Thigh Exercises for 2 Steps To Thinner Thighs

When it comes to frustrating trouble spots, the thighs rank right up there with the belly and butt.

However, you can get a leg up on thinner thighs with the help of fitness expert Joyce Vedral. This time around, Joyce is sidestepping the lunges and squats and urging you to perform a pair of just-as-effective exercises that are sure to whittle your thighs down to size!

Joyce says boredom is one of the main reasons people stray from a regular workout. The repetition grows tiresome and interest wanes. Before that happens to you and your willpower, our ageless fitness pro wants you to slip into her hot new exercises for thighs.

Although lunges and squats are considered two of the most effective exercises when it comes to working the legs, they can be murder for people with weak knees or knee problems, Joyce says. And, if you don’t know how to execute the moves properly, you’re running the risk of injury.

“When you lunge, you’re putting tremendous stress on the knee joints,” Joyce tells eDiets. “Some people have knee problems and others develop them over time. If you do lunges, this may aggravate the problem or lead to further injury, especially if you aren’t using proper form. Squats aren’t as hard on the knees, but if you have knee trouble, you may want to consider substituting other exercises.”

Joyce speaks from experience. Over the past few years, the 59-year-old fitness queen has been hampered by achy knees. After consulting with a physical therapist, she stumbled upon other exercises that were just as efficient in maintaining muscle strength without putting added pressure on the joints.

According to Joyce, the lying leg lift and the frog leg lift have helped keep her legs in tip-top shape.

Regardless of which exercises you add to your strength-training repertoire, you’re unlikely to see results if you don’t follow a proper diet. Joyce is quick to point out that without getting rid of that layer of fat on top of the muscle, you won’t see the fruits of your labor.

“It doesn’t matter how hard you work if you’re overweight," she tells eDiets. "You won’t see results because you’ll still have fat covering those developing mini-muscles. But, if you follow a balanced eating plan and you start losing those extra pounds, you should start to feel stronger in three weeks... within four weeks, you’ll start to see results.”

Today's thigh-zapping routine should be performed as a "superset." You’ll do 15 reps of each exercise (for the lying lift, you should do 15 reps for each leg) with no rest in between. After completing both exercises, rest 15 seconds and repeat the entire set two more times.

The Lying Leg Lift

Start Position: Lie flat on the floor with your left leg bent, the sole of your foot flat on the floor and your arms straight at your sides. Your right leg is straight out in front of you (with or without an ankle weight).

Movement: Flexing your working thigh muscle as you go and keeping your knees locked, raise your leg until it goes past your other knee. Give your thigh an extra hard flex and return to start position. Repeat the movement until you have done 15 repetitions. Then, perform 15 reps for your other leg. Once you have worked both legs, move on to the frog leg lift without rest.

Frog Leg Lift

Start Position: Lie flat on your back with your arms extended and parallel to your sides. Bend at the knees and let the sides of the shoes touch, so that your knees are about 20 inches apart.

Movement: Flexing your inner thighs as you go, extend your legs upward until your knees are locked and your legs are completely together. Repeat the movement until you’ve completed 15 repetitions. Rest 15 seconds and go back to the lying leg lift.

For additional exercise combinations and more info on shaping your entire body, visit www.joycevedral.com.

EDITOR'S NOTE: When it comes to exercise, there are many viewpoints and beliefs. eDiets has its very own fitness program. However, from time to time, we highlight programs and exercises developed by Joyce Vedral and other well-known fitness pros. It is possible you will see contradictions from one story to another.