Has anyone been able to achieve leaner legs following the program? I am on week 7 and have noticed my thighs getting even bigger.

[surbhidec24]

Normal enough? Because running is supposed to help you reduce calories and develop leaner legs. Right?

[caj62 Graduate]

Since taking up running my calves have become thinner and less wobbly, but my thighs have developed and look bigger but firmer! Guess it might be different for everyone!

[BettysbOps Graduate]

Wellllllll...my cellulite has gone, my bumcheeks are no longer 2 sad pancakes, and my calves are more defined but my legs aren't smaller, just stronger. My quads are seemingly getting bigger which kinda expands the diameter of my thighs but I'm cool with it.

Strong, not skinny is the way. The fat will melt away as long as you keep tabs on your diet. I'm only on w4r3 and I can see changes to the positive already.

[surbhidec24 Graduate in reply to BettysbOps]

That's the thing, in the initial weeks I noticed that happening to me too, but as I have proceeded it seems to be going reverse..

[BettysbOps Graduate in reply to surbhidec24]

That's great to know and will probably allow me to stop pretending I'm Sasha Fierce in the mirror every day

[GoogleMe Graduate]

When you say 'noticed' did you measure them before the programme and have you measured them again?

My calves got slimmer because there are boots I couldn't zip up which I now can again, and in the course of C25K alone, whilst I didn't lose a *lot* of weight I did go from obese to overweight and lost my 'bustle' (with moderate and relaxed calorie control too)

[misswobble Graduate]

You will become slimmer if you keep running. I have always had legs like tree trunks - with ankles to match - but I have lost nearly four stones. My legs are a shadow of their former selves. I could kick myself for waiting for donkeys years to find out how easy it is to lose weight with running! I had fat hips, fat belly, and the top of my legs were really wide but not now. My big bum has gone too. You get more definition in your legs cos you can actually see your bones as the fat comes off. It's a real eye opener to see the new you. I'm liking it!!! Fat lump to racing snake. It's all good!

[surbhidec24 Graduate in reply to misswobble]

After you graduated, did u increase ur running frequency per week?

[Hidden]

I'm not sure any amount of running will get rid of my bad boy cankles!!

On my second turn around on Couch to 5k I have taken body measurements as well as weight and percentage body fat to see what difference there is ... will be interesting to see exactly what physical changes there are.

[kickibro Graduate]

I don't think mine are bigger or smaller but they are more toned. I have long legs, long skinny legs in fact (I take after my late Dad) and I am seeing a little more bulk around my knees. This increasing muscle is, I think, a sign that my legs are strengthening and I am pleased about that as I hope to increase my distance.

[scruttons Graduate]

I have got leaner legs (now too lean!!), but kept the stomach I hate so much. I think we are all different and whilst we all benefit from the programme with increased fitness, we all carry our weight in different ways and have parts we personally may dislike and invariably they will be the difficult ones to shift. I have to say that the stomach has improved but will always be the place I carry weight and I think that most of us have seen improvements combined with being careful with what we eat too. Good luck, it is worth it to be more fit and less wobbly!

[Hidden in reply to scruttons]

Pilates will help to reduce the stomach and so will cutting out wheat. This is where I carry most of my weight and when I'm on track (very low carb for me) with healthy eating and Pilates my stomach disappears and the whole body looks more toned. My legs have never changed regardless of my overall weight. Best wishes.

[liquoricet]

Well my legs are great after a year of running - I keep looking at them in the bath in disbelief! In fact, my friend who's a size 10 and I were comparing running legs and they're remarkably similar, funny as I'm a size 18!!

[surbhidec24 Graduate in reply to liquoricet]

Awesome! Did u increase your weekly frequency after you graduated?

[ajwyld Graduate]

I've lost 8kg and become a lot sleeker thanks to a combination of diet and running over the last year. But the one measurement that has obstinately refused to budge is my thighs... (10cm each off waist, hips, and bum - ZILCH off thighs). But things are much less "jiggly", so I suspect that there is less fat and more muscle involved. I fear that I'm just made that way...

[liquoricet]

Yes, I have continued to do a long run (5k+ gradually increasing to 10k since November) at weekends, 5k on a Tuesday and 3k intervals on a Thursday.

[littlehelen20 Graduate]

I always swam a lot when i was younger so have had fairly muscular thighs but having lost nearly a stone over the last 3 months my waist size has dropped and i NEED a belt wiv so many of my clothes including dropping 2 dress sizes in short shorts and its come off my stomach but my thighs are as large as ever. Think they are def becoming more toned tho so fingers crossed they'll tone up and slim down.

[misswobble Graduate]

My belly has slimmed down to, which I'm pleased about, and I now have a definite hollow under my ribs which is ok by me

I run every other day, just as with C25k, but I can run further and longer now. I started running for the first time back in October but I was already on a diet and had lost quite a bit of weight, which is what made me think I had a run in me.