By: Sean Millhouse, Houston Personal Trainer

The thought of having lean, sexy legs sounds appealing… doesn’t it? Just think what your significant other would say (or do). Or how about a jealous friend or sibling. Wouldn’t that be a great thing? There is nothing nicer to look at than a person that has a pair of toned thighs! So how do you achieve this great feat? Well let me tell you…

First, and foremost, you have to incorporate strength training into your routine to develop the muscle tone. If you are not doing this now…start! You should begin with bodyweight type exercises. Add exercises like lunges, squats and step-ups into your leg routine. Once you master 3 sets of 15-20, then start holding dumbbells. Do this 2-3 times per week, giving 1-2 days of rest in between each leg workout. You should have a professional fitness trainer observe you to make sure your form is correct.

Second, you should add variety to your 4-5 cardio sessions per week. Start with changing the type of exercise you are doing. Instead of always walking/jogging, try cycling. You can also change the intensity of your cardio workout. One day you can go for distance, the next you should go for speed. By doing this, you will ensure that the leg muscles are being challenged in new ways. Notice the improvement yet?

Next, you need to ensure that your body is being fueled properly. If you do not consume enough calories, your body will hold onto it’s body fat stores. Which makes it almost impossible to show off those toned thighs. So, you should be consuming 5-6 small meals a day. And each meal should be spaced about 3 hours apart. By eating the small frequent meals, you will give your metabolism a much needed boost!

You also need to be sure you are hydrating your body correctly. If you drink too much caffeine (Starbucks addict) or not enough water, your body will retain water. And this will also make it difficult to reap the rewards of your hard work. To be certain you are properly hydrated, drink half of your body weight in ounces per day (of water). So if you weigh 150 lbs., drink 75 ounces. Be aware that this does not include what you should drink during/after exercise, or if you drink caffeine.

Finally, to be sure that your thighs stay looking good, make sure that you stretch them regularly. Because walking with a limp is not very sexy! It is a good idea to stretch during and after exercise. But, be sure not to stretch before warming up, because it is possible to injure yourself. You should perform 3-5 different stretches for the legs, holding each for 10-15 seconds.

Here’s the recap:

1. Start Strength Training 2-3 times per week
2. Vary your Cardio Sessions
3. Eat 5-6 small meals a day
4. Drink plenty of water
5. Stretch during and after exercise

For More Information
If you are looking for a Houston Personal Trainer…give us a call at (281) 860-7644 for more information.  We can review our personal training and nutrition coaching programs, the types of services we offer, and how to determine if you’re the type of client we work with.

Filed under: Houston Personal Trainer • Nutrition • Resistance Training • Stretches

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