Best Exercises?

Hello,

what are the best exercises for losing weight around the hip and thigh area? I know squats can help and Ive been using a motorised treadmill at home. Is there anything else I can do?

Best advice I've ever heard came from a program on PBS called "Fit or Fat?" Any exercise you enjoy is best. Does it make you smile? Why is that important? You will do it more often and for a longer period of time.

e.g.  I like putting Celtic music on the stereo and cleaning house. Amazing how much fun cleaning can be and with that music I tend to jump and kick a lot.

You can't chose where to lose weight - a calorie deficit (through diet and exercise) will lead to overall fat loss, and eventually, some will come from your hips and thigh.

However, weight lifting is a good way to maintain your muscle while dieting, which will help burn more calories. Weighted squats, deadlifts, lunges, and step ups are all good compound exercises for the lower body (although they work the core stabilizer muscles too), which is good for burning more calories, but also can help firm up that area (but won't burn the fat there preferentially).

For your upper body, you can do things like pushups, pullups, rows, and shoulder presses, which can help shape your shoulders a little more, to balance out the hips - gives you more of an hourglass than pear shape.

i say walk & jog.

pilates is good for leaner/longer LOOKIN muscles too

Original Post by jesselou:

 

pilates is good for leaner muscles too

As opposed to fattier muscles?

HAAAAA haaaaaaaa...  I guess I have been on CC so long I have started to get loopy and when people ask very sincere questions that sound to the veteran calorie counter like a joke...well, it makes me laugh.

There are no exercises to make you lose weight in your hips and thighs.  I am really sorry to break that news to you.  I have gone from being overweight to being ridiculously thin, but I still have very disproportionately large hips and thighs, plus delightful fat bulges on my knees and award-winning cankles.  You just have to get used to it.  My body likes to keep the fat on the lower half.  Who am I to question my body's judgment?

So the short, less snarky answer is to aim for whole-body fat loss with a variety of cardio workouts as well as interval training and weight lifting, if that's your sort of thing.  I personally like to do just cardio maybe 2-3 days a week and do cardio + core or cardio + strength on the other days.

You cannot loose in just one area. It is about balanced/clean eating. Calorie counting and exercise. The best exercises for fat loss are HIIT and lifting/strength training.

No, you cannot choose where you loose weight (would be great if we could...). Step up the incline on your treadmill and walk as fast as you can. You can burn a lot more calories this way. I walk 3.5 miles per hour on a steep incline, and let me tell you there's a big difference between that and a 3.5mph walk with no incline. It also works your thighs and butt. But no, you won't loose fat where you want to.

Original Post by hollie07:

what are the best exercises for losing weight around the hip and thigh area?

The same exercises that are good for losing weight everywhere else, fork put-downs and table push-aways.