Legs!

[KillingLoneliness]

Hi, I’m a size uk 6/8 but I have big legs.
I’m 5’6” so I’m not tall but I’m not short.

How can I target my legs? I’m so fed of up them being untoned and jiggly and want to slim them down, I can’t do running due to asthma, currently I do a mix of resistance/squats/lunges and Pilates.

Do I just keep going? I know it takes moths and due to a couple of bouts of illness my exercise hasn’t been great so I know I’m far behind where I’d like to be.
I’m also desperately trying to tighten my upper arms as despite being “thin” but they are horribly wobbly! It’s so embarrassing, I really need to sort my body out!

If you've got no fat to lose then you need to focus on body recomposition and really the quickest way to do that is by weight training. Get to a gym and lift heavy! Be consistent, stick with the same exercises for 8-12 weeks and lift to a 8-10 rep range. It doesn't happen quickly (believe me I've been trying to recomp my lower body for months now) but you'll see a difference if you are consistent

You don't have big legs OP! Not at all. Very shapely and in proportion.

If there is no fat on them you will struggle to slim them down. You could tone them. As already suggested, heavy weights are your friend here.

This is the sort of result you can expect.

Your legs are absolutely perfectly fine! Fat distribution is very often genetic so upping your exercise or cutting calories will probably result in overall fat loss, including your legs.

I started my exercise journey by buying a rebounder and doing lots of bouncing, because it's fun and if you get slightly out of breath you can just stop. I noticed after a month or two that my leg muscles were getting harder which was a surprise (I was doing it for cardio). So I can recommend one of those!

As well as the heavy weights at the gym, you can also do things at home like weighted goblet squats, weighted hip thrusts, and that sort of thing.

Exactly what I'm striving for!

@tilestoclean I can’t afford the gym at the moment, I do have a pair of 3kg weights at home, I know that’s not heavy but I’m slowly building up my upper body strength as well as I’m quite weak. Will I be able to use these as a starting point? Or do I need to be doing deadlifts? I also have weighted bootybands, I’m guessing if I use my weights and the bands it will be an even slower process?

The OP has fab legs. The woman in your photo is wearing heels - I think the OP’s legs would look pretty similar in heels.

Please don’t fret about a perfectly lovely part of your body, enjoy your exercise for all round fitness and fun.

@KillingLoneliness yes it will be slower but it can be done! Just do what you can to work to failure - add in pulses, use time under tension techniques etc. If you could invest in a heavier dumbbell or kettlebell it would be worthwhile. With regards booty bands have a look at bret contrarus (the glute lab) on Instagram and he has some great stuff using bands. Increase your protein intake too.

Have you tried Joe Wicks or Caroline Girvan's free workouts on YouTube? They should help with toning.

For what's it's worth, you already have lovely legs!

Omg you have great legs!!
I wish my legs looked like that and I go to the gym 3 times a week!

Try cycling. You can go as as gently as you like (thinking of the asthma here) - great for toning the upper and lower legs and bottom too.

Thank you! You’ve been so helpful I really appreciate it! :) I shall keep going as I am with my current weights and will try to aim to get to a gym regularly this year, just need to sort finances for it.

Thank you to everyone for the lovely messages, they are quite wobbly in real life though and so much cellulite, I’d just like them to be firmer, more defined and less squishy! 😂 I know genetics play a role here as well and I take after my dads side, all of us have larger lower half’s and all the woman are “pear shaped” I didn’t get my mums athletic genes! She is one of the most toned people I know but it seems to all be natural for her because she never works out!

Ballet (gentle, beginners) has toned and completely changed the shape of my legs. It did take some months.