I have been working out at my local gym for the past seven months at least four times a week. I'm 5'3 and weigh 105 lbs. The problem is that most of that weight looks like it's in my thighs because my quads have developed so much. I want sexy legs not muscular ones! (I also include a 30-minute stepmill warmup or a mile walk on the treadmill at 4.3 mph at an intensity level of 3). HELP!!!

--cadra026

Cadra, most of the people submitting questions to this column are probably more than a might bit envious of you. While everyone else out there is trying to firm up their thighs and make their legs more muscular and less flabby, you complain that you have too much muscle. You are blessed.

Nevertheless, if you don't want those quads, give 'em back. I can tell from your warm-up alone that you do a lot of quad-intensive exercise. Using a stepmill or walking on a treadmill with an incline will recruit more of your glutes and quads than other exercises will.

Try walking on a treadmill without an incline. You'll probably be able to go faster right away, although 4.3 mph. is a pretty fast walk -- right on the cusp of running. If you can (no knee or back problems), why not jog?

Biking, although it uses your quads, can be done at a lower tension and higher rpm. It will give you a good cardiovascular warm-up/workout and won't pump your legs up as much as the stepmill.

Try using a Nordic-Track or go swimming -- two more aerobic activities that won't build your quads.

If you've been doing the usual weight training exercises for your legs (leg extensions, leg curls, leg presses), don't stop. Just modify your routine so it becomes a maintenance workout. Lower the resistance of each exercise so that you can complete at least 15 repetitions. Go as high as 20 reps if you like (instead of increasing the weight you're using). Do fewer sets. You should also train your upper body, to give your physique some overall balance.

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