Thighs...

[CurlsNCuffs]

Okay this question is for you runners:

I do run - but, I am no "Betty"!

I do work out - weight train.

My thighs have really started to become defined and muscular - I was talking to my husband about it. He is a runner, has been all of his life - he is over 50. He has ran two marathons and numerous relays. He was a track runner in high school as well.

Anyway, I asked him if running or power walking will build up the muscle in my thighs, he said no. It does however build muscle in your calfs.

I know the combination of cardio and weight training is great for me - no doubt -and the combination is working for me - no doubt.

Guess I'm just trying to figure out what has defined my thighs so much - the running/Power walking or the weight training.......lunges, leg press, squats - I know they are all good.....

But, can running define your thighs like that?

I think he's always had defined strong thighs and doesn't realize that yes it can! What say you?

Do I even make sense?

[inatic]

i vote fat loss and wt training.

[TigerlilyCA]

I second that. I will say though, when I started running regularly I did notice changes to my legs as well, in terms of shape. I know there's no such thing as "spot reducing" and I'm not even sure it was a matter of them getting smaller, they just looked more defined even though I hadn't lost a significant amount of weight. I don't know that running will necessarily build up muscle in your thighs though(if you look at people who run regularly, their legs, while muscular, still tend to be pretty lean) ...so I vote for the weight training on the actual muscle building. Running uses your muscles in a different way that weight lifting.

Maybe you're losing fat from that area and seeing muscle that was always there, just covered up?

[BrianSCohen]

Originally Posted by CurlsNCuffs

Okay this question is for you runners:

I do run - but, I am no "Betty"!

I do work out - weight train.

My thighs have really started to become defined and muscular - I was talking to my husband about it. He is a runner, has been all of his life - he is over 50. He has ran two marathons and numerous relays. He was a track runner in high school as well.

Anyway, I asked him if running or power walking will build up the muscle in my thighs, he said no. It does however build muscle in your calfs.

I know the combination of cardio and weight training is great for me - no doubt -and the combination is working for me - no doubt.

Guess I'm just trying to figure out what has defined my thighs so much - the running/Power walking or the weight training.......lunges, leg press, squats - I know they are all good.....

But, can running define your thighs like that?

I think he's always had defined strong thighs and doesn't realize that yes it can! What say you?

Do I even make sense?

Well, you really need to define "build up." Muscles adapt in a number of ways. Your muscle cells can get larger (hypertrophy), they can get more dense or they can get larger in number (hyperplasia). Most researchers think that you don't really multiply your muscle cells much at all, so all of your muscle growth comes from hypertrophy. I break muscle cell growth into two areas (although both are hypertrophy) as I believe that as your muscles grow, the overall size (like your bicep) grows, but your body becomes more dense with muscle (driving out other tissues). El Darden argues that as you reach your limit, you become dense and your flexed and relaxed measurements converge.

Now back to the question of how do you get your muscles "built up." My view is that endurance cardio training (like running) will make your muscles more efficient and increase your density, but you won't experience much hypertrophy or get larger. Weight training will be much more effective at hypertrophy, both for increasing your size and your density.

My suggestion. If you want little dense thighs, then stair climb for hours. If you want muscular dense thighs (thats what I like), then weight train. Squat, leg press, lunge, leg extension/curl, and all those other movements.

[westside]

Running hills, up and down, particularly on trails will tend to build your quads and hamstrings and/or calf, at least from my observation from running in both environments (road and trails). Maybe not in all runners but with quite a few.

[paperthin]

I am trying squats and cycling for longer, leaner thighs...

[LinCO]

I can say how it worked for me, anyway. I ran for a number of years before I started weight training, and it still left my upper thighs not in perfect condition, not really muscle-y anywhere. I have long legs, I don't know if that matters. When I started weight training, my low-ish body fat allowed me to see gains quickly. However, I did get bulky from it. Eventually I had to give up wearing jeans, because the area above my knees would just be too tight. (So I wore mini skirts, ha!)

I am really enjoying doing advanced Pilates for muscle development. I also do running, hill climbing and intervals for cardio. I am happier with the look of my body than I've EVER been. It also does more for my whole thigh-I used to work my lower quads and not my uppers. Hmm, like you're saying you do: lunges, squats, presses. I'd urge you to consider core work. We do tough ballet-type stuff. I have more definition in the various strands of thigh muscle than I've ever had, even tho I'm at a higher body fat after having kids than during my college days.

