Okay, I have gone down 2 sizes since March- from a 12 to a 8- size 6 is my goal. I started out doing weights and cardio and eating failrly clean. Last month i noticed that my legs were getting bigger than I really wanted and I stopped doing lower body wts. (I have a pear figure) My routine for the past month has been 3 days of running on the treadmill for 30 min. while alternating hi/lo inclines= 3 1/4 mi. , 2 days a week/spinning class, and 2 days/wk upper body weights. This has been going great for me and I am noticing my legs leaning out- which is what I want.
Now, I'm afraid to add my lower body weights back- is running and cycling enough? I just feel weird not doing any weights at all.

Okay, I have gone down 2 sizes since March- from a 12 to a 8- size 6 is my goal. I started out doing weights and cardio and eating failrly clean. Last month i noticed that my legs were getting bigger than I really wanted and I stopped doing lower body wts. (I have a pear figure) My routine for the past month has been 3 days of running on the treadmill for 30 min. while alternating hi/lo inclines= 3 1/4 mi. , 2 days a week/spinning class, and 2 days/wk upper body weights. This has been going great for me and I am noticing my legs leaning out- which is what I want.
Now, I'm afraid to add my lower body weights back- is running and cycling enough? I just feel weird not doing any weights at all.

Doing just cardio can be a recipe for disaster, simply due to the stress it places on your joints. You need muscle to support those joints, and muscle will not come unless you strength train your legs. 9 out of 10 women are concerned about the size of their legs and feel they put on muscle too quickly, while only 1 out of 10 can actually qualify this - in other words, it is usually genetics that determines the shape/size of your muscle and the rest of the variation is fat. It is very difficult to easily put on muscle.

I would not forego leg training. If you are concerned with size or truly are the 1 out of 10 with the genetics to put on muscle that quickly, restrict your leg workout to bodyweight exercises - do free-form squats, static lunges without extra weight, work to doing them one leg at a time, etc. This will ensure you keep the muscles surrounding the joints strong, improve stability and coordination, without going to the length that would stimulate significant muscle growth - instead you'll gain more strength and coordination.

Jeremy

Great advice- I'll do this. I think I may be the 1 out of 10- my mom is almost 4 inches shorter than me and she has stocky thick legs, but a small upper body- Thanks mom! - at least I'm taller so it's not as bad.

First of all, your growing legs may not be growing at all -- it could be psychological. Second of all, even if you legs grow too much now, once you get rid of the fat they will look AWESOME. Muscular women look great with normal bodyfat (for evidence, just look at some of the olympic athletes!); female bodybuilders have so much definition because their bodyfat is so low.

I probably have no business chiming in here, as i'm a newbie... but I feel your pain. I have stocky legs, and have always had stocky legs, even at my thinnest and fittest. And that's thanks to my Mom as well, but I am very short.

Now, I've been excercising (walking and pilates) and eating clean for over a month, and the only place I see any real changes are in my calves and thighs, which is where I really wasn't exited about. So today I saw this pair of boots, black heeled boots that come up over the calf, and boy was I pissed when the shoe part fit and I couldn't zip the rest over my big old calves. And that's not even fat there, that's pure darn muscle. I did not really want that. I wasn't even using weights on my legs. Why won't this flab on my upper arms go away instead? My son says i have "lunch lady arms". :d_eek:

But, what Jeremy said makes sense to me- I guess I must need it there for support.
F.

I know most people here hate GNC, but if you have access to one, go there and buy a magazine called, "Weight Training for Women". It is published by Muscle and Fitness.

There is an excellent section in there about getting lean hips and thighs for "pear shaped" women. It suggests HIIT and Circuit training with weights for the lower body....I can transcribe some of the info if you don't have a GNC nearby. Let me know.

I know most people here hate GNC, but if you have access to one, go there and buy a magazine called, "Weight Training for Women". It is published by Muscle and Fitness.

There is an excellent section in there about getting lean hips and thighs for "pear shaped" women. It suggests HIIT and Circuit training with weights for the lower body....I can transcribe some of the info if you don't have a GNC nearby. Let me know.

Thanks, that sounds great. Is it a monthly magazine?