Thighs can be such a problem area to some women. Sometimes, it seems that no matter what you do, this typical area cannot be toned or tightened. However, that is not the case.
As women, our hormones allow us to become more predisposed to storing fat around our midsection, hips, buttocks, and THIGHS! With a clean diet low in processed foods and the right exercises, you can help overcome the appearance of “thunder thighs.”
There is no way to spot reduce. I know what you are thinking. Yes, that is true. However, there are specific exercises out there to tone your entire thighs-including the inside!
Do the following exercises in a circuit. Complete all 8 exercises with a maximum of 30 seconds of rest in between – do 3 circuits 3 times a week for maximum results. Good luck.
1. Sumo Squats
- Stand with your feet wider than hip-width apart, toes slightly turned out, holding a medicine ball in front of your chest.
- Squat down as low as you can, keeping your heels on the ground and your back straight.
- Press back up to standing. That’s one rep.
- Do 15 reps
2. Fire Hydrants
- Place your body on an all-fours position. Elbows should be slightly bent.
- Back should be parallel to the ground, not arched or swayed downward.
- Keeping the kneeling position raise left leg out to the side, parallel to the ground. Maintain for a second and slowly return to the initial position.
- Repeat movement with same leg until set is finished. Repeat the exercise using the right leg.
- Do 10 reps for each leg.
3. Inner Thigh Lift
- Lie on your left side, flat against the floor.Rest your head on your left upper arm.
- Bend your right (top) leg at the knee and cross over in front of left leg. Rest your right arm on your right hip.
- Keep your left leg straight. Using inner thigh muscle (adductor), lift left leg 6 inches off floor. Keep left toe in flexed position (not a pointed position). Exhale (breathe out) as you lift your leg.
- Using resistance with the inner thigh muscle (not gravity), slowly lower your leg. Inhale (breathe in) as you lower your leg.
- Repeat entire sequence on your right side, step 1-9 (working right adductor muscle).
- Do 15 reps.
4. Skater Lunge
- Perform a reverse lunge with your back leg slightly at an angle.
- Leap to the side and bring the opposite leg behind you, only tapping your toe to the ground.
- Immediately jump back the other direction and continue alternating until you feel the burn.
- Form check: Keep your knees bent and stay as low as possible to really work your quads.
- Do 20 reps.
5. Plie Squats
- Stand with feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart with toes turned out, holding lighter dumbbells vertically in front of thighs.
- Keeping abs tight and torso tall, bend knees 90 degrees; keep knees aligned between second and third toes and weight in heels.
- Press back to start; squeeze your glutes.
- Do 15 reps.
6. Step-ups
- Stand with dumbbells grasped to sides facing side of bench.
- Place foot of first leg on bench. Stand on bench by extending hip and knee of first leg and place foot of second leg on bench.
- Step down with second leg by flexing hip and knee of first leg.
- Return to original standing position by placing foot of first leg to floor.
- Repeat first step with opposite leg alternating first steps between legs.
- Do 30 reps on each side.
7. Side Lunges
- Stand with your feet and knees together.
- Take a large step with your right foot to the right side and lunge toward the floor.
- Make sure your right knee does not extend past your toes and keep your left leg relatively straight.
- Push off through your right foot to return to the start to complete one.
- Repeat with other leg.
- Do 25 reps on each side.
8. Curtsy Squats
- Start in a standing position with legs hip distance apart.
- Bring your right leg behind you into a curtsy position, getting as low down to the ground as you can.
- Then stand back up.
- Do the same thing again with the left leg.
- Do 30 reps for each side.