Leg Toning Exercises – Are Weights Essential For Strengthening And Firming Your Thighs And Butt?

When it comes to sculpting and toning the leg, thigh and butt area, women are bombarded with conflicting messages. One expert says it is essential that women join a fitness center and employ a fitness instructor to help them tone and sculpt their lower body effectively. Another expert says that if you can't get to the gym, weights must be used at home to achieve great results.

Commercials showing beautiful women effortlessly losing weight in a short amount of time by taking a pill or a certain vitamin are causing real women to throw their hands up and think they just can't achieve the results they desire. This of course leads to low self-esteem and a lack of desire to make real changes to their body.

These are just a few of the dangerous myths women hear and sometimes believe and then are disappointed or frustrated if they are unable to afford the equipment or get to the gym on a regular basis. Effective leg toning exercises, without expensive gym equipment and without all of the "latest and greatest" gadgets on the market, will give you the positive results for which you are looking, right in your own home.

Simply by using your own body weight, you can make great changes in your lower body. As with any exercise, form, speed and sequence are important for achieving real results in these troublesome areas. Some women tend to carry a lot of weight in their thigh and butt area. By following a regular fitness regimen along with balanced and healthy food choices, it is possible to completely change how you look in your clothes and be stronger and healthier.

Some women want to maintain their current weight, but tone up their lower body. Others want to lose weight and tone at the same time. Still others just want to develop stronger muscles in their legs, thighs and butt. Several muscles make up the thigh area. The function of each muscle varies, depending on its shape, length and thickness. Each one responds to a different exercise. No matter what your body type or size, you can target specific areas with exercises that take advantage of your own body weight and gravity.

If you are just beginning a new exercise regimen, begin by performing floor exercises to build up your strength. Leg raises, the one leg hip extension, and the 90-degree thigh lift are non-weight-bearing exercises, but will enable you to build up your muscles. Once you can effectively do two sets and 10 to 12 repetitions of each exercise, try standing and performing weight-bearing exercises. These might include calf raises, squats, lunges, a slow side step, the lying adductor raise, and step-ups. An effective combination move is a squat with a single leg lift to the side. Always perform the same number of repetitions on each side of the body and work up to more sets as you get stronger and more fit.

It is important for women to realize and understand that they can fit in exercise in one 30-minute session or several short 10-minute sessions daily and achieve stronger, leaner and more sculpted legs, butt and thighs. Leg toning exercises are key to getting into that smaller size jean or skirt! Don't give in to the myths that tell you that gym equipment is vital for an improved or changed lower body.

© By Mandy-Jane Clarke 2008

LeanLegsAndButt.com is a fitness resource site dedicated to helping Women (and men) achieve Sexy Lean Legs, Hips, Butt and Thighs.

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