Is it possible...leg toning question??

[Ms. Poota]

ok i have a summer goal to work with, so roughly twelve weeks.

i wanna turn my legs from much less than firm :thumbsdow , to toned and slimmer, but don't wanna be skinny either.

my plan...
a gym membership + personal training
running, weights, and whatever the trainer says
3x a week
better eating, reducing my liquids to water, natural juice, and milk

i'm trying to get some Eve or least mary j. thighs and legs
is this a realistic goal for just 12 weeks, or does it take long term running for that kind of firmness and shape?

i'm new to this fitness thing.

[Ms. Poota]

no advice?

[clsmooth217]

ok i have a summer goal to work with, so roughly twelve weeks.
i wanna turn my legs from much less than firm :thumbsdow , to toned and slimmer, but don't wanna be skinny either.
my plan...
a gym membership + personal training
running, weights, and whatever the trainer says
3x a week
better eating, reducing my liquids to water, natural juice, and milk
i'm trying to get some Eve or least mary j. thighs and legs
is this a realistic goal for just 12 weeks, or does it take long term running for that kind of firmness and shape?
i'm new to this fitness thing.

12 to 16 weeks is a realistic goal but like anything else your body will shape what it wants to shape first.

[Ms. Poota]

ok thanx

[offthabooks]

I agree 12 weeks is realistic if you put in the work. the trainer will give you a bunch of diff exercises to do, but I work out my legs alot & here's what I do (cardio wise):
treadmill on high incline & low speeds (ie. 12% at 3.5mph)
stepmill (not the stairmaster, a rolling staircase)
recumbent bike on high resistance
elliptical on high resistance

^all of those will build muscle, so your legs won't look too skinny.

also, since you're on a deadline, you should use all your spare moments as well ie. climb stairs instead of taking the elevator (this should be a daily habit), when watching tv, do some floor leg exercises with ankle weights.

[DudeWhoWillTurnMeOut]

I agree 12 weeks is realistic if you put in the work. the trainer will give you a bunch of diff exercises to do, but I work out my legs alot & here's what I do (cardio wise):
treadmill on high incline & low speeds (ie. 12% at 3.5mph)
stepmill (not the stairmaster, a rolling staircase)
recumbent bike on high resistance
elliptical on high resistance

^all of those will build muscle, so your legs won't look too skinny.

also, since you're on a deadline, you should use all your spare moments as well ie. climb stairs instead of taking the elevator (this should be a daily habit), when watching tv, do some floor leg exercises with ankle weights.
go put your back against the wall and squat down till your upper legs level and your hands stright in front of you.tell me how long you can keep this position?cuse this the only exercise you need for your legs

[Ms. Poota]

all of two seconds lol

great advice

maybe i'll post some before and after pics and the end of the summer if y'all still remember me.

[SUNZ]

In the meantime, 80% of my body weight is concentrated in my legs(thighs) anything i do, i just keep buildin more muscle there, i wanna lose 10kg/20pounds atleast, i have literally no meat excess on my upper body. just my legs which are massive.

[Ms. Poota]

you're a guy right?

[SUNZ]

you're a guy right?
yup

[Seven One Three]

Running or cardio is a waste of time for toning your legs....weight training burns just as much calories, and plus you build muscle...which is better for your situation.

cop u a barbell and some plates:
http://www.fitnessgenerator.com/images/exercises/BBSquat.gif

Start off with enough weight so that u can only do 15 reps each set. Then after a few weeks, you should be able 30 reps a set. At that point, you want to put on more weight so you can only do 15 reps.....

do ya squats 3-4x a week, no more than 45 minutes each workout.

[Ms. Poota]

but i don't want them muscular lol, i am a lady, just toned n sexy

[I_Spits_Da_Truth]

but i don't want them muscular lol, i am a lady, just toned n sexy


i can almost guarantee you that eve and mary did exercises with weight resistance. Your personal trainer, if he/she knows anything, will have you doing the same. You will not get large muscular legs because you only have a very small fraction of the testosterone flowing through your body compared to a man. So it's best to lose that ignorant thinking if you wish to make any progress. Seven One Three was right about weight training burning equal or more cals compared to just cardio.

[detroitwalt]

i can almost guarantee you that eve and mary did exercises with weight resistance. Your personal trainer, if he/she knows anything, will have you doing the same. You will not get large muscular legs because you only have a very small fraction of the testosterone flowing through your body compared to a man. So it's best to lose that ignorant thinking if you wish to make any progress. Seven One Three was right about weight training burning equal or more cals compared to just cardio.

how long you been lifting? and do you enter any contests?

[I_Spits_Da_Truth]

how long you been lifting? and do you enter any contests?

naah, it's not all that serious for me to ever want to compete. Been at it for 6 years, eating better/staying consistent for the last 3 or so.

[khalid a.k.a Genocide]

ok i have a summer goal to work with, so roughly twelve weeks.
i wanna turn my legs from much less than firm :thumbsdow , to toned and slimmer, but don't wanna be skinny either.
my plan...
a gym membership + personal training
running, weights, and whatever the trainer says
3x a week
better eating, reducing my liquids to water, natural juice, and milk
i'm trying to get some Eve or least mary j. thighs and legs
is this a realistic goal for just 12 weeks, or does it take long term running for that kind of firmness and shape?
i'm new to this fitness thing.

12 weeks is realistic, but forget about the mary j or Eves thigh thing. Your muscles are already shaped up underneath the fat, so u don't know if once u lose some of that fat, if your legs are going to look better than them or not.

As far as leg exercises go, the squat lift is THE best overall muscle building exercise that there is. It maily targets the legs, but squatting also helps with overall body muscle growth. Now, like spitsthetruth said, you're NOT going to get as muscular as a guy would since your body doesn't naturally produce as much testosterone(sp?). If I was your personal trainer I would have you do squats with a broom stick first, to get the hang having any load on your traps(ontop of upper back) and to learn the proper technique/form. and then progressively move u into squatting with a standard 45lbs bar and then with weights added to the bar. And of course some cardio, which actually helps specially as a warmup and finishing up your workout. Mainly some HIIT type cardio exercise schemes.

Also try and do lunges, leg extensions and leg curls. which are great leg exercises as well, they compliment the squat lift extremely well.

Don't forget that the most important ingredient here is your diet. Good luck with your goals and don't be afraid to drop in let us know about your progress.

[Ms. Poota]

ok this all such great advice, yea i'll drop some before and during pictures about 4 weeks after i start.

[Seven One Three]

i can almost guarantee you that eve and mary did exercises with weight resistance. Your personal trainer, if he/she knows anything, will have you doing the same. You will not get large muscular legs because you only have a very small fraction of the testosterone flowing through your body compared to a man. So it's best to lose that ignorant thinking if you wish to make any progress. Seven One Three was right about weight training burning equal or more cals compared to just cardio.
Yup...

Most women with a flat stomach and a "fat booty", really dont have a fat booty...they have just as much fat back there as you or anyone else.

They simply built the muscle up under the fat which pushes it out further, and creates the big booty.

Weight training is how Beyonce's ass is so big, yet firm, and not all sloppy.