How to Make Athletic Legs Thinner

Exercises like yoga and Pilates can help elongate your legs.

Some athletic people, especially females, complain about their legs being too large and/or muscular and want to reduce the size of their legs. Several types of exercise help elongate muscles and reduce body mass, yet it is important to keep in mind that all bodies are shaped differently, and genetics play a role in determining your body's shape even if you follow a regimen designed to reduce the size of your legs.

Things You'll Need

• Dumbbells
• Yoga or Pilates tape or course

Instructions

1. Mix in plenty of intense cardiovascular exercise into your regular workout routine. Cardiovascular exercise helps burn fat and calories, reducing your overall body fat and helping tighten all areas of your body. Running and planning sports are great ways to add in more cardiovascular exercise and reduce your overall body mass.

2. Incorporate yoga and Pilates into your weekly routine two to three times a week. Both of these styles of exercise emphasize making your body lean and long and will help lengthen muscle mass. Both styles also require a lot of core and small muscles to be used that are not always used and therefore can change the shape of your legs and your body overall.

3. Make sure to vary your workouts. The human body becomes accustomed to workouts done repeatedly and requires that we challenge them in new ways. Constantly doing the same leg lifts, cardiovascular exercises or other forms of exercise can prevent your body from reshaping in your desired fashion.

4. Eat a balanced and healthy diet. While you may be unhappy with just your legs, the reality is that in order to achieve real results, make good diet and exercise choices to positively impact your overall physical structure.

5. Incorporate exercises designed to tone your legs and make them leaner. Many of these exercises that pinpoint your legs require just the force of your body weight. Leg-raises, squats and calf-raises are just a few of the exercises that can help you achieve your desired results.

Tips & Warnings

• Treat your body well by eating right and exercising regularly and focus on being fit rather than worrying about being thin. Be thankful for your strength and focus on positive aspects about your body.

• Always consult a physician before starting a workout regimen. Do not resort to drastic eating or exercise behavior to achieve desired results. If you think you have an eating or exercising disorder, seek help immediately.

References

• Harbor Fitness; Pilates and Yoga; 2008
• Achieve-Fitness.com; 3 Secrets to Thinnger Thighs; Jesse Cannone; 2011

Resources

• Nutrition.gov; Home; 2011
• Weght Loss HQ; Thinner Thighs, 10 Exercises for You; 2009