Weight loss in Mid Section

Hello Everyone,

Basically I used to be 185lbs and now I have come down to 160 lbs. I used to wear a size 14 and now I am wearing 12 or somtimes 11.  Even though I don't feel like I have lost much weight. Others notice the weightloss but not as much as it seems in those number I have mentioned above.

I want to badly loose all the soggy fat in my thighs. I hate how much they spread when I sit. Please suggest how to loose fat especially in thighs and tone them nice.

Magic.

Seriously though, you can't focus fat loss anywhere you please. The body picks and chooses and you just cross your fingers, but you can tone the thighs themselves with squats and things like that. Running also helps. I don't know your height or age, so I'm not sure how big of a problem this is, but try not to focus on them too much. I'm sure people out there would kill for your legs. :)

Tone and hope. :)

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. Sorry I forgot to mention my details. I just turned 25 and I am 5'5.

I have just started spinning classes, I currently go twice a week and have noticed a big difference in my butt and thighs .. I need to squeeze in a third class

gr8! I don't think i have spinning in my gym. But I have bike. Would that be the same if I bike for sometime?

yes but to get full benefit you need to climb hills and lift your butt off the seat ... exhausting but worth the results!

You both know that what jaefuma said is true - you can't pick and chose where the fat comes off of, right?

But you can pick and choose what you tone and shape!!!

I would suggest lots of light reps on the leg press at the gym.  That will tone!

No, it'll be a waste of time.  If you want nice shapely legs, you want to do squats, lunges and deadlifts (or take up a leg-intensive sport like cycling) and to watch your diet.

The only way to lose fat is to burn more calories than you eat, and the only way to lose fat from a specific location is to have patience and keep losing fat until your body chooses to take it from there.

I second susie. Plus, the leg press machine (like most machines) is a really good way to mess up your knees. Squats, lunges, deadlifts with dumbbells or barbells is going to be much better (plus, using free weights helps strengthen your core, something the leg press machine does not).

I'll third susie. I completely get the soggy fat description. I've been doing squats as part of an overall strength training and weightloss program. They are tough, I started with 10 reps x 3 sets and am now at 30-40 reps x 3 sets with the thickest resistance band. With about 8 pounds fat loss, I'm starting to see definition in my thighs, a better butt shape and... less soggy fat, though I have some way to go before they don't jiggle with every step!

Original Post by roxiegirl42:

But you can pick and choose what you tone and shape!!!

 What do 'tone' and 'shape' mean? muscles can get bigger, or smaller, or stay the same size, when you 'tone' which one happens? what about when you 'shape'?

What does tone and shape mean? You can't bully me! Nice try!

Original Post by roxiegirl42:

What does tone and shape mean? You can't bully me! Nice try!

"What does 'tone and shape' mean?" - if "tone and shape" is one phrase, it can have a singular verb.

However...

"What do 'tone' and 'shape' mean?" - two words, two definitions, therefore they get a plural verb.

Ditto on the nice try.

Thanks for the reply susiecue!

@ pinzywinzy - It great to hear you found definition after you did the squats.

I don't know if i am correct what squats mean. My understanding about squats are - they are nothing but sit ups. So, I started today don't them. By just standing with legs apart and siting and then trying to stand up. I didn't use any weights. Should I? or I have to do these in gym with some equipment.

I know lunges - its like jumping and switch your legs from one another right.

Deadlifts?? i don't have a clue.  Any description about these will be a great help! Thank you.

Original Post by tinkerbells:

I don't know if i am correct what squats mean. My understanding about squats are - they are nothing but sit ups. So, I started today don't them. By just standing with legs apart and siting and then trying to stand up. I didn't use any weights. Should I? or I have to do these in gym with some equipment.

I know lunges - its like jumping and switch your legs from one another right.

Deadlifts?? i don't have a clue.  Any description about these will be a great help! Thank you.

Try exrx.net for all these exercises.

Squats and situps? Not at all similar. To learn how to squat, I recommend looking at stumptuous.com - Lurn to Squat Good - EZ and a four part series on the squat.

Lunges... you can jump, but to start off you shouldn't. I think exrx will have sufficient info.

Deadlifts are probably the hardest to learn to do correctly, and if you have access to a trainer at a gym, it would be worth having someone watch your form.  I just haven't found an online explanation of them yet. But the book Starting Strength gives the minute details of how to do it, so that's another option.

For all of these, weights will make it more difficult - so if bodyweight is challenging already, you can wait to add weights, but eventually, you'll need to increase the intensity. Deadlifts don't really make sense without a weight.

Original Post by amethystgirl:

Original Post by roxiegirl42:

What does tone and shape mean? You can't bully me! Nice try!

"What does 'tone and shape' mean?" - if "tone and shape" is one phrase, it can have a singular verb.

However...

"What do 'tone' and 'shape' mean?" - two words, two definitions, therefore they get a plural verb.

Ditto on the nice try.

D'oh... Yes. You are right and I am wrong. What a way to start my day!!!

@amethystgilr : Thank you :)

Original Post by amethystgirl:
Lunges... you can jump, but to start off you shouldn't. I think exrx will have sufficient info.

Deadlifts are probably the hardest to learn to do correctly, and if you have access to a trainer at a gym, it would be worth having someone watch your form.  I just haven't found an online explanation of them yet. But the book Starting Strength gives the minute details of how to do it, so that's another option.

For all of these, weights will make it more difficult - so if bodyweight is challenging already, you can wait to add weights, but eventually, you'll need to increase the intensity. Deadlifts don't really make sense without a weight.

One word of caution with these: they are great and they are better than many alternative exercises out there, but be careful with form. For example, I have issues with my knees, so I have to avoid lunges even though they are a great exercise, but squats are fine with minor changes. Deadlifts in particular can throw out your back but I haven't figured them out yet myself, so I compensate with doing hamstring step ups. I found these alternatives at exercise.about.com, so you might want to surf around there and experiment with what works.

Amethyst suggested to try getting a trainer to have a look and check if you're doing them right.  If you don't have anyone to turn to, I would suggest viewing youtube videos on different exercises. At least you can see the exercise in motion.

Best wishes for the exercising. I'm postive you'll see results!