Leg Training for Women

Most women I have trained in the last 21 years have identified legs as one of their major problem areas. The cause for their concern is either lack of tone or too much body fat. One question that often comes up is, “How do I lose size around my hips and thighs?” There are three main factors to consider when your goal is toning and reshaping the legs. Firstly, what are you starting with? Secondly, what training programme is best suited towards your desired results? Thirdly, Are you looking for functional or cosmetic results?

 

What are you starting with? You need to get some base measurements. Use a trained professional to determine your body fat, girth (circumference) and muscle mass measurements. With these results you can determine the focus of your training. A high body fat measurement would indicate a need to decrease body fat by nutrition and training. A low muscle mass to girth ratio would indicate a need to increase muscle mass by resistance training. A high muscle mass and body fat measurement would indicate the need to decrease body fat by nutrition and exercise, but to stay away from resistance training that would increase muscle mass. Be careful when trying to change the natural shape of your hips and thighs. Every individual has their own symmetry, changing the natural balance of the body’s muscles and tendons can sometimes lead to injury. Always have a qualified instructor or personal trainer design or scrutinize your programme.

 

What training programme is best suited towards your desired results? Once you have worked out your specific training goals you can start training to reach the end result. If you need to lose body fat, without increasing muscle mass, I would recommend staying away from bodybuilding rep ranges (8 to 12 reps to complete exhaustion). This only increases muscle mass and unless your nutrition and cardio exercise is properly monitored you can increase the size of your legs. Use compound exercises (light loads) at 15 to 20 reps this will increase the caloric (energy) demands of the exercise without increasing muscle mass. If your muscle mass is low you should concentrate on using rep ranges and loads which best increase muscle mass. This will protect your metabolism, which is directly related to the amount of lean muscle mass that you have. If you are scared of bulking up monitor your body fat and adjust your nutrition and cardio exercise accordingly.

 

Are you looking for functional or cosmetic results? Functional exercises are designed to copy every day movement patterns and loads that are put on the body. Cosmetic training, which includes bodybuilding, is purely focused on results that change body symmetry without taking into account the biomechanics. If sport is a part of your life, whether amateur or professional, you should always focus on functional training. Cosmetic training can lead to muscle imbalances that can cause injury. If jumping high or running fast means nothing to you, but shapely toned legs are everything, I would still recommend a majority of functional training with some cosmetic training according to your needs.

 

I recommend spending some time with a qualified instructor or personal trainer. Begin by taking base measurements to determine your starting point. The next step is to plan the best way to reach that goal and finally be prepared to try new approaches, as sometimes methodologies don’t always work first time.

 

 

Lower limb resistance programme

 

Before commencing this programme seek clearance from a medical practitioner. A six-week conditioning programme designed by a qualified instructor should be completed before commencing this programme.

 

The following programme is an example of a lower limb (leg) resistance programme. The programme is best suited toward an individual who is looking for muscle tone without muscle mass gain. All exercises in this programme are compound (more than one joint used) and functional in their design. I’ve used exercises that would produce a high caloric demand by using a large amount of muscle at one time. This programme is only one example of many that work the legs. Different individuals require specific exercises to reach desired goals. If you are unsure about your requirements seek help from a qualified instructor or personal trainer. The programme should be followed for no more than 4 weeks. After completion, seek help for a change in programme.

 

The leg resistance programme should only be used in conjunction with a balanced full body resistance programme designed by an exercise professional. The programme should be completed 1-2 times per week with at least a 2-day rest between leg workouts. A warm-up of 5-10 min cardio should be completed at the start of the workout. A warm down and full body stretch session should be completed at the end.

 

Lower limb resistance programme

 

Walking Lunges 3-4 10-20 metres 1sec up 1 sec down 60s

Step-ups with calf raises 3-4 15-20 1sec up 1 sec down 60s

Adductor Lunges 3-4 10-15 per side 1sec each side 60s

S/ball Leg curls 3-4 12-15 1sec up 1 sec down 60s

 

 

Walking lunges with a knee raise

 

Walking lunges are great for toning while remaining functional. They give an athletic shape without too much muscular size. Functionally they resemble an over exaggerated gait (walking motion); they are often used as a dynamic stretching drill by sprinters and runners. The knee lift is added to the exercise to produce greater work for the stabilizing muscles of the hips.

