For gym goers who never skip leg day, a pair of strong, muscular quads and hamstrings are usually one of the main goals on any fitness list. But unless you’re one of the few competing in the bodybuilding scene, there can be loose legs, especially if buying off-the-shelf pants is no longer an option.
So, is there such a thing that reduces the size of your legs? And if so, which is the better approach – cardio or diet?
That was the main question to the DM M&F social media manager Frank Sepe asked a fitness and wellness expert Mary Moda.in a recent SM M&F on Youtube. Sepe, a well-known competitor, model, athlete and author, as well as Moda, the creator of ModaFit, are renowned for their knowledge of training, nutrition, detox and wellness coaching.
The duo teamed up in the east coast mecca, Bev’s Powerhouse Gym and a few post-workout Muscle & Fitness DMs who allowed them to tap into his training and nutrition expertise and answer some of the most popular questions we receive in our inbox.
How can you reduce the size of your legs, is it through a diet or through a routine?
“So for me, from my personal experience and also from working with a lot of women, it’s a combination of the two. For me, I like to cut my calories a bit, especially on the days I’m training the legs. I also incorporates some cardio after my leg workout I go up the reps a bit and reduce the weight a bit I feel like when I train heavier with lower reps my legs have tend to be a bit bulkier, doing the opposite with diets and cardio tends to reduce them a bit.
Many people will not squat heavily. They will go from 30 to 50 reps. Are you still squatting and doing higher reps?
“I love doing squats at first. I’ll just warm up with the barbell and then gradually add weight, but I’ll focus more on my depth and form rather than going heavier. I’ll go up to 20 reps, but I won’t go any higher than that, really.
What type of cardio do you recommend?
“I would even say just walking on the treadmill, like brisk walking. You just need to increase your heart rate, but doing it after the leg workout is what I think works. It worked for me.
I love doing squats at first because I like to warm up with just the barbell and then and focus more on my form rather than going heavier. But although up to 20 reps, I usually go no further than that.
Diet is really important for losing or gaining height, and we know you can’t reduce your height. What type of calorie deficit do you recommend for someone looking to lose size?
“To me, cutting carbs equals losing mass. It’s just the way my body works. So that’s what I did, and I just use my carb sources before and after the workout. ‘workout. The rest of the day I’m running on the fat. It’s going to be a combination of all of those things, whatever your goals are. It’s just about refining it, basically.
