Hello, my name is Debbie. I'm naturally pretty thin, but I need to lose about two to five pounds on my upper thighs. This is a hard place to work out without equipment, so please give me any suggestions on how to work out my inner and outer thighs. Thanks!

Debbie

Debbie, it sounds like you work out at home, so you need to try to accomplish what I recommended for Laurette, but without the machines. You'll need to purchase some inexpensive gear. For starters, try:

• a couple sets of dumbbells (2,3, and 5 pounds are good weights for most people)
  
  
• ankle weights (2 or 3 pounds)
  
  
• exercise tubing (which allow you to duplicate many exercises people do in a gym)

Lunges and squats immediately come to mind as exercises that strengthen as well as firm and tone the thighs. They'll work your quads, hamstrings, and butt. Use ankle weights or exercise tubing to do a variety of inner and outer thigh exercises on the floor.

In addition to the written exercises that may be included with the ankle weights or tubing, tape some of the exercise programs on ESPN (check your local listings), or buy or rent a video to use a guide/coach. "The Firm" tapes are popular as are Kathy Smith's and Jane Fonda's. Some people like Richard Simmons' tapes, although I find his voice a little hard to take. You can purchase these videos and others at the Fitness Video store.

I always recommend spending time with a trainer for at least one session to demonstrate proper exercise form and to help you plan a progressive exercise program. You need to include cardiovascular exercise three to five times per week for 30 to 45 minute sessions to increase your aerobic capacity and also to burn calories. You can walk, jog, bicycle or skate. These activities have the added benefit of using your leg muscles for even more total leg work. If you live in an area where winters are hostile, you may want to purchase some sort of aerobic machine -- like a stationary bike, ski machine or treadmill -- for your home to insure that bad weather doesn't give you an excuse to miss too much aerobic training!

I'm not done with hip and thigh advice yet, so be sure and check back soon!

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