 

Step 1. Starting position

 

Start with feet shoulder width apart. Keep feet parallel and hips facing forward throughout the entire movement. Raise your right knee to your chest while maintaining a neutral spine and head posture. Slowly lower your right leg into lunge position.

 

Step 2. Finishing position

 

Once in a lunge position step through with your left leg and bring your left knee towards your chest. Maintain a neutral spine and head posture; keep chest up and hips facing forward throughout entire movement. Repeat steps 1 and 2 using the right leg.

 

 

Step ups with a calf raise

 

Step-ups are a very functional exercise. Stepping up is a part of life because we use stairs you just can’t avoid them. Adding a calf raise saves time and should help improve balance.

 

Step1. Starting position

 

Place right foot on step or bench (height will affect intensity). Keep feet parallel and hips facing forward throughout the entire movement. Maintain a neutral spine and head posture.

 

Step 2. Finishing position

 

Lift your left knee up towards your chest while maintaining correct posture. As your knee reaches the top of the movement raise up on your right toes to produce a calf raise. Complete rep range on this side then swap sides.

 

Adductor lunge

 

Adductor lunges target the inside thigh and gluteals. They are more functional than the adductor machines and are very beneficial to sports requiring lateral movement such as tennis, soccer and squash.

 

Step 1. Starting position.

 

Lunge out using your right leg at a 45-degree angle. Keep knees inline with your toes without letting the knee pass over them. Keep hips forward and chest up throughout entire exercise.

 

Step 2. Finishing position

 

Pivot from your right side to your left while keeping your body position low. Remember not to let your knees travel past your toes. Keep your head and chest up throughout the entire movement. To increase intensity of exercise, use a medicine ball or dumbbell.

 

Swiss ball hamstring curl

 

If you are looking for an alternative to the leg curl machine try Swiss ball hamstring curls. Swiss ball curls not only target the hamstrings they also help increase core stability and stabilize the hips

 

Step 1. Stating position

 

While lying face up on the floor place your feet on a Swiss ball. Move arms horizontally out, palms up or underneath your body to give support. Lift hips up to produce a neutral body position. Keep your core strong to maintain position.

 

Step 2. Finishing position

 

Roll Swiss ball towards your body using your legs. Maintain correct body position throughout movement do not let hips drop. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until rep range is reached.

 

Human growth hormone (HGH) has been receiving a lot of media attention in recent times. You might have heard about the undetectable drug athletics are using to out perform their competition. You might of heard about the new anti-ageing wonder drug which rolls back the years.

 

So what is HGH?

 

HGH is released by the pituitary gland found in the human brain. HGH has a global affect on the body by promoting cell division. In adults, HGH promotes protein synthesis (muscle building); decreases carbohydrate metabolism and increases lipid metabolism (fat burning). Factors such as anxiety, stress and physical activity promote the release of HGH. Studies have found with an increase in exercise intensity there is a sharp increase in HGH production and secretion.

 

Anti-ageing clinics promote the use of HGH as an “elixir of life” preventing and reversing ageing. Caution must be used when using these services. A large number of web based clinics site an article by Rudman et al found in the New England journal of medicine as the basis to support their treatments. However the study in the article had many weaknesses including no control group. An editorial accompanying the article by Mary Lee Vance, M.D. concluded the study was only a start and further research was needed. Some clinics sell oral or inhaled HGH treatments. The use of oral or inhaled HGH products is a waste of money since HGH is a peptide and is broken down by stomach acid. HGH treatment is very costly. One web based clinic selling injectable HGH prices ranged from $600 to $3600 for one-month supply.

 

Resistance exercise, in my opinion, is the best option for increasing the release of HGH and its anti-ageing effects on the individual, in particular high intensity resistance training (weight training). There are a number of studies supporting this concept. Not only will resistance training increase lean muscle mass and bone density it will also indirectly help decrease body fat, factors all involved in the ageing process. Cost is a major positive, even with gym membership fees and the service of a personal trainer the cost is just a fraction of what you could spend at an anti-ageing clinic.

 

An effective programme should contain compound exercises (such as squats and bench press) whereby the most muscle fibers can be recruited at one time. High intensity training can be best achieved when a state of total fatigue is reached. Rest periods between sets should be kept down to 60 sec to help maintain a high level of intensity.

 

Richard Leonard BSc Sports and Exercise Science

Personal Trainer

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