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2. Pilates
The Pilates system is about stretching and strengthening exercises to improve muscular tone, flexibility and posture. According to Go ask Alice! (Columbia University’s health Q and A), Pilates is great for losing thigh bulk if you have minimal body fat looking to drop a jean size, or are on the slimmer side looking to tone and strengthen without bulking up.
3. HIIT Workouts
High intensity interval training includes fast paced training through workouts such as sprinting, plyometrics (e.g. box jumping, high knees, tuck jumps), spinning and anything that elevates the heart rate into the anaerobic threshold for 30 to 90 seconds. This is then followed by a rest period of 10 seconds to a minute, and repeated up to 10 times, no more than three times per week depending on your fitness levels.
One study put 45 women in their early twenties through their paces for 15 weeks, divided into two groups of activity – slow cardio (running, biking, hiking with their heart rate at a lower pace) and HIIT. High intensity interval training came out the winner, showing significant loss in total body fat and leg fat as compared to the group assigned with slow steady exercise.
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Final Word
This leg bulk reducing program should include workouts with boot camp style training and intervals three times per week, and perhaps two sessions of Pilates per week. This, combined with slower workouts (when time permits) is how I transform my former athlete clients into red carpet beauties.
Cat Smiley is the owner of Whistler Fitness Vacations, located in B.C. Canada. She has been named Canada’s top trainer three times by the International Sports Science Association. Her live-in weight loss retreat combines hiking, personal training and outdoor training with gym workouts in a luxury boot camp environment. Buy her book The Planet Friendly Diet, to follow her program in home.
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This is the last of my guest posts for the foreseeable future! Get ready for some Blend recaps and a yummy recipe or two!
Tell me….
Do you tend to grow huge muscles? Does it ever affect the way your clothes fit?
What is your favorite leg workout?
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Yep, my legs are definitely huge too! But I LOVE it, my legs are my secret weapon in races to beat the other elites….especially on hills. I know sometimes I look out of proportion, but I know that without those powerful legs, I would not be anywhere close to as fast as I am now 🙂 Great workout though, I do include some of those in my training. Have a wonderful Monday!
I definitely see where you are coming from! I’m not an athlete though, so I don’t NEED my muscles to be big and powerful. I do like being strong, though! It’s definitely a balance and everyone’s preferences are different! You are definitely gorgeous with your big strong butt-kicking running legs! <3
Legs are my favorite because I am stronger there. That also means they get kind of bulky. I need to do more sprinting and get over the fear of running. I also don’t do much Pilates so I should try that too!
I used to do tons of pilates just in my living room using my mom’s workout DVDs! It really does make your muscles look different. I really should find another one…it’s good to mix it up! 🙂
PS I <3 you and that recap!
I swear by Pilates for not only reducing bulky legs (the “long and lean” is kind of a myth though), but for keeping general strength up in areas that need attention for runners and athletes. Most of my PT moves from when I was injured (several times) have been pilates moves.
I didn’t know that pilates was so good for running! I’m definitely finding a pilates DVD! They have those crazy machines at the gym but it costs extra to go to those classes..and those machines weird me out.
I don’t mind a little [muscle] bulk but my legs are so short it doesn’t take much to become too much! More reps and reduce the weight seems to be working well with toning but not adding too much bulk.
I’m short, too so I definitely get that!! I agree that less weight seems to help, but it doesn’t bother me too much. 🙂
What about sprints on the treadmill eill that bulk my thighs if not can u recommend a workout?