Chunky.

[tashhhhh]

Hey.

 

I recently lost a stone in weight - I want to lose another stone taking me to 123 lbs - and I'm noticing the shape of my figure a lot more now. I'm 5'3, therefore not the tallest and am quite petite, however, my legs are very muscular and I haven't been trying to tone them ect. in fact, I only just started to exercise along with my Gi Diet. 5 hours of biking a week and an hour of walking five times a week.

 

However, I'm realising that my legs are going to be very shapely with muscle and are never going to be really skinny, which is okay, I guess, but I wondered if anyone knew a type of exercise/toning program that made them look less chunky? Because there isn't that much fat on them anymore, it all appears to be thick muscle that I just don't at all like. I'm starting callenetics on the reccomendation of my Mum, but I'm worried this won't be enough.

 

Any suggestions?

 

x

[quankanne]

first off, congratulations on your weight loss!

 

I'm not familiar with spot-toning exercises, but I do know that swimming is a good overall conditioning exercise, and while you use your legs to push, a lot of the exercise takes place in your upper body. The best part of it is, no gravity – so when you work out, you're not torturing your muscles.

 

I've heard yoga is supposed to be good for conditioning, too …

[tashhhhh]

Thank you =]]

 

Swimming, eh? Ughhh.

Don't know if I have the confidence to be that naked in public yet =//

However, this summer I do think I'll start swimming.

 

Does the bike increase leg muscle? Or just good CV that'll burn fat?

[Pubert]

You'll want some resistance excersise. The key is repetition and not weight for leaner less bulky muscle. So do lots of squats/lunges with no weight or light weight only. Stress positions, that sort of thing. Also remember to stretch a lot to keep the muscle long and lean.

[Trialbyfire]

It depends on how you're riding your bike. If you're pushing yourself on hills, you will see a major bulking. The more resistance, the more bulk. The more repetition, with little resistance, the leaner the muscle.

 

Two of my sibs were insanely into cycling a number of years ago. Both of them bulked up their thighs tremendously. At the time I wore one pant size larger than she did. She couldn't even get my pants on over her thighs because she had bulked up so much.

[tashhhhh]

Woah. Jeez.

 

So I should just be cycling on a flat but at a fair speed?

 

Cause my exercise bike has a setting that is "fat burn" but I'm still edgy that maybe bulking =//

[wookinpanub]

Maybe take ballet classes? My ex girlfriend did ballet for years and she had like ridiculously strong legs but they weren't bulky or over muscular. I asked her about it and she said that a lot of the stretches and workouts done in ballet are design to strengthen but not bulk the muscles.