Are your thighs in need of a tone-up? Sculpting defined, slender leg muscles is not only appealing due to aesthetics, but burning excess body fat is essential for health reasons. Strengthening your legs through exercise is an excellent way to boost your performance in the physical activities, hobbies, and sports you love most. (We’re looking at you, skiing, swimming, hiking, surfing, and biking!) So if you want to sculpt sleek, slender, and strong thighs, we have just the game plan for you. We chatted with Tyler Read, the founder of PTPioneer.com and a personal trainer who has been involved in the health and fitness world for the past 15 years, who breaks down five of the easiest exercises for slimmer thighs. (Because let’s be honest: Who doesn’t love simplicity when it comes to achieving your workout goals?)
Read kicks off his advice by noting that the ultimate way to tone your thighs is by torching a greater amount of calories than you consume. He explains, “This can be accomplished by a combination of managing caloric intake through nutritional intervention and performing exercises that increase caloric expenditure. I typically like exercises that also work the muscles in the thigh, which can build up the muscle fibers in the area, leading to a more toned appearance as the fat in the area gets burned off.”
From amping up your steps to focusing on lower-body movements, Read offers up five of the easiest exercises for slimmer thighs that you can possibly do. The best part? You can do them anywhere! So lace up your sneakers, and let’s get started.
1. Walking
It’s no secret that heading outdoors or to the treadmill for a brisk walk is good for the mind, body, and soul—and your legs! If you want to sculpt toned, slender thighs, you can walk your way right to that fitness goal. And if you’re feeling in the mood to up the challenge when you gain more strength, you can always incorporate a set of ankle weights.
“Walking is a low-impact exercise that’s easy to do and great for beginners,” Read explains. “It can help to slim down your thighs by burning calories and strengthening your legs.”
2. Squats
You can’t have a list of the easiest exercises for slimmer thighs and not include squats. “Squats are a great exercise for working out your entire lower body, including your thighs,” Read says. “They help to build muscle, which can lead to a more toned appearance.”
To set up for squats, plant your feet shoulder-width or hip-width apart on the floor. Extend your arms in front of you, or keep them at your sides. Feel free to incorporate lightweight dumbbells. Next, bend your knees, and press your hips back as if you’re sitting back on a chair. Lower into a squat until your thighs are parallel to the ground or lower. Then, press through your feet to rise back up.
3. Lunges
This is another stellar move to work your thighs. Lunges can help you sculpt muscle and give your legs an impressive muscle tone.
To begin lunges, position your feet shoulder-width distance apart, and step forward with one foot. Bend your knees as you lower into a lunge until your front knee forms a 90-degree angle. Make sure your knee doesn’t go beyond your toes. Then, push your body back up. Repeat the same motions with your opposite leg.
4. Leg Lifts
Leg lifts are great at activating your inner and outer thigh muscles, Read says. To get started, lie flat on the floor, extending your legs and making sure your lower back is pressed to the ground. Next, keep your legs together as you raise them. Then, slowly lower them back until they’re hovering above the ground.
5. Jumping Jacks
Last but not least, let’s do some jumping jacks. This full-body exercise is another winner for activating your thighs and getting them fit. According to Read, “It raises your heart rate, making it a good choice for burning calories.”
Start jumping jacks with your arms hanging down by your sides and your feet planted shoulder-width apart. Jump up while at the same time raising both arms over your head and jumping your feet out. Then, jump your feet back in and bring your arms down as you return to the starting position.
