Body image is considered important in modern culture, but it is undeniable that everyone is always dissatisfied with certain parts of their body, even though the ability to accept ourselves as we are is an important factor for achieving personal happiness. Therefore, if you are dissatisfied with the shape and size of your thighs, there are a number of things you can do to improve their appearance, to some extent, of course. For example, wearing clothes that accentuate your natural shape, exercising to strengthen and tone your thighs, and, if necessary, going on a weight loss diet can have dramatic results. However, remember that persistence is the key to success!
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Method 1 of 3: Wearing Clothes to Shrink Thighs
Step 1. Wear dark colored trousers
The old adage that “black slimming” has been echoed so often that people no longer take it seriously and consider it a cliché. In fact, that ancient advice contains a lot of truth. In general, the eye tends to focus on bright colors and ignore neutrals like black. So, wearing black for the lower body and pairing it with a lighter color for the best body parts can shift attention from the thighs to other more attractive areas.
However, it should be noted that this slimming effect will be reduced if you only wear black because there is no contrast between the dark pants and the rest of the body. Contrast is very important to give a slim impression
Step 2. Consider high-waisted trousers
Another great trick for making your thighs appear slimmer is to visually give your lower body a longer look by wearing high-waisted pants. Since the eye will process the overall length of the pants as a person's legs, high-waisted pants can give the impression that your legs are much longer (and slimmer).
High-waisted jeans are reminiscent of '80s fashions that were once considered disgraceful, but these kinds of jeans are now gaining popularity again: take a look at fashion catalogs or the clothes worn by modern fashion icons like Kendall and Kylie Jenner, for example
Step 3. Choose longer skirts and dresses
Fashion styles that give the impression of being slim on the thighs are not limited to pants. Dangling clothes such as skirts or dresses can be put to good use. The key is to choose clothes that are longer and more dangling than you normally wear. The extra length gives the impression of a long straight line hanging down to the floor thereby reducing the size of large thighs.
Do not wear short and narrow skirts, such as mini skirts, pencil skirts, and so on). This choice of fashion style tends to draw attention to the thighs, rather than diverting it to other parts. In addition, this kind of skirt exposes more of the thighs
Step 4. Choose a motif with vertical stripes to give the illusion of length
Vertical stripes can be a great choice for women who want to slim down thighs that are too big, just as men are advised to wear vertical stripes to give a slimmer look. Vertical lines tend to draw the view upwards, creating the impression of a taller and slimmer body. This slimming effect is even supported by research.
On the other hand, horizontal lines tend to have the effect of making a person appear slightly shorter and wider. So, you should avoid this kind of line
Step 5. Wear high heels to make the silhouette of the legs more level
Even a simple step like choosing the right footwear can affect how your feet look. For example, medium heels can lift your body a few inches, making your body (and especially your legs) appear a little longer than you really are. In general, taller shoes are the right choice for those who want to give the impression of a slimmer body.
Another way to consider is wearing high heels with a low-cut vamp. “Vamp” is the term for the front part of the shoe that covers the toes. The lower the cut, the more visible the leg, which makes the legs appear longer
Step 6. If you are really worried about thigh size, consider using shapewear (a type of corset)
Shapewear is a type of clothing designed to change the shape of the body by lifting, pulling or pushing so as to condition the body into a better shape. In the past, you had to wear corsets and girdles that were pulled tight and painfully, but now shapewear is usually softer and designed to give a more natural look. Shapewear should be used as a last resort, when you are feeling desperate to slim down your thighs then shapewear can really help.
- Shapewear products that give the effect of slimming the thighs are usually offered with names such as slip shaper, thigh slimmer (thigh slimmer), control brief (corset panties), and bodysuit.
- If you decide to go with shapewear, don't overdo it. Even if you're wearing soft and thin shapewear, clothes that press too tightly can actually be harmful to your health by compressing your internal organs.
Step 7. Take the time (and money) to get clothes that really fit
No matter what you wear, clothes that fit almost always look better than clothes that are too loose. If you're worried about how your thighs look when wearing a certain dress or pants, the problem may be with your clothes, not your body! Clothing should not look or feel tight and restrict movement. So if that's what you're wearing, it's probably best to take some time to get the size right. Talk to the sales clerk at the clothing store (or a trusted friend) to get new clothes that fit better.
For “neat clothes” like formal wear, it might be a good idea to visit a tailor to get clothes that fit perfectly. However, keep in mind that this option can be quite expensive
Method 2 of 3: Tighten Thighs with Exercise
Step 1. Do not believe in the myth of slimming only certain body parts
While celebrity doctors, enthusiastic fitness trainers, and glamor magazines may say different things, believe me there is no way to get rid of fat from just one part of the body. This fact has been proven by science. For example, one study showed that tennis players (who usually use one hand more than the other) had the same amount of fat in both arms. This means that training the thighs will not cause weight loss on the thighs only. You experience weight loss throughout your body, not just one part of your body.
However, you can do several things to make your thighs more attractive: You can tone your thigh muscles with certain exercises or lose weight overall (including your thighs). In this section, we will discuss more about each option
Step 2. Run, and keep running
If you meet a long-distance runner, note that they tend to have long, lean bodies and muscular (but slender) legs. In general, low-intensity cardio (like running) is a great way to start leaning your entire body and increasing leg muscle strength. While other leg exercises can add muscle mass, long-distance running sessions generally reduce muscle mass so that over time you can lose fat and build strong muscles.
- Running for about 45 minutes to an hour four or more times per week can show noticeable results in as little as a month. However, if you are unable to run during that time frame for the first time, run at your own pace in one session and try to add a minute to the next running session. Eventually, you'll reach your optimal level of cardio.
