sporty looking is it genetics?

Your legs are fine- there are some exercises that might tone if that’s what you want.

I am quite wide at my thigh tops- and if I wear tops that finish there it emphasises the width. Better to choose tops or dresses that end lower down or mid thigh. It’s very flattering, especially with leggings/tights/jeggings.

The biggest problem is finding tops that long!

I.developed those after having kids. Stomach went back to normal, but all the fat from my boobs went to my thighs, hips and back. Done 15 years of Pilates too. Spin and kettles works, but 9 weeks of no gym and lots of cake has put them back.

I don’t even know what you mean?!

Hi OP. I think your BMI is around 20, which puts you at the lower end of the healthy weight range. I'm going to be honest with you here. Your legs are that shape because you are short, and no amount of diet or exercise is going to change your body to a different shape. I would do squats and lunges as other people have suggested, and if you can get to a pool on a regular basis, I find that swimming lengths just kicking my legs behind me and holding on to a float in front is good for toning the legs and lower belly.

Exercise and healthy eating are good things, but I also think you need to accept your body shape and learn to be happy with it, because no amount of exercise is going to make you look like a 6ft leggy model (and neither should you want to).

You need a sense of perspective. You’re a woman and not a table.

I walk everywhere and since lockdown I’ve cycled a lot and I still have curvy thighs, if I didn’t do any exercise my legs would be enormous. Try some sort of exercise, there are free workouts that cater for everyone on YouTube. Exercise will improve your natural shape but you may as well learn to love yourself. Also experiment with clothes, you can flatter yourself and at least be confIdent in what you wear.

I know what you mean OP by wanting your legs to be deeper rather than wider!

I'm not sure you can actually change the shape of your legs totally, it's largely genetic where your body stores it's fat, but to get legs deeper you need to build up the muscles at the front and back of the thigh- exercise is the only way! Try squats with small hand weights, leg raises, cycling, running- there is no other way! Having toned outer buttocks will also pull the top of the thighs in.

You may have no stamina because you’re close to being underweight. I like the skinny look but I’m happier bigger because I have a lot more life. I’d rather be a little bigger and have enough energy.

Ah, the good ole thunder thighs that are endemic in my family. Some people have nice skinny Amazon legs, others score the thunder thighs. Not much help I'm afraid.

Anything can be toned and tightened with exercise, but unfortunately you'll never have amazon legs.

@lilgreen 🤣

You say very clearly that you have had a bad back, it restricted the exercise that you can do. Therefore be very wary about kettle balls and weights. Get advice, if you can afford it, a sports physio.
Aim for flexibility first. Pilates type exercises are good and build up gradually.
I had to stop exercise because I aggravated an old back injury.

One of my basic exercises is going up and down stairs many times and when going up just one step at a time exaggerate the knee action, lift the foot high as you take each step. (Ministry of Silly Walks)
Take care on stairs though

ps I didn't notice if you gave your age

Your legs really are lovely, I think your obsessing a little. I'm a little bit taller with the same BMI wearing wedge summer shoes make me legs longer, why not look at the style rather than shape.
When you get to 30's 40's you tend to wear baggy clothes on the hips for comfort.
I wear paperbag shorts with a 3inch wedge sandal.

Squats are your friend. Do a 30 day squat challenge.

Alternatively there’s loads of at-home leg workouts if you google.

Deeper not wider - you want more hamstring and quad definition and muscle mass, and more glute definition to even it all out.

For this I’d recommend checking out Bret Contreras. He has a home program you can follow with no or minimal weight options.

Also: you look lovely as is! But getting stronger is always a good option.

Agree they are saddlebags.
You never see ice skaters that don't have nice legs. Bit difficult to do at home though.

My sister has a great figure and is very toned due to many workouts, but her one bugbear is her saddlebags. They aren't bad and she looks good but I do see what she means. I think a lot of that is genetic. You can improve it slightly, but that is actually your shape.

They are called saddlebags OP and are very normal in women. I had lipo on mine 5 years ago and now have slimmer legs but unfortunately I’ve put weight on and it now goes on my stomach as it can’t go to my thighs where it used to. If it wasn’t your legs, it would be something else.

Really enjoying this chat and love seeing all the suggestions. I've been doing heavy weight training now for two years and train about 4 times a week with running or the odd HIIT class in between. I didn't have loads of weight to lose but "toning" takes a lot of time and patience. It's an incredibly slow process regardless of how you decide to achieve it and diet will play a big part. For those saying don't lift weights if you've got a bad back, I had a really bad back from a car accident years before I started training. Carrying heavy bags or standing at the bus stop for even just a short time would be incredibly painful. I saw physios and chiropractors and whilst they could give me some relief it was only ever temporary. Weight training has strengthened my posterior chain and core and now have no back pain at all so it can be useful if done with proper guidance. Definitely worth speaking with doctors and personal trainers before ruling it out if weight training is something you want to consider.

Ugh the dreaded saddle bags! I am the same height as you OP and suffer with similar. I find resistance bands help

Before dc, I was 5ft 3 and weighed about 46~48kg. My thighs had gaps in between, but curvy on the outer side. Even I was really skinny on top, it was always there. I did try to tone it up, but never achieved. Now it's curvy on both sides.
You look fab.

What sort of willies have you been looking at? I can see saddlebags but those legs don’t look like any penis I have ever seen.

Pilates exercises for dancers. Clams might be a good one.

This has to be the most mind boggling thread ever in here and that is saying something !

You just need to do exercises that use those specific muscle areas to burn the fat. It won’t take that long.

Walking is one of the best ways to tone legs. But if you’ve got back problems swimming would be kinder to your back.

Def don’t use weights with back problems.