I agree with the comment about stretching to help lengthen your muscles and make them leaner like yogas and pilates. I had that same problem in high school, i was always active in real good shape and ran everyday and had huge calf muscules and i joinged a yoga and pilates class and man my legs were amazing, of course they are not like that now 10 years, 2 kids and several, several pounds later, but my body is quick to gain and quick to lose and i've been doing stretching after every work out and do yoga 3xweek and will soon add the pilates to my routine. good luck
When my dad was weight training he told me that the way to bulk muscle was to do low reps and high weight. The opposite is true for toning. To tone muscle you do low weight and lots of reps... for example, I do 20-30 lbs one leg at at time, but do 3 sets of 20-30.
Elliptical machines, treadmill, cycling... those should help to burn fat all over and tone the lower body as well. Part of the trick is muscle confusion, so try and vary your routine and I wouldn't overdo any one machine for any length of time. So... let's say you were doing 1.5 hrs on the bike everyday... instead maybe try 30 mins on each of the elliptical, treadmill, and bike.
I was a dancer in my youth and my daughters dance as well now. Pilates and Yoga are some of the exercises that dancers use to try and keep their core tight as well as lengthen their leg muscles. I have always fought thick thighs that run in my family. Pilates helped alot ( I wish I'd known about it when I was younger).
Good luck!
I kinda know what your goin through. I also, have larger legs and theres nothing you really can do about it, its just how your built. Exercising them more wont make them any smaller, exercise will make them gain muscle and possibly add to them. Maybe change up ur routine with some more fat burning, cardio instead. Fat falls off you the body evenly no matter what part of you are exercising. So bust out a new cardio routine and Im sure you'll see some results!
I'll trade you my big stomach for your big legs! :)
Seriously, though, carrying weight on the lower half of your body (hips and legs) means you're carrying healthier fat, so be thankful for that. However, it's also the hardest fat to get rid of.
Unfortunately, you can't spot reduce, so it's just a matter of losing weight and also learning to live with having heavier legs.
That said, you could try doing some stretching--post exercise--on your legs to make them leaner. It may work. It may not. I had a roommate who stretched her way into a very lean body, but she's also been blessed with a body that does whatever she wants. However, the idea is to lengthen the muscles in your legs, which may be bulking out and making your legs look heavier than what they are.
Look into stretching and yoga poses. You can probably find some great leg stretches just by Googling it.
If you figure this out please let me know lol