advice for how to tone stubborn lower body

[chiro_ange]

hello everyone,

i am new to this site. i have been an avid exerciser for years (am 30, no kids) at what i think is the advanced level (but i havent done any of cathe's tapes yet). my problem is MY LOWER BODY. it wont respond to exercise. i look like one person from the waist up and another from the waist down to the knee. my calves are great though. anyway, my thighs (esp quads!) are flabby and it SEEMS that wts make them larger while i gain no definition and no lean look. i hate the way they look in shorts. my butt is actually not that big, it's the thighs. so, ladies, how can i trim them? i already do 5 days cardio per wk at med to high intensity for at least 40 minutes, usually running (some elliptical) and then i do wts and or toning for upper and lower body and abs for 20-40 mins, 2-3 times per week. i have tried pilates, yoga, more wts, less wts, more reps, fewer reps but nothing. i am so desperate for answers and so fed up.

1. is it possible that i have to give the wts more time and that you can look bigger before you look leaner? or is this a myth? i know everyone says you wont gain bulk but i feel that i really do, very easily but not in a good way. i look thick.

2. can you recommend a cathe tape to help me get leaner legs

3. how critical is diet? sometimes mine isnt the best but i work out SO much that i think i should be able to eat something bad from time to time. that being said, i eat healthfully most of the time. try to eat the good carbs, veggies (non starchy ones), try to avoid sugar and flour and junk and i dont eat red meat.

thanks in advance

 

[pace1987]

>>2. can you recommend a cathe tape to help me get leaner legs

Hi and welcome How about Leaner Legs? Did you check out the video clips of any of Cathe's lower body workout? I notice that my legs are really starting to tone up by using Cathe's new Kickbox from the Body Blast Series, alot of kicking}(. This is my all time favorite. I use it 2 times a week but with 1 of the premixes from the dvd. If you do get any of Cathe's workout if you have a dvd player I would recommend getting Cathe's dvds. Good luck;-) Edit to say and also Leg & Glutes is also great. It also uses ankle weights. This is the one that is on the dvd it is togother with Kickbox and has the 2 workout mix together so it sure does make a great lower body toning.

 

[scm]

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>3. how critical is diet?
It's tough to hear, but diet plays a HUGE role in how you look. HUGE. I used to exercise over 20 hours a week and did not really show it. Changed my diet and lowered my workouts and now I look a lot better. I know, I used to run 5 - 9 miles a day, every day, and thought the same thing. Man, I can afford an extra slice of bread ~ with a pat of butter, hey! But no, I think changing your diet is so much harder than working out. It's a total mindset ~ you've got to make and stick to it, even if it is just for a week at a time.
You said you have not done Cathe’s workouts yet, she has so many excellent workouts, but I would personally suggest Slow and Heavy Legs and Shoulders. Builds incredible strength ~ which burns fat.
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Susan C.M.

 

[LUXX26]

I have to admit diet is hard- HARDER FOR ME THAN WORKING OUT!! I am very motivated to get up and get moving with workouts but with a fast paced lifestyle it's easy to grab little junky things here and there and it's cheaper too. i need to work on this..any ideas that help get you off of these bad habbits are appreciated

 

[rcook]

The way I keep myself from grabbing junk food is reminding myself before I pick it up where I want to be and how much that piece of junk food will set me back, over eating and not eating right in the past week has keep my away from my goal, I haven't lost but haven't gained either, until this morning I lost 1 lb, because I made myself stop eating last night when I felt full (satisfied). So I have to pay attention if I want to reach my goal. ... Rhonda :7

 

[hippahips]

Hi chiro, welcome to the forum. Like you my lower body has always been a problem to me. Lardy butt, saddlebags, saggy inner thighs, jiggly calves. I'm 34, 5'1", small frame, and currently 108 lbs. In my mid-20's I did so much step aerobics and so little weight training. I ate whatever I liked. High carb, high fat food was okay. Margaritas with hot wings. I thought I'd burn them on the step anyway. All that stepping helped control my weight despite my horrible eating habits, and despite the fat deposits in my lower body I could still fit into a size 4 or 5.

When I started doing Cathe I was 98 lbs. after more than a year of post-partum horror from my son's colic, reflux disorder and chronic ear infections. Though skinny, my lower body was just as I described. Lumpy and saggy. I started out with PS-Legs, added Pyramid Lower Body, then Slow & Heavy Legs with the leg portion of Power Hour. Went as heavy as I could. Cardio three or four times a week. After getting used to these leg workouts, I added Leaner Legs to the mix, some kickboxing, and just yesterday, Legs & Glutes.

It took me two months before I noticed that the bottom part of my thighs were smaller, another two months to see that the jiggle in my calves was gone. Yet another two months before I saw definition in my quads. Another two months before I noticed I got hamstrings. I'm on my ninth month on Cathe. The saddlebags are still there, but smaller. They're genetic, so I don't expect them to go away. So is the flab in my inner thighs. There is muscle there, however, under the fat that refuses to go. I noticed last month that the muscles at the top part of my butt has developed nicely. Since November I've been doing more weight training, really heavy, than cardio. I've been stuck at 108 lbs. since October(? I think, to the best of my memory) but I can get myself into a size 2.

I has been a slow and long process. But I'm happy with the results. Yes, diet is also critical. From the beginning I've been on the Zone 40/30/30 ratio. I've tried 50/30/20, but the former still works best for me. I'm slowly trying to learn the concept of calorie staggering. That will also be another journey. I admit the eating part is harder. You're right. Avoid sugar and junk. Take in the good carbs. Non-starchy ones, although some of those starchy ones like oatmeal are still good for you.

Pinky