This is worth quoting again!
Quote:
Originally Posted by GLC1968
This is true. But there are three things to consider:
1) muscle is more dense than fat which means that takes up less room. If you lose fat and gain muscle, you will be smaller...even in your legs. (this does mean that you need to lose fat though...just building up the muscle will make your legs bigger).
2) 98% of women do not have the genetic disposition to build BIG bulky muscles. I thought I was one of the 2% because I do put on muscle easily. I was wrong...even lifting very heavy, my legs only got smaller.
3) to build BIG muscles, you will need to lift VERY heavy...much heavier than even mashing big gears will do for you. (Unless, of course, climbing in the alps is your weekend ride!)
If you watch your diet and lose weight, your legs will get smaller, no matter how hard you hammer. The bad news is that making your leg to waist (or hip to waist) ratio much different by biking is probably not going to happen. This is predominantly governed by genetics and is very difficult to drastically change.
Many women don't know the above facts, especially #2 so I thought this was worth quoting again.
Another thing worth mentioning...FIRST ON LAST OFF. Wherever your body stores fat first is the last place it will come off. In my case I've always had a bigger butt and thighs. Then when I got older I started to put on fat around the waist and on my upper arms. When I lose weight the fat comes off the belly and arms first then if I'm lucky it will start to come off the legs.
IMO build the leg muscles by pushing a bigger gear or lifting heavy weights. Muscle is what burns fat so the more I have, regardless of where, the better! Build muscle and burn fat. It sounds so easy but is so hard to do - especially when you can't control your diet. That's my biggest problem. Eating out with my DH is our "entertainment."