So my answer to your question is, I think it's the weights.

[Kamalam]

Laurie, I have a question about your regimen for leaner thighs. If I could lose an inch off each thigh I'd be ecstatic. Last month I did a combo of The Shred alternating with Core Fusion Body Sculpt. On several days I did both. My diet was pretty clean and I'm moving more and more toward a vegetarian diet - so have lost a few pounds from that. At the end of my May experiment I only lost a quarter inch on each thigh. Not what I was hoping for, but better than nothing.

I'm not overweight - 121, 5' 8.5" but my thighs are still bigger than I would like. For my June challenge I started the Couch-to-5K as my intuition is telling me that running/power walking will help with leg toning. On alternate days my plan is to continue CFBS or something similar (like the Barr Method). Can you help direct me a little? Maybe I should be focusing on core work or increased cardio? I was intrigued when you said you are happier with your body than ever before. I would so love to be in that place.

[goodcelt]

I think it's the squats, lunges, knee lifts and hamstring curls.

[Fitterly]

Originally Posted by Kamalam

Laurie, I have a question about your regimen for leaner thighs. If I could lose an inch off each thigh I'd be ecstatic. Last month I did a combo of The Shred alternating with Core Fusion Body Sculpt. On several days I did both. My diet was pretty clean and I'm moving more and more toward a vegetarian diet - so have lost a few pounds from that. At the end of my May experiment I only lost a quarter inch on each thigh. Not what I was hoping for, but better than nothing.

I'm not overweight - 121, 5' 8.5" but my thighs are still bigger than I would like. For my June challenge I started the Couch-to-5K as my intuition is telling me that running/power walking will help with leg toning. On alternate days my plan is to continue CFBS or something similar (like the Barr Method). Can you help direct me a little? Maybe I should be focusing on core work or increased cardio? I was intrigued when you said you are happier with your body than ever before. I would so love to be in that place.

According to your BMI (18.1) you are underweight. I would say if you're not happy now, I'm wondering what you're looking for in the future?

I'm just sayin.

[Kamalam]

What am I looking for in the future? Mostly looking to trim fat... which is somewhat more concentrated on the thigh area. I'm starting a new exercise regimen involving resistance work and cardio done in intervals of high and low intensity... I think that is making a difference but it's still too early to tell yet.

Just wanting a tighter body...

[Chris K.]

I agree with fat loss and weight training too.

[GirlyMuscle]

There's a difference between building up and defining. Definition is removing the fat from between the muscle so it stands out. That's what running is doing for you. I doubt you are adding that much muscle in relation to size of the muscle by running.

[Fitterly]

"that much muscle" i would argue is "good enough muscle" for many women. not everyone wants the steroid muscle thing. my legs are pretty solid muscle. i have veins going through my calf muscles. all of it is from running. i do zero resistance training on my legs.

[LoraJR72]

Originally Posted by inatic

i vote fat loss and wt training.

I second that! I've found some wonderful techniques for the upper thighs. Such as the Sumo Squat.

[GirlyMuscle]

Originally Posted by Fitterly

"that much muscle" i would argue is "good enough muscle" for many women. not everyone wants the steroid muscle thing. my legs are pretty solid muscle. i have veins going through my calf muscles. all of it is from running. i do zero resistance training on my legs.

Some people are just just prone to a lot of muscle in their legs. I am. Even before I trained I had huge legs with lots of muscle. I barely have to trian them at all.

I know a lot of coaches in the bodybuilding world have their girls with big legs run for cardio to wittle down the mass. (upper body need sot match lower body so sometimes we need to lose muscle) They also don't have those girls training legs with any heavy weights and if they do train them it's all high reps...15-25 per set.

[inatic]

Originally Posted by Fitterly

"that much muscle" i would argue is "good enough muscle" for many women. not everyone wants the steroid muscle thing. my legs are pretty solid muscle. i have veins going through my calf muscles. all of it is from running. i do zero resistance training on my legs.

depends like G.muscle said. Im actually NOT prone to easily building muscle in my legs. Im 'natural' and have had to do leg specializations/bulk just to get them to grow. SOme of it is biomechanics for me.