Learning how to get skinny legs and why cardio is as important as it is to accomplish this doesn’t have to be difficult.
We’re here to break everything down to you in layman’s terms, but that’s not all! We also provide you with excellent tips on what to pay attention to and what exercises to choose to get skinny legs in no time!
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What To Focus On To Get Skinny Legs Quickly
Look at the list below to find out what key factors you should focus on to get skinny legs:
1. Diet
If you don’t follow the proper diet, you can’t get skinny legs. When trying to achieve this goal, it’s important to eat the correct meals based on your workout regimen and everyday activities.
It is beneficial to consume natural meals and stay as far away from processed foods as you can if you wish to lose weight or just tone up.
You’ll start to notice benefits quickly by eating healthy meals like sweet potatoes, brown grains, green veggies, and lean meats.
If you’re wondering why this is the case, the answer is that compared to processed meals, which include many components that are difficult for the body to absorb, these foods will be much simpler for the body to digest. Among the best foods you could go for when it comes to getting skinny legs are:
- Nuts and seeds in moderation
- Fruits in moderation
- All vegetables
- Brown rice
- Sweet potato
- Lean meats
You may tone your legs in additional ways other than just eating healthy foods. To make sure you’re getting all your body needs, you can also take supplements, including multivitamins.
If you want to take it a step further, you may also utilize pre-exercises and fat burners, which are excellent for body toning and providing you with a clean surge of energy for your workouts.
Avoid packaged meals heavy in salt, dietary modifications that are low in fat, and consume as little processed food as you can. Your chances of reducing weight, acquiring a trim, toned figure, and keeping healthy and disease-free will all be improved by doing this.
2. Weight Training
Higher rep exercises will aid in developing lean legs, as would cardio exercises like cycling and swimming. You may achieve that toned appearance and skinny legs by performing bodyweight squats for an increased number of repetitions on resistance equipment like the leg extension, leg press, or leg press.
This functions in the same manner as long-distance cardio. You will be able to tone your legs and experience the burn in your muscles if you perform more repetitions for a longer amount of time.
Consider a boxer—they are strong, toned, and slim. But why? Well, because they perform a large number of repetitions, perhaps hundreds, with lesser weights throughout their exercises. So, don’t be afraid of the weights; they may be a terrific tool for helping you stay in shape. Resistance training exercises for slimmer legs include:
- Lying Leg Curl
- Lying Hamstring Curl
- Leg Press
- Leg extension
- Body weight Squats
Additional tips we offer are to go for high reps, pick lighter weights, and use weight-adjustable resistance equipment to work out.
3. Cardio
Cardio exercise is one of the finest strategies to develop skinny legs without adding muscle. But not all cardio workouts will result in skinny legs—some will build muscle.
Knowing the type of cardio to perform can help you achieve your goals. You may be wondering how long you should exercise. When working on getting skinny legs, the length of cardio is crucial.
Consider a sprinter. Their legs are large and powerful, and they run quickly against the greatest amount of competition. A long-distance runner, on the other hand, will have lean, toned legs since they run against less resistance for longer periods of time. Therefore, if you seek skinny legs, extend the length of your low-intensity workouts.
Cycling is a terrific alternative if you want to get skinny legs since you can change the resistance on the bike and burn those legs as well as tone up your entire lower body.
Another excellent aerobic activity that can help you lose weight and tone your entire body, including your legs, is swimming. Because there is little resistance when you kick in the water, your legs will tone up rather than become bulky.
Running, on the other hand, or using cardio equipment like the StairMaster, is excellent for increasing your fitness levels and general health.
4. Other Important Exercises
1. Donkey Kicks
Get on your hands and knees on a mat, then proceed to do the following:
- Continue to flex your foot
- Now raise your foot up toward the ceiling as though you were going to place the sole of your foot there
- Your thigh needs to be parallel to the ground
- Squeeze the booty before starting over
- Do the same with the opposite leg
2. Alternating Front Kicks
These seem simple, but you can be certain that no matter how simple they are, they are super effective. Here’s what you should do:
- Start by running in place while standing up straight
- Bring your knees to your chest as high as you can and then thrust out your foot as if you were attempting to kick something high
- Kick as high as you can while switching legs. You can move as quickly as your stability will allow
3. The Bird Dog
This exercise targets the lower back, hamstrings, glutes, and core muscles. It is excellent for enhancing stability as well.
Once you master this exercise, you’ll want to perform it frequently. It could take you a few attempts to maintain good form and establish your balance. Follow the next steps to do this exercise:
- Start with your hands approximately shoulder width apart, legs bent
- Straighten your back, neck, and head at all times
- Extend your right arm out in front of you, as if you were going to take something
- Kick your left leg behind you at the same moment till it is parallel to and straight out from your body
- Hold for one complete count
- Once you have the balancing component down, you may add ankle weights to this
- Return to the beginning
- Repeat until the entire set is done, then swap sides
4. Bench Hops
A tiny bench that is near the ground is needed for this activity, such as an aerobics step bench or something similar. These are the steps to completing the exercise:
- Place your hands on either side of the bench at one end while standing next to it
- Hop as swiftly as you can from one side of the bench to the other by bringing both legs together
- Be cautious not to fall by slamming your feet against the bench
Both the booty and all the leg muscles are worked during this workout.
5. The Rainbow Leg Lift
This exercise with a cute name is very potent since it targets several muscle groups. Along with strengthening the hamstrings and lower back, this definitely works up your core and booty as well. The rainbow is a variation of the donkey kick that includes a bit more booty effort. Here’s how to perform it:
- Kneel down with your hands and legs around shoulder width apart
- Your left leg should be extended such that the toe almost touches the floor
- Lift that leg now, extending it such that it crosses your right leg in an arc
- Return to the beginning after bringing the leg back and tapping the ground with your toe
- Switch legs once you’ve continued till you feel the burn
5. Hydration
You may already be aware that eight glasses of water should be consumed daily by everyone. Although such advice is sound, it disregards the unique needs of each person, including their health, amount of exercise, surroundings, and other aspects.
Our bodies are made up of up to 60% water. Through our skin, urine, waste, sweat, and even respiration, we continuously lose water. Your required water consumption is based on your gender, among other factors.
The recommended daily water intake for men is 3.7 liters (or 16 cups), while for women it is 2.7 liters (or 11 cups). If you exercise, sweat a lot, or are ill, you ought to drink even more water.
6. Consistency
Lastly, staying consistent and not giving up is the last thing you should pay attention to. You should make a detailed plan of your workout regimen and make sure that it’s not too difficult so that you can achieve the desired goals.
If you want to be as efficient as possible, don’t overwork yourself and try to do everything at once. Consistency is key, and the best way to stay consistent is to make a well-thought-out plan that meets your requirements and fits your needs perfectly.
Conclusion
If you thought getting skinny legs will be a nightmare, we’re happy to tell you it won’t! However, making sure you’re putting in the work and staying on top of your game is very important. With that being said, follow the tips we provided and you’ll get the desired results in the blink of an eye!
Lazar Sretenović, an IFBB and REPs Level 3 certified trainer, specializes in personalized fitness programs encompassing weight lifting, EMS, and endurance training. With a focus on tailored nutrition and holistic well-being, Lazar Sretenović guides clients through transformative health journeys, emphasizing safety and individual goals.