Squads and now thighs look 'fat'

Lizzy · 01-04-2009, 09:05 PM

hello,

I am a petite little person

and I'm trying to gain on muscles in the butt area. I was told to do squads with weights and leg press. My problem now is that the inner thigh area seems to look a little fat. Better to say the muscles at the inner thigh area and back upper leg grew. My jeans feel really tight in that area now too. Is there anything I can do to avoid this area to grow or get rid of the fat on top of that muscle area?

Thanks,
melissa

ruecambon · 01-07-2009, 09:32 PM

how long have u been doing squats for

ruecambon · 01-07-2009, 09:32 PM

and what kind of squats

Lizzy · 01-08-2009, 12:09 AM

o.k.
I have to do a little explanation.

Before I was doing squats with weights, lunges one leg forward with weights and the leg press together with my work out programm for abs and upper body and spinning (for about 9 months).

Then I came here to the US and wasn't enrolled in a gym so I just went running and did my abs programm.

Then I enrolled to a Gym here and started a programm training upper and lower body, this included leg press, and leg curl (for harmstrings and quads). After a while I realized my thighs seemed to get bigger and looking fat (or more fat showing on top of the muscle). Maybe also because I've been eating a little less healthy than I did in Germany before (but not really a major change of eating habits).

Now I decided to stick to my old programm with lunges and squats and spinning, but somehow I'm unsure if this is the correct way to train my lower body. I tried to do a little more cardio by doing spinning twice or three times a week but continuing to do the exercise with weights, because I don't want to get skinnier. I did the new programm which was suggested by the gym trainer in the US for about two months and now I went back to a programm simular to my old exercizes for about two weeks.

5kgLifter · 01-08-2009, 06:18 PM

In theory as long as you're not gaining weight or too much fat weight, when you do squats the leg muscles should get denser, not bigger as such...what weightage are you squatting with and for how long has it been? As long as the body is in proportion though, if its pure muscle, I wouldn't worry too much since that's a good thing, and our body shape constantly alters as we grow/age anyway...better for it to be muscle than fat weight.

Lizzy · 01-08-2009, 10:38 PM

Now I'm doing the one leg lunges with 20 pounds (10 each side) and the squats with 30 pounds and the leg press with about 120.
It was just kind of uncomfortable with my jeans, because the feel tighter in the thigh area and I actually want my butt to get a little bigger. Then also my inner thigh doesn't look as defined as it did before. Maybe this is because in Germany I take very intense and longer spinning classes and here it is a little different.

But actually doing squats, lunges and leg press is the right way to gain a little muscle in the butt area, isn't it? I know my harmstrings, quats etc will grow as well, when I do this exercise.

5kgLifter · 01-09-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizzy

Now I'm doing the one leg lunges with 20 pounds (10 each side) and the squats with 30 pounds and the leg press with about 120.
It was just kind of uncomfortable with my jeans, because the feel tighter in the thigh area and I actually want my butt to get a little bigger. Then also my inner thigh doesn't look as defined as it did before. Maybe this is because in Germany I take very intense and longer spinning classes and here it is a little different.

But actually doing squats, lunges and leg press is the right way to gain a little muscle in the butt area, isn't it? I know my harmstrings, quats etc will grow as well, when I do this exercise.

Doing squats, leg presses, and anything that uses the butt will definitely improve the size and shape of the glutes. The hamstrings and quad muscles will tone, maybe there will be a bit of growth but I wouldn't imagine it will be substantial since we cannot produce lots of testosterone like men; of course, there is the other side of female weight training where they do very heavy sessions and take supplements, and they do grow, but I don't think most of us would have that sort of time for dedicating to it. You could try reducing the amount of weight that you're using, if you get concerned about size, but also you need to take into account that jeans are made to fit manequins and it doesn't necessarily reflect a bad thigh size if the jeans are getting tight, although it's no fun if you need to replace clothing. I do squats, adductor, abductor and stepping exercises, but fortunately haven't noticed any substantial growth that has caused a clothing problem, just solid legs. Maybe some of others will have some useful input to your question too.
PS: What's spinning exactly, I've heard of it, but that's as much as I know, the name.

Lizzy · 01-12-2009, 08:03 PM

O.k. Thanks. I think I might try doing a little less weight and more reps. Also I think I have been eating a little too fatty or a little too much also over the holidays.
Spinning/Cycling is a class were you are on an indoor racing bike. It's a group exercise and you cycle with varying resistance and paces to music. It's fun and if you have a cool instructor and the music is really motivating.

stikfigure · 01-13-2009, 02:59 AM

spinning is quite a killer isn't it? if you don't have access to spin classes you could try the step machine or running on the treadmill. But most likely you're right about the food being a big factor.

Lennox1978 · 02-23-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizzy

O.k. Thanks. I think I might try doing a little less weight and more reps. Also I think I have been eating a little too fatty or a little too much also over the holidays.
Spinning/Cycling is a class were you are on an indoor racing bike. It's a group exercise and you cycle with varying resistance and paces to music. It's fun and if you have a cool instructor and the music is really motivating.

Hey Lizzy

I think your exercise routine sounds pretty well balanced with a mixture of resistance exercises and cardio. You also need to make sure your diet is consistantly healthy and your not taking in too many high fat treats too often which can effect your body shape!

Also measure thigh girth and maybe even have a body fat test to help measure any changes that you 'think' are happening! It maybe that your thighs aren't getting any bigger at all

You maybe also need to add a couple of variations to your squat and lunge routine. Try changing your foot position on your squats, take them wider apart to hit the inner thigh more. Also on your lunges, try side lunges where you step out to the side - lunge & step back to centre.

Hope this helps