It's not what you want to hear, but it has to be said. While you can tone up those thighs and hips of yours, that fat will still be there. So doing leg lift after leg lift won't get you the results you want -- it has to be a combination of diet, fat burning, and toning. We wish it weren't so, but it is! Everybody's body is a bit different. Some start losing fat on top, some on bottom, some on their core, some on their extremities. In other words, this may take some patience. You may see your stomach shrinking before your thighs. If that becomes the case, relax and take a breath. You're on the right track. . This is goal one. To get to those svelte thighs of yours underneath those saddlebags, that fat needs to be blasted away. The most efficient way of doing that? Cardio. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. 4 or 5 times a week for at least 30 minutes is ideal, but it can be broken up into smaller bits, too. Cardio takes on dozens of different forms, not just running! You can get on the elliptical, go for a bike ride, walk, swim, box, play tennis, heck, even go dancing! As long as your heart gets pumping, it's good. If long workouts aren't your thing, take solace in high-intensity interval training. It actually has shown to burn more calories in a shorter amount of time. So take 15 minutes on the treadmill (or wherever) alternating between walking and sprinting. Your heart will even keep pumping afterward, burning calories by itself! . Once you get rid of the fat, you gotta work on what's underneath it -- or you'll just end up with that unfortunate "skinny fat" look. So after, before, or at a completely different time than your cardio, start pumping that iron. If dumbbells aren't your cup o' tea, you can use your own body to strengthen and tone itself. Planks, squats, lunges, burpees -- they'll all start firming you up. And then there's pilates and yoga -- awesome activities that will show results, too! eep it spicy. This whole workout thing gets pretty boring if you don't mix it up. And doing the same thing over and over might get you results initially, but then they stop and you end up just running around in circles, getting nowhere. To beat the body plateau and the mind numb, start cross training. In other words, do a whole bunch of different stuff! It's the best way to stay motivated, too. So take a break from the gym and hit the pool. Switch up your treadmill for the elliptical. Go on a hike, play tennis, or go rock climbing. Take a free trial class at a pilates studio, try hot yoga, or sign up for Zumba. The options are endless! Even though your schedule may only allow for an hour or so at the gym, that doesn't mean you can't find little opportunities throughout the day to get active. You'd be surprised how many calories you can burn doing a few yoga stances while you watch TV! Little things do add up. So start parking far away at work, taking the stairs, walking the dog the long way around the block, giving the house a good scrub down, and dancing while you get ready. Still skeptical? The Mayo Clinic team has said that the calories burned in everyday life are more important than they ever realized. They're people to trust!

Summary:
Know that you can't really spot reduce. First, burn away the fat Then, build muscle . Turn anything into activity.