Exercises for Sexy Thighs and a Toned Butt
When searching for the best exercises for the thighs, you see TONS of ads promoting all of these fancy and so-called inner-thigh blasters, thigh squeezers, thigh-toning machines, etc. Take my word when I say that you do NOT need any of these ridiculous “thigh-blasting” gadgets to tighten and tone-up your legs, butt, and hips for good.
As always, the best exercises for the thighs come in the form of free-weight or bodyweight exercises. You really need not look any further than various forms of exercises like lunges, squats, deadlifts, and step-ups to get those toned thighs that you want. In addition, there are plenty of variations of these basic exercises to choose from, so in reality, it is simply a waste of time messing with all of these inner-thigh gadgets and fancy thigh machines.
Here is an example of one of the most effective thigh exercises that you can do. I’m sure you have done some variation of lunges before. There are probably about 20 different versions that you can try and they all kick butt!
One of the best variations of lunges is the walking lunge (there are a couple of ways to do it slightly different to change the emphasis of the workout). Instead of the standing lunges, where you either lunge forward or lunge backward 1 step and come back, with the walking lunges you keep travelling forward on each step, anywhere from 10-30 steps, and then you turn around and come back that same distance.
It is essential to become familiar with the major muscle groups if you plan to start weight training or any other serious fitness regime. Knowledge is power, so study these muscle diagrams and learn what exercises help to build each muscle.
A couple ways to improve on these and get better results over time is to increase your distance each time or start carrying dumbbells to increase the resistance. Walking lunges done right are a real thigh-burner!
Here you find a couple of tips to keep in mind when performing walking lunges:
1) Step far enough forward so that your front shin stays approximately vertical and your front thigh is approximately parallel to the floor at the bottom of the lunge.
2) Your leg behind you while lunging should have a bend in the knee at the bottom, but your knee should come just short of touching the floor. Try not to touch the back knee to the ground during walking lunges.
3) Pause for a second at the top of each step before you lunge forward again for your next step.
Ok, now that you have mastered the basic walking lunge, let me give you a couple of ideas for lunge variations that change the emphasis a little bit for working the outer thighs, inner thighs, and buttocks in a slightly different manner.
One variety is to step at an outward angle on each forward step. A second variation is to step at a slightly inward angle on each forward step. The inward stepping version of the walking lunge is also called a cross-over lunge, and it really stretches out the buttocks and hips.
Go ahead and give these lunge variations a try and I guarantee that you will be firming up those thighs in no time. Whatever you do, please just say no to the fancy thigh machines and inner thigh squeezers. Use these more effective bodyweight and free weight exercises, and you’ll be much better off for it.
See below for more innovative exercises for the thighs and workouts that will have you showing off your new sexy toned legs.
About the Author: Michael Geary (CPT) is a recognized International Fitness Expert, contributing writer for Muscle & Fitness Hers Magazine, and author of the internationally selling book, The Truth about Six-Pack Abdominals. Another recommended resource for fat-loss is Lose Fat and Build Muscle
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this is unhelpful. Not innovative, motivating or encouraging in any way.
dissapointing, lame, rubbish and frankly disgraceful.
No apologies from me.
Hi Christina, I agree that lunges may not be the best exercise for toning and building strength, but I fail to see how they can be considered lam or disgraceful! Please could you elaborate?