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Leg Toning Exercises at Home for Women

By Peter Reyes

Due to their genetic makeup, women tend to accumulate fat around the thighs and buttocks. So it’s no surprise that many women face the problem of flabby legs. And, if you can’t find the time to go to the gym for a workout, you can still shape your legs by performing leg toning exercises at home. Knowing the best techniques to use in an enclosed setting will give you gym quality workout from the comfort of your own home.

Leg Toning Exercise – Lunges

Lunges are by far the best leg firming and toning exercise. They work on your hamstrings, quads and glutes with one simple move.

1. Start by standing with your feet about shoulder-width apart and then take one big step forward with your right foot.

2. Place your hands on your hips for balance, and slowly lower your body straight down until your back leg forms a 90 degree angle at the knee.

Your other leg should be as close to the floor as is comfortable for you, toes extended, and the weight mostly focused on your forward leg.

3. Using your leg muscles, slowly raise yourself back up. Repeat this leg toning exercise for three sets of 30 repetitions for each leg. Make sure you execute all movements slowly and watch the stability of your joints to avoid over-extension.

Leg Firming Exercise – Step Ups

Step-ups are one of the best leg exercises because they are truly a functional movement.

1. Find something stable and safe which you can comfortably place your weight on such as a chair or a box. You could also use the stairs. Now grab a heavy book, like a phone book and hug it to your chest.

2. Step up to the box with first one foot, then the other. As your back foot is lifted, your body weight is placed onto the front foot. Make sure you have a straight up and down posture, or it could lead to a nasty injury.

3. Pause for a while. Reverse the movement (step back with the lead foot).

4. Repeat the leg toning exercise stepping again with the same foot first, or you could work each leg at the same time.

Leg Toning Exercise – Squats

Squats work your entire lower body, specifically the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and the muscles that make up the calves.

1. Stand with your feet parallel and your legs shoulder-width apart and cross your arms in front of your chest.

2. Inhale and lower your butt as if you were about to sit in a chair. Make sure your knees are in line with your toes. Keep your head up and your back straight, and exhale as you stand up, then straightening the legs completely.

Other than these exercises, there are a myriad of challenging at-home leg exercises to firm up flabby thighs. You can try grand plie squats (think toned legs like ballerinas), triple dip walking lunges, or lying “V” criss coss exercise.

Leg toning exercises at home are as easy as that. Perform them regularly, and you're sure to get shapely, firm and toned legs ready for summer!

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