Lower Body Exercises for Women: Will You Look Bigger?

When a trainer mentions lower body exercises for women who seek their help, there is sometimes a look of panic on the client's face. Some women are scared to perform strength building or toning exercises for areas of the body that they feel are already too large. This often includes the hips, butt, thighs, and calves.

The idea that resistance exercises will automatically make you look like a professional wrestler is completely incorrect. If you are working with a trained professional or following sound advice from trained professionals, if they know what they’re doing, you shouldn’t have to worry about your lower body bulking up. In fact, incorporating exercises for the lower body muscles into your workout, along with your upper body exercises, can help create a well proportioned, nicely shaped body.

Here are some simple facts where lower body exercises for women are concerned:

1. Unless you are taking hormones or steroids, you most likely don't have enough male hormones in your body to make yourself look like the incredible hulk.

2. Not all lower body exercises for women will deliver a large muscle look. Some are designed for lengthening and toning which is what gives that tight look you do want.

3. If you don't strengthen and tone the lower body muscles you may look out of proportion by ignoring your lower half and just focusing on your upper body in your training routine. Training all body parts, creates lean muscle. Which increases your metabolism, which helps burn more calories. Which is great!

If you already feel that your lower body is too big, then the concern over developing bulky muscle that you feel will only make that worse is understandable. It just isn't a valid concern if you are doing the right lower body exercises for women.

To help you determine which lower body exercises for women are best for your body and the look you want to achieve, consider some tips catered just to women like you:

1. As I’ve mentioned, you can work your lower body without bulking up. Your focus is on lengthening and toning the muscles you already have. Some women may need to add more muscle in some areas, but most just need to tone up what is there so it is tight and visually appealing.

2. To avoid adding size to your lower body, perform lower body exercises with little to no added weight and perform as many repetitions as you can without losing correct technique. High reps and low weight is the key to toning without bulking.

3. Drink lots of water so your body is well hydrated.

4. Work at least three high intensity or interval cardio sessions into your schedule every week. Most women have large thighs, butts and legs because they have too much excess fat stored over the top of their muscles. The problem is the fat, not necessarily the bulk of the muscle!

Performing lower body exercises for women is a great way to start shaping those leg muscles, but you can't downplay the importance of a healthy diet and cardio exercise. It all has to fit together to get the body shape you want.