What workouts can I do for slim toned legs?

Question by Nikki: What workouts can I do for slim toned legs?
I want to get rid of the cellulite so I've been working them out and I'm starting to see improvement and my quadriceps feel firmer but I'm scared they're gonna get bulky and huge. I just want lean, toned legs with no cellulite or excess fat. What exercises should I do for this? Should I just stick to cardio? I really don't like the bulky look from working them out too much. I've been doing the exercise where you sit and lift the weights forward with your feet. Should I stop this?


Best answer:

Answer by ClickMaster
- "Cardio" is slang and has not clear meaning. It's best to say what you mean.
- "Tone" is not a real word in fitness. It's best to say what you mean.

As long as you do not increase the resistance in your exercises, you will not build muscle volume. You have no need to be concerned about waking up one morning, looking down, and seeing a pair of huge thighs.

Now, here's the bad news.

Here's the sad truth about cellulite. Cellulite is not fat, it's a genetic-based condition involving an uneven distribution of adipose and collagen tissues and once you have it, you will probably have it for life. However, because cellulite involves fat, you may be able to reduce the prominence of it by burning fat. Unfortunately, cellulite seems to present in those areas where fat tends to leave last...buttocks and thighs. So, reducing the cellulite effect will, for most people, require burning excess fat to a very low body fat percent....something which usually means a serious lifestyle change and commitment to proper eating habits for life with no guarantees.

Exercise won't help beyond burning a few more calories so plan your workouts around fitness goals such as excellence in a sport or occupation, strength, endurance, flexibility, systemic fitness, general health and well being, body sculpting, body composition, etc. Don't exercise with the hope it will help make cellulite disappear because it won't.

Here's an excerpt from an article from the US National Institute of Health, the people your doctor listens to.

"A great deal of money is spent by people who want to rid themselves of cellulite, but no amount of weight loss, exercise, massages, wraps, creams, supplements, or surgery has proven to effectively eliminate it once you have it. Liposuction, for instance, is not recommended for cellulite, and may even make it look worse."
Ref: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002033.htm


Check out these links and see what the experts have to say.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/9161.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulite

Good luck and good health!!

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