Reducing size of thighs

[bob99]

I'll preface this message with the common sense basics. I know it's not possible to spot-reduce fat. You need to drop your overall bodyfat, and all your various body parts will come along for the ride.

That being said, I have pretty big thighs. What is the best way to exercise my legs in order to encourage the reduction of size? I'm exercising my legs approximately once per week, but it feels like I shouldn't just keep trying to add weight to my squat / leg press, since that will lead to additional size / growth / muscle?

Obviously I shouldn't just stop exercising my legs. Should I cut down the weight and go for higher reps? Am I insane to think that I can one day not have thighs that destroy any jean that crosses their path? Will I ever find true thigh happiness?

 

[rjmaiorano]

Dropping weight and adding reps is the go to response. It won't always work though. Everyone is so different and some people just react differently to different things. If it were me (my body) I'd drop calories a fair amount. By that I mean more than accepted opinion, if I wasn't too concerned with losing some muscle I'd drop as much as 800kcal below normal intake and see what happens. But I'd also really limit my leg work at the same time.

 

[Eason]

If you're trying to get weaker then it isn't exercise is it? Eat less.

 

[Reggs]

Originally Posted by rjmaiorano

Dropping weight and adding reps is the go to response.

This wont make a difference at all. Just lay off the legs. and eat less. There's nothing else you can do.

 

[Timbaland]

You'd have to drop weight man. I have big thighs from lifting weights and I was never that big, around 185 at 10% bodyfat. What worked best for me was to run and not to do any leg work while still lifting for upper body.

 

[gort]

Is it fat or muscle that is contributing more to your leg size? Different people accumulate fat in different areas.

 

[texas_jack]

Interesting that you state you can't spot reduce and then go on to ask how to spot reduce. WTF?

Yes, stop exercising your legs. That will atrophy the muscle allowing your legs to get smaller.