Leg Issues

[RBurke]

Hi everyone.
I have an issue and would like advice. I am a long time Cathe fan and I try to work out regularly. I am 30 years old. My problem is my legs. Trust me when I say that I am not over reacting. My legs look I am 60. I am fairly thin. I don't need to lose weight but my legs have issues. They have a type of cellulite that is strange. When I am just standing there, you can't see it very much except for my inner thighs but when you touch my legs or I sit on them, they dimple very bad. Around my knees, it is terrible with a lot of extra skin. My calves even have this problem. My legs have become quite ugly. I do leg work outs at least once a week. I was wondering if anyone has advice. I don't even think plastic surgery would help because my whole leg would have to be done and like I said, I am not really fat. Should I go to a different type of leg workout? Will it even help? Should I just give up shorts and short skirts and accept it? It is pretty ugly. It really bothers me. I can't go on an extreme diet because I won't stick with it but I eat pretty healthy. Would Pilates help? What about very heavy lifting? High reps? Advice is welcome.

 

[Connie1]

First of all, we always notice our worst features. And the better the good parts are, the worse the bad parts look in contrast! Some things are genetically more likely, but that does not mean 100 per cent predetermined!

Now I am sure that although your legs have this problem, there is something you can do about it! It may take some time to figure out exactly what strategies you need. It would be better to know more info.

What kind of leg workout do you do once a week?
What kind of activity do you do on most days- do you have a job where you get to move around a lot?
How much and what kind of cardio do you do?
How much and what kind of weight work do you do for the whole body?
How would you describe your upper body- muscular, slimmer, buff (muscular with little fat) feminine (slightly muscular but soft like pictures on the Firm covers)?
What activities do you enjoy?
How much sodium do you consume, and what is your water intake like?

If it were me, I would approach it with a 3-pronged approach: build up your strong areas, like shoulders, chest, and back, to even out the proportions. In other words, larger more muscular upper body makes the lower body look smaller.

Add lower intensity cardio of longer duration- walking for 2 hours with a close friend, shopping till you drop, swimming...

Third prong: a "Lower Body Solution" approach- work the legs with hard endurance weight work 3-4 times a week? I would resist this but if it worked I would get hooked.

Others will chime in here I am sure.

 

[RBurke]

Thanks for your response.

I do Cathe's lower body pyramid once a week.
On most days I do something like jogging, walking, riding my bike or lifting. I do have a desk job though. I sit most of the day.
I do cardio about 4 times a week.
Weight work consists of the cathe tapes and exercises at the gym.
My upper body is probably best described as feminine.
Activities I enjoy are limited. I don't like running or walking but I do it. I like snowboarding but I don't live near a mountain.
I have no idea about my sodium but I eat mostly whole foods and I drink a ton of water.

perhaps I can add a 2 hour workout on Saturdays but not during the week. I can't go on a strict diet or anything. It just isn't in me. I wouldn't say my legs aren't in proportion. They aren't that big they are just very flabby with loose skin. It is very weird. they need a face lift except for the legs. I don't know. I used to have pretty legs. What happened to me?

Do you think it is a skin problem or a fat problem? should I just concentrate on adding muscle mass? it is frustrating but I just think I am not doing the right stuff.
Thanks again.

 

[mariep]

Hi,

I'm not Cathe, but it really sounds to me like you need to build up the muscles in your legs. As you said, you're thin, but the skin looks "loose." I think if you really built up some good leg muscles (which I know sometimes women are afraid to do, for fear of bulking), I think it would go a long way towards giving your legs a much "tighter" look.

How about trying to do two really good, heavy leg workouts per week? Maybe do Slow & Heavy or PS Legs & Abs in addition to PLB (of course, give yourself a couple of days in between to let the muscles recover).

I think you're on the right track in terms of cardio with the running and walking you're already doing. Although, it might help to substitute one or two of those days with a step tape. I know step helps to tighten the leg and glute muscles as well. That way you'll be getting the cardio you need to burn off some fat, but you'll still be working those muscles, too.

And don't forget, the weight work will help to burn that fat, too!

I hope this makes sense! Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

Marie

 

[Joannafit]

go to a fitness center and get on an elliptical trainer and crank up the resistence and do 30 min three times a week. oh my goodness..what a difference!!!go backward and forwards!!! the key is really turning up the resist...i use 16 or 17 out of 20!! this is in addition to sqauts, step ups, lunges etc.

 

[AKirkland]

How about a few sessions with a personal trainer? A qualified fitness professional could help you understand what the problem is and develop the best plan to address it.

Angela

 

[Connie1]

Hi, RBurke!
I'm not really sure exactly what you are describing, however, if shaping some defined leg muscles will help, you are in a good position.

Since you have access to a gym, you would do very well to try 2 to 3 sets of 6 to 12 reps on a leg extension machine, also called a sled. On this machine you can keep trying heavier weight until you can smoothly do only 4 reps (this may take several sets, enjoy each one). This is such an easy way to get enough leg work, that is really very hard to reproduce at home.

If I were you I would sign up for one session with a trainer. Trainers, like financial managers, are better when you pay them, than if they "come with" the gym membership (in general).

The trainer might be able to give you some insight on the appearance of the surface of your skin on your legs. Meanwhile, enjoy a once-a-week as-heavy-as-possible group of sets of leg work (20 minutes) and let us know what happens!

I read an answer to a post in the past, that Cathe gave, suggesting the same thing, and that's why I remembered it (and I do it!) Great for the butt too.

-Connie

 

[mogambo]

Just my two cents. I am 5'8" and 135 lbs with a lot of muscle everywhere, but this hideous dimply soft flubbery fat on my thighs that I've always had. I am 46 years old, I work out like a psychopath and eat very clean and have done so for 25 years. My stomach is flat as a pancake. Basically, the fat on my thighs is not going anywhere. There really isn't much of it, but it is so ugly. My legs are fit, slender and long, so what I do is wear tight jeans and nice chinos. Suddenly my legs look perfect. For a bathing suit I use spandex shorts, not boy shorts, but bike length, and a sporty bikini top. Instant perfection.

Go ahead and try some of the suggestions above, but these are things you can do right now.