- Try to avoid cardio workouts that involve high-intensity, even shorter workouts. For example, cycling (especially using a stationary bike with added resistance) will definitely burn calories, but it can also make your thigh muscles bigger, not leaner and denser.
Step 3. Carefully consider resistance exercises that focus on the thigh muscles
While this kind of exercise may benefit some people, as noted above, resistance training (such as lifting weights) may not always be the best option for those looking to slim down their thighs. The problem with resistance training is that it can increase the size of the thigh muscles. If it's not accompanied by fat loss (and perhaps it's worth mentioning again that resistance training isn't as effective as running at burning fat), your thighs are likely to get bigger. However, if you are willing to combine resistance training with cardio or a weight loss diet to lose fat, you can get great results. Consider the exercises that target the thighs in this short list:
- Squat
- Deadlift
- Lunge
- Leg lift
Step 4. Don't neglect your glutes, hamstrings, and core
If you're doing resistance training, it doesn't seem wise to focus solely on your thigh muscles. This can give an “unbalanced” appearance, for example, the quads are strong and tight while the hamstrings are flabby. To get an overall good leg look, you should also target, at a minimum, your glutes, hamstrings, and important core muscle groups like the hips and abs. This way, you're not only building muscle mass in your thighs, but your entire lower body.
You may also need to do exercises that target the calves. Building muscle in the lower legs can make the muscles in the upper limbs look smaller in comparison
Step 5. Adhere to the exercise schedule well
Even if you train really hard, it's impossible to get toned thigh muscles in an instant. Cardio workouts or muscle building exercises take time before showing results. Do not give up! Stick to your exercise program, and never stop challenging yourself, and pushing it a little harder each time, and you will see significant improvements in the long run.
If you're having trouble motivating yourself to exercise, try to make it part of your daily routine. Practice at the same time every day so you make it a habit, and you'll end up feeling weird if you don't practice. However, be aware that it will take longer to make it a habit, not 21 days as is commonly believed to form a true habit
Method 3 of 3: Strengthen Thighs with a Weight Loss Diet
Step 1. Watch your daily calorie intake
While you can't lose weight in just one area of your body, losing weight as a whole also results in a reduction in the amount of fat in your thighs. By having good basic muscles, you can be sure you have slimmer and toned thighs. The first step to take is to keep an eye on the number of calories you eat each day. You'd be surprised how quickly the calories build up.
Calorie counter apps can be of great help here. This handy online app lets you enter the food you eat each day and get an accurate calculation of your daily calorie intake, then enter your height, weight, gender and exercise level to see how many calories you burn. Good calorie counter apps can be found at Fatsecret.com, MyFitnessPal.com and many more. You can even download a calorie counter app for your phone
Step 2. Try every day so that the number of calories burned is more than the calories that come in
Once you know how many calories you are consuming each day, losing weight will become a simple (though often not easy) task. As long as you consume fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight. It's only a matter of time. The bigger the difference between calories in and calories burned, the faster you'll lose weight. However, it should be noted that a diet that makes you very hungry or unable to carry out daily activities is not a healthy diet.
In general, one pound (0.45 kg) of body mass is equivalent to about 3,500 calories. If you burn calories of this magnitude you lose about a pound. In other words, if you are in a calorie deficit of 500 calories per day, you will lose about a pound per week because 500x7=3,500
Step 3. Make sure you eat nutritious food
Going on a diet doesn't mean that your body doesn't get what it needs to function properly. In fact, because you are eating less than usual, it is very important to eat healthy foods so that your body gets enough nutrients. While you're on a diet, remember that the main goal is to cut calories, not nutrients, and adjust your diet accordingly.
- That means high-calorie, low-nutrient foods (such as processed foods, sugar, greasy snacks, and so on) are the first to get rid of. In fact, if you tend to like these kinds of foods, you'll find that removing them from your diet is enough to make you lose weight without making any other changes.
- Instead, high-nutrition and low-calorie foods are a must. For example, nutrient-rich vegetables like kale and spinach can provide lots of vitamins and minerals and few calories, while whole grains provide lots of energy and filling fiber. Even lean meats like chicken breast can provide a filling and satisfying protein (a must if you're trying to build muscle) without consuming a lot of calories out of control.
- For more information, read the article on healthy eating.
Step 4. Give your body time to "rest"
Going on a diet doesn't have to make you miserable. Once in a while is okay if you enjoy culinary delights, especially on special occasions like holidays, birthday parties, and so on. As long as you're back on the diet the next day, a little pampering won't mess up your progress in the long run.
In fact, the boost in morale that comes from a "cheat day" can be so beneficial that some nutritionists recommend it. Think about the productivity spike you felt at school or at work after going on vacation. Giving yourself some time off will make it easier for you to stay focused on your long-term goals
Step 5. Don't develop unhealthy weight loss habits
As mentioned above, there are ways to lose weight that are not true. For example, losing weight too quickly can be dangerous, even if left unchecked can cause various health problems. In addition, diets that apply starvation conditions, washing the stomach, and other drastic solutions are not worth considering. This strategy can lead to eating disorders, a potentially serious condition that requires medical attention.
Tips
- Don't forget to remind yourself periodically that it's human to have imperfections. Don't let something as trivial as the appearance of your thighs dominate your mind.
- Try to drink plenty of water as part of a weight loss program. Water is essential for the body to function healthily (especially during exercise), but drinking plenty of water is also often touted as something that can make it easier for you to stick to a diet.
