Physique

Question
Hi, I am a 5ft2in female of roughly 122lbs, however I have done a lot of cross country running in the past and as a result have large thighs, calves and hips due to muscle. This problem is emphasised by the fact that my legs are dis-proportionally short for my body and this is extremely unflattering. Because of this I decided to cut back on training and trained only infrequently for over a year. Yet there was no noticeable difference to my thighs, and so I have begun training regularly again in the past 3 months. However, I can still see no difference to either my thighs or my weight, despite the fact that I have been eating healthily too. Losing weight from around my hips and the inside of my thighs would help to balance me out and would probably make it easier to run too. But I am unsure of how to go about doing this.

I have tried researching answers on the internet but lots of sites say different things. I am confused as to whether I should try to run faster, to run more frequently, both, or whether to give up running altogether as it may only increase the bulkiness of my thighs. I also don't no whether to swim more, cycle more or less and whether to eat more protein or if this will maintain muscle as well.

Please help me! Below is my average week of training, please tell me what I am doing wrong:

Tuesday: 1 mile warm up jog, then roughly 45 minutes of interval training, anything from 30 second sprints to 5 minute runs. I average out at around a 7 minute mile.

Wednesday: I go for a slow 3 mile jog.

Thursday: Same as Tuesday.

Saturday: Same as Tuesday or Thursday except it is generally shorter distances and more hill work. (I run in the morning)

Sunday: A 5 mile cycle (at 10mph) followed by a swim; either 1 mile (in 34 minutes) or 2 miles (in 80 minutes)

Thank you very much!

Answer
You're not the first person to ask me a question like this. The hard part is that everyone is different. We all have different bodies and need to be stunted in a number of ways to help this cause of 'cutting' in certain areas. Now, I'm a distance runner, I run for long periods of time, and never do I ever worry about weight or that type of concern.

I could say for you, it seems your weekly regiment is a lot of stop and go, and shorter distances. I would try to start running longer distances and for longer periods of time. At a certain point, the body utilizes 'fat' stores during a run. It's why you see all those long distance runners looking more thin then say a tri-athlete, or maybe someone who bikes, or swims. I think to start, I would start running longer distances and more consistent speed. So, 3 days a week, I'd look to run for an hour straight, at whatever pace is comfortable for you to keep at that level.

Intervals are great, but you'll find better 'weight' loss benefit, if that's what you are looking for, if you run longer and harder.

give that shot and let me know how it works out.