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Tuesday November 05, 2024

Four effectively harmless ways to lose anxiety-trigerring inner thigh fat

People with bigger thighs often spend time in 'toning exercises' to shrink it but it only strengthens them

By Web Desk
November 14, 2023
This representational image shows a group of people working out. — Unsplash/File
This representational image shows a group of people working out. — Unsplash/File

Losing fat involves a sustainable, nutritious diet and regular exercise, particularly strengthening leg muscles through strength training and cardio exercises but the inner thigh area, often a trigger for anxiety, is typically overlooked in fat storage plans, alongside the lower belly and upper arms. 

People with bigger thighs often spend time in "toning exercises" and work hard to shrink away this jiggly part of themselves. However, it turns out that strengthening the inner thighs doesn't burn fat there.

Inner thigh exercises can help build stronger muscles under the fat, potentially increasing thigh size, according to Healthline.

To eliminate inner thigh fat, a combination of diet and exercise is recommended, with diet being the first step.

Diet

There is some merit to the idea that cutting calorie intake will help with weight loss, even though it's not always that easy.

Exercise burns more calories than consumed, creating an energy imbalance leading your body to use fat energy stores to meet its calorie demands. Too much calorie deficit can slow metabolism, so it's crucial not to create a deficit of 500-1,000 calories per day to maintain metabolism health.

However, diet is just one aspect of it. Exercise can speed up your metabolism and help you burn fat. Certain fitness regimens can burn fat fairly well.

Strength training

Strength training can significantly reduce body fat, as it increases muscle mass and leads to increased calorie burn.

While the calorie deficit may not significantly increase, recent research on mice suggests that weight training triggers a hormonal reaction in the body, causing fat cells to break down through a process called cellular crosstalk, thereby reducing overall body fat.

This is because other studies in mice suggest that fatty acids released into the bloodstream after fats break down may aid in tissue repair which means that when muscle fibres break during weight training, fat cells help rebuild.

Although the research is new, strength training can aid in fat loss.

This representational image shows a woman working out. — Unsplash/File
This representational image shows a woman working out. — Unsplash/File

Cardio

You may maintain your metabolic fires going with a couple of quality cardiovascular workouts throughout the week by combining it with a strength-based interval training programme and blocking out at least one day for rest each week.

To keep your body and mind engaged and responsive, you can switch up your cardio workouts and your modality (such as swimming, bicycling, or running).

Long, slow-distance cardio

LSD is a cardio workout that involves a lower intensity, longer duration exercise like swimming or hiking in the woods. It's suitable for those with time to dedicate, and the goal is not intensity, but endurance.

Examples of this exercise include a slightly longer swim at a slower speed or even a long, gentle hike in the woods. It’s a cardio workout done at a lower intensity for a longer duration.

This workout primarily burns fat for energy, with a lower ultimate calorie burn level but still fueling the goal of getting leaner. It's good for endurance and can be used as a recovery workout if the intensity is low.

Strength training and maintaining leanness through cardio can help create strong, beautifully shaped legs, despite the limitations imposed by our genetic makeup.