Almost every woman I meet wants to know what are the best thigh toning exercises that firm up the legs without adding bulk. Before I would always advise that squats and lunges are the best for toning the thighs. However I see so many women doing these exercises with poor form that I believe unless you are a well-experienced trainer or are prepared to invest in a personal trainer to coach you with good technique I would advise to refrain from using these exercises until you are ready.
So if this applies to you then here are 2 of the best thigh toning exercises that can be done at home or the gym
Split Squat - This is basically a cross between a squat and a lunge and is much easier to perform with good form.
To do this properly just takes a large step forward so that the back foot is on the ball of the foot. Then maintaining a straight back slowly lower the back leg so the knee almost touches the floor. As you do this the front shin stays, as vertical as possible and at the end of the movement the front thigh should be parallel to the floor. Raise the hips back up and do the required amount of reps before changing legs.
If you find you are losing balance then place a hand on the wall or some equipment to steady yourself. Once you can do at least 10 reps without losing form then think about holding a set of dumbbells for extra resistance.
Step Ups - I think this is a great thigh toning exercise that you don't see enough of in many gyms.
First you need a step or platform to step onto. The mistake I see a lot of people do with this is choose a level that is too low. For the best results I always set a height that requires the leg to be at 90 degrees when you place your foot. As you step up push your weight through the heel of the foot to really engage the thigh and butt and make sure you extend the leg fully before stepping back down again. I prefer to keep one foot on the platform all the time for the desired reps as this keeps the leg under extra tension. Remember to keep your back straight and head up as you do this movement.
With this exercise if you want to hit primarily the thigh muscle then stand close to the step. If you want to involve the butt more then step up from a small distance away from the step
Also with step ups don't forget to use different variations such as side step ups where instead of facing the step you are side on as you push up the leg. This will place a little more emphasis on the outer thigh and will also improve your balance and coordination.
The other great thing about these thigh-toning exercises is that not only do they firm the thighs but are also great for helping burn fat. Using you legs to move your bodyweight plus other weights up and down uses a lot of energy meaning your burning more fat not just in the workout but for hours later.
For the best results I would do these exercises 3 times per week as part of a total body workout with some high intensity interval training and I promise you will have a leaner more toned body and sexy firm thighs in no time.
