There are a number of diets out there that can be of great benefit, but it’s important to find the one that is right for you. The thing to keep in mind is that you cannot out-exercise a bad diet. What that means is, you cannot follow a lifestyle of unhealthy eating, filling up on tons of useless calories, being addicted to sugar and think that you can just exercise more to burn it off.
In fact, there is a common term called ‘skinny fat’ where people appear thin on the outside, but are very unhealthy on the inside due to their poor diet. It will catch up with you eventually. Even if you are able to stay thin, eating poorly will result many health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, thyroid disease and more in addition to simply not feeling good. And isn’t feeling good and being healthy a big part of the goal?
In the 2005–2009 Nutrition and Exercise in Women (NEW) study, postmenopausal women were followed closely. The study incorporated exercise and diet lifestyle changes, concluding that most women lost weight when combining these behaviors — makes sense, right? It also showed a possible reduction in their risk of breast cancer. (1)
It’s important that you make sure you have the right amount of carbohydrates, quality protein and healthy fats. Often, the biggest mistake women make in their attempts to get leaner legs is inadequate protien intake. Research reveals that NCAA Division III female basketball players had far better performance and more lean body mass after consuming whey protein. (2) If you cannot have whey, a dairy product, there are plenty of vegan protein options out there that may work well for you, such as pea protein or brown rice protein, but ultimately the consistency of a healthy diet can help you have those sexy legs you’ve longed for!
So what is a good diet that will help you gain and maintain strong, fit and sexy legs? There are many diets out there, such as ketogenic, low-carb, Mediterranean, Paleo, the elimination diet, vegan and vegetarian diets, but in general, eating whole foods, organic and local when possible, is the way to go.
You really have to avoid processed foods since there is nothing to gain from them — meaning you don’t get a lot of nutritional value, nor does your body digest them well, which can cause big problems for your gut and overall health.
If you feel like you need a specific diet due to health reasons, remember to check with your doctor before jumping into any diet that may be a far stretch from the norm for you, especially if it involves a major reduction in calories, fat or protein.
Now, that you have taken some time to think about your diet, let’s get into the best leg workouts for women that will also work the butt and core.