12 ways to thinner thighs

Hate your thunder thighs? The solution is simple - our easy, cheap exercises that you can do in the comfort of your own home, a gym or even at work.

Start to make a difference and see the changes in your body with the 12 ways we've devised to tone up and slim down your legs.

Aim to do 25 minutes of exercise every other day for best results and you should start to see a change within one month.

It's easy to watch other people running and wish that you could be like them. Finding the time to fit in a long, sweaty four mile run can seem pretty much impossible with kids/a 

husband/a job/a house. But all those people you see running had to start somewhere - and look at their thighs - not an inch of fat on them!

The key is to start gradually. Get yourself a good pair of trainers and start by running for just a few minutes, then walk for a few minutes, and then run again for a few minutes. Sooner or later you'll be hooked.

And if you feel embarrassed, ask a friend to join you, that way you can catch up on gossip and motivate each other.

The easiest way to tone up and fit in activity around your life. You can do it anywhere, any time and at a pace that's comfortable to you. Walking isn't just great for your legs, it's also good for your metabolism, circulation, skin and joints.

Get started by doing just 10 minutes a day and build up to 30 minutes every day or every other day.

Loads of celebs swear by their Stairmaster exercise equipment to help them tone their legs but you don't need to fork out loads to stay in shape.

Walking up stairs, especially if they're steep, can really help tone the muscles at the back of the thighs so try to do it for 10 minutes every day. Yes, you might feel silly but think of your skinny thighs! Alternate your steps by taking two steps at a time. 

And of course, walk up the escalators rather than ride them and use the stairs instead of the lift.

Lunges are great for the thighs, calves and bum, but you need to do 12 repetitions each day to get a good workout. 

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart with your hands on your hips for balance. 
• Take a big stride forward and bend both knees so you're lowering yourself to the ground. 
• Hold yourself in that position for a few seconds, holding in your tummy, buttocks and keeping your back straight. 
• Return to the starting position and lunge with the other leg forward.

Squats aren't just good for toning thighs and calves, they can help strengthen your lower back too. 

• Stand hip-width apart, keep your back straight, tummy pulled in, hands on your hips then slowly bend your knees, so that you're squatting down. 
• You can lean forward to keep your balance but you must keep your back straight. 
• Slowly come back up to the starting position. 
• The slower you do the squats the better a workout you give your thighs. Do 12 repetitions.

Read more: CLICK HERE

Another tough one but you can build up to doing more each day - and you

can do it while watching the telly.

• Stand up straight with your back against a wall. 
• Rest your arms and hands against the wall and slowly - while bending your knees - lower yourself down as if you're about to sit on a chair. 
• When you're in the 'chair' position hold the pose for as long as you can - most people can only manage a few seconds, that's ok, you can build up the time the more you do. 
• Make sure you keep your back straight and your tummy pulled in. 
• Aim to hold for 10 seconds to start with and build up to a minute. Do five repetitions each day.

Whether you go out into the countryside for a bike ride or you ride an exercise bike, cycling is great for losing weight and slimming your thighs. Cycling also gives you really shapely calves too. 

If you can do 30 minutes a day you'll see the weight drop off and you'll have thinner thighs in a month.

If you don't have time to exercise you could always invest in some ankle weights. They come in a variety of weights but it's best to start off low at 1 or 2 kilos. 

Strap them to your ankles and go about your daily life - although it's not a good idea to drive with them, but they can turn housework into a great workout. 

You can also adjust them so they fit over your knees or thighs to work on that area of the leg. Wearing weights on your ankles will still help you tone your thighs, though.

If we ever needed an excuse to wear high heels, this is it! Wearing high heels tones your calves and thighs. Although we have to point out that wearing stilettos too often can damage your toes and posture, so totter with care! The experts recommend that we shouldn't walk for more than two miles at a time and we should stick to heels no higher than two inches.

Trampolining has loads of health benefits. It's great for your circulation, burning fat, speeding up your metabolism, cellulite and toning your legs. Just half an hour can burn around 200 calories. Plus it's fun and you can do it with the kids. 

This is one you can do at home, on a gym mat. Lie back on the mat with your arms by your sides and your palms facing down. Begin by pointing with your left foot, as if reaching out with your toes toward the ceiling, and rotate your leg slightly outward. Inhale, and trace a circle on the ceiling with your left leg, moving your whole leg, but keep your hips still. Don't lift your left hip off the floor. Trace the circle on the ceiling 5 times in a clockwise direction. Repeat in a counter-clockwise direction. Switch legs and repeat 5 times. Build up to 10 times if you can.

This exercise targets the inner thigh and it's easy peasy. Lie face up on floor with arms at sides, palms down and legs extended. Lift legs about 45 degrees, pointing toes. Quickly open and close your legs, crossing the right thigh over the left and then reversing the movement. Continue scissoring legs; try to do 12 to 15 repetitions per leg.

Read more: CLICK HERE