Those extra pounds around your buttocks, the fat stored in your thighs, that stubborn saddlebag area… The lower body is often the area that bothers us most. You can’t choose where you lose fat, but good habits can help you look after your figure as a whole. Diet, hydration, self-massage, walking and exercise: here are our tips for looking after your lower body every day.
Load up on fibre and protein
To start, cut back on fast-release sugars (fizzy drinks, pastries, sweets), which bring lots of calories but little nutritional value. Focus instead on vegetables and low-sugar fruits, rich in fibre. Also include protein from lean meats, fish, eggs or pulses at every meal.
Cut back on salt
If your legs tend to feel swollen and heavy in the evening, water retention may be the cause. If it happens often, have a chat with your GP. Either way, try to cut back on salt in your diet. Avoid adding extra salt to your meals and replace it with spices instead. And whenever you can, opt for home-cooked food over ready meals, which are packed with hidden salt!
Drink regularly
Drinking plenty of water every day is one of the basics of good everyday habits. Aim for one and a half to two litres of water per day. If you rarely feel thirsty, make a habit of sipping small glasses of water throughout the day without waiting until you feel thirsty. For a little variety, you can also drink cups of green tea, a pleasant hot drink. It contains caffeine, so go easy on it later in the day if you’re sensitive to it.
Massage yourself
Self-massage, particularly the well-known pinch-and-roll technique, is a good habit to adopt for the lower-body areas you want to work on. To do this, use our Pack Anti-Cellulite, which replicates the pinch-and-roll effect. Super easy to use, it fits easily into your routine. Find out more — click here!
Walk
This tip may seem simple, yet it would be a shame to underestimate walking! We’ll admit it: it works your muscles harder when done at a brisk pace. But don’t be fooled: walking offers real benefits:
- It will get your legs moving: the movement of walking works the muscles in your calves with every step, which feels good when your legs tend to feel swollen and heavy.
- It will tone your muscles: when practised regularly (30 minutes to 1 hour a day) at a brisk pace, it becomes a workout in its own right. It engages the muscles in the body, starting with the legs, thighs, hips and glutes! So lace up a comfortable pair of shoes and rack up those kilometres!
- Finally, walking fits easily into your day: a short walk after lunch or dinner is a good habit to get into.
Plants: what you need to know
Women naturally store more fat in the lower body. Why? In preparation for a possible pregnancy, and because women have a higher concentration of fat cells around the hips and thighs. But that feeling of extra volume can also come from water retention which, thanks to gravity, tends to settle in the lower body. When it comes to plants, you’ll often hear about ash, orthosiphon, mouse-ear hawkweed, meadowsweet, cherry stalks or red vine. These are traditional uses: their effects on water retention or on your figure have not been validated by the European health authorities. If your legs often swell, speak to your GP, and ask for their advice before starting a course of herbal remedies. Some of these plants are among the ingredients in our Cellulite Capsules, Slimming Tea and Detox Infusion, to be enjoyed as part of a varied and balanced diet.
Stop yo-yo dieting
Let’s say it once and for all: repeated dieting is bad for your figure. Cycles of deprivation are hard to sustain. You restrict your body for a period of time, then return to normal — or even slightly indulgent — eating. It’s a vicious cycle: frustration builds up, which pushes you to diet again… and so on. Since most women store fat in the lower body, it doesn’t take much to accumulate fat on the thighs and love handles. Stop dieting — instead, relearn how to eat healthily and in a balanced way, chewing properly and allowing yourself to enjoy food. It’s a more gradual approach, but a far kinder one for your body.
Exercise
There’s no secret to it. To look after your figure, you need to move! Be smart about it and choose a sport you enjoy that, ideally, works the lower body in particular. This could be fitness classes, running, rollerblading, cycling or swimming. The key is to genuinely enjoy your workouts — to the point where they become an essential part of your life! Because it’s over the medium to long term that you’ll notice the difference in your silhouette.
Watch your sugar intake
Sugar is best enjoyed in moderation. A little is fine — it’s the excess that’s worth watching. Why? Because sugary foods are often high in calories and low in nutritional value. So keep an eye on your sugar intake and hunt down hidden sugars. Fast food, ready meals, fizzy drinks and alcohol are particularly high in sugar, so it’s best to limit them in your everyday diet. If you have a sweet tooth and need a little something each day, go for a square of dark chocolate, a little homemade jam or a fresh fruit salad rather than ice cream or a chocolate bar. This small dietary rebalance helps you build good habits — without giving up life’s little pleasures.
Vary your fruit and veg
Vary the fruits and vegetables on your plate: don’t hesitate to add artichoke, leek, asparagus, pineapple (found for example in our Slimming Capsules), fennel, papaya (our Anti-Cellulite Drainer contains some, in fact), black radish and aubergine. None of them works on its own when it comes to your figure, but vegetables and low-sugar fruits provide fibre, water and vitamins for few calories. Pick your favourites and incorporate them into your diet regularly.
Your everyday lower body routine
To build your lower body routine, combine these tips: a plate full of vegetables, low-sugar fruits and protein, less salt and sugar, water throughout the day, a brisk walk and a sport you enjoy. Add pinch-and-roll self-massage on the areas you’d like to target.
THE COACH’S TIP
To complement the tips mentioned in this article, we recommend our thigh treatments. The Cryo Slimming Gel combines a gel texture with a cooling effect. To complete your routine, combine the Cryo Gel with the Night Slimming Treatment, designed for use while you sleep.
The cooling gel that leaves thigh skin firmer
- Immediate cooling effect: menthol kicks in as soon as it is applied, then skin is firmer under your fingers (keep the gel in the fridge for even more intensity)
- Caffeine & Lipothetic®, a patented active ingredient, at the heart of a formula designed for thighs and buttocks
- Sorbet texture: it absorbs faster and makes the feeling of freshness last longer
The evening slimming treatment for thighs and buttocks
- Targeted night treatment for thighs & buttocks, to massage in every evening before bed
- A formula with Ginger and Remoduline® (a patented active) to apply every evening
- Helps smooth and firm the skin
Frequently asked questions
Why is it so hard to slim down your lower body?
Women naturally store more fat around the hips and thighs, where there are more fat cells. Water retention can also play a part, thanks to gravity. Repeated dieting doesn’t help either, as it keeps the yo-yo effect going. If in doubt, ask your GP for advice.
How can I slim down my lower body?
Combine several habits: a plate full of vegetables, low-sugar fruits and protein, less salt and sugar, water throughout the day, brisk walking, a sport you enjoy and self-massage. You can’t choose where you lose fat: it’s consistency over several months that makes the difference.
Can I tone my bum without exercising?
Exercise is still a real ally. Without dedicated workouts, you can already go for a brisk walk every day: brisk walking works the legs, hips and glutes. Also keep an eye on your diet, cut back on salt and sugar, drink regularly and practise self-massage.
Do I need to go on a diet to slim down my lower body?
It’s best to avoid repeated dieting: it is hard to sustain over time. Instead, relearn how to eat well and in a balanced way, chewing properly and enjoying your food. Focus on fruit, vegetables and protein, and keep an eye on sugar and salt.
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Useful categories: Slimming the Legs, Slimming Tips.
