Machines to Use for Slimming Your Legs

Gym machines offer a variety of ways to get in your daily exercise and work nearly every part of your body. Several machines can be used to help you slim your legs and achieve your fitness goals. Keep in mind that slimming only your legs or "spot reducing" is not a realistic goal. Instead, you must work to slim your entire body and think of slimmer legs as a positive side effect.

The elliptical is a machine that requires the continuous use of your leg and arm muscles to achieve a cardiovascular workout. Place your feet on the pedals and steady yourself with moving handles if they're available; if not, grasp the hand rails. Most machines will automatically turn on once you start to glide the pedals. Adjust your resistance and incline; the higher they are, the more challenging your workout, which means the more calories you'll burn. Once everything is set, simply continue pedaling at a challenging pace for at least 30 minutes. You can mix up your workout by pedaling backward for a few minutes every so often.

The treadmill is another cardio machine that you can use to blast calories and slim your legs. You can walk on this machine, you can jog or run at a moderate intensity for a prolonged amount of time, or you can really push yourself with interval training. This involves periods of work and recovery. For example, after a five- to 10-minute warm-up, adjust the speed to a near sprint. Go at this intensity for 30 to 90 seconds then slow down to an easy jog. Allow yourself to recover for one to two minutes then repeat the sprint. Continue the cycle for 10 to 20 minutes. If walking is more your style, you still need to remember to challenge yourself -- don't simply walk slowly on a flat surface. Instead, adjust the incline and/or the speed so you really have to work to keep your pace. Walk for at least 30 minutes.

Strength training may not seem like a good idea if you're trying to slim down, but it's actually a very effective way to make your body tighter and smaller. Unlike fat, muscle requires energy to maintain itself, which means that the more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism. Strength training will help you build muscle and increase your metabolism, which, in turn, will help you burn fat and slim your legs.

The leg press machine targets nearly every leg muscle. Adjust the weight to a challenging resistance then position yourself on the machine with your back flat. Grasp the handles and place your feet on the platform. A narrow foot stance will work your quadriceps more intensely while a wider stance will incorporate your inner legs. Exhale as you press through your heels to extend your knees. Inhale and slowly return to the starting position. Complete two to three sets of eight to 12 repetitions.

The leg extension machine targets the quadriceps muscles on the front of the thigh. Adjust the weight to a challenging resistance then sit on the machine. Grasp the handles, place your legs beneath the roller pads and straighten your back. Exhale as you press your shins into the pads to extend your knees. Pause at the top of the movement then carefully return to the starting position. Complete two to three sets of eight to 12 repetitions.

The leg curl machine works the hamstring muscles on the back of your upper leg. Adjust the weight then sit tall on the machine and grasp the handles. Position your legs on top of the roller pads and exhale as you press your calves into the pads to flex your knees. Slowly return to the starting position. Complete two to three sets of eight to 12 repetitions.