Toning help

[mistymin]

Looking to tone up abs and thighs with a little stomach contol...What would be the best thing to start with..and how often should I increase them...Thanks

[barnetjs]

NO such thing as spot reduction. First thing you really need to take a look at is your diet. I would say this is before any additional cardio or exercises. When the diet is in check then you work harder on cardio and such to reduce your overall body fat. You need to incorporate weight training in your exercise routine. Abs (IMO) need only be done 2-3 times a week - they do need higher reps and you can train with or with out weight for abs. Everyone has a different opinion on that some say makes you thicker others it does not and in my humble opinion it just totally depends on your body and how it reacts.

[kickboy]

I agree with barnejts, the battle of the abs (and the rest of the body) is won and lost at the table. To tone up cardio is IMO the best way to go. Cardio will encourage your body to drop body fat (if the diet is right). The exercises I like best for men and women are lower abs exercises like leg raises (done from a hanging position or a roman chair) this is because most of us exercise the upper abs with crunches but the lower abs stays soft. We do this exercise called leg throws which require a partner but are very good. I will try to post a picture. The way it works is the person performing the exercise lies on their back with their head between their partners feet and reach back and hold the partners ankles, you lift your legs up keeping them straight, when they are perpendicular to the floor your partner pushes them back to the ground. As you get stronger your partner can push harder to concentrate on the negative part of the exercise.
You also mentioned the backs of the legs, lunges are the best exercise for toning legs, but until you take a close look at diet all this will not have fast or noticeable results.

The people who are most successful with fitness goals understand food. Take a good look at what you eat (a journal is the best way for me). Did you know that 2 Tbs. of ranch dressing has 120 calories and 110 of them are fat calories, while a can of tuna in water has 150 calories and 33 grams of protein, a change in salad toppers can be major. I better stop before I start ranting about structure in your life and planning what to eat rather than getting up in the morning and trying to make good selections meal by meal.