You don't need a bunch of expensive home gym equipment to tone and tighten your thighs. Instead, reach for a resistance band, an inexpensive workout tool available at any sporting goods store. You'll increase the intensity of your workout so you can do fewer repetitions. Talk to your doctor before trying any new exercises, particularly if you have health conditions or injuries.
Side-to-Side
Lie a resistance band horizontally across the floor, then stand in the center of it with your feet at about the width of your shoulders. Lift the right end of the resistance band with your left hand and the left end of the band with your right hand, crossing the band in front of your legs. Lower your arms so your hands are slightly bent and resting next to your hips. With your right foot, take one step to the right. Take one step to the right with your left foot, keeping an even amount of space between your feet. Take 10 more steps, five with each foot, then take 10 steps to the left.
Plie
Stand up straight with your feet a little wider than shoulder-width apart and your toes turned out. Hold one end of a resistance band in each hand, stretching the band horizontally in front of your chest. Lift your arms up in the air and rotate your palms so they are pointing to the wall in front of you. Pull the resistance band, working your hands toward the center until it is pulled tight. Stand on the balls of your feet, then bring your heels back down to the ground as you bend your knees into a squatting position. At the same time, bend your elbows and bring your fists to the level of your shoulders. Rise back onto the balls of your feet and lift your arms up in the air, repeating the exercise. Do an additional 20 repetitions.
Penguin Walk
Place a resistance band on the floor in a horizontal line, then stand on top of it with your feet at about the width of your hips. Bend over and grab one end of the resistance band in your right hand and one in your left. Bend your elbows so they are pointing out at your sides and hold your fists in front of your stomach. Take one step in front of you with your right leg, then lift your right leg up two inches off the ground, pressing against the side of the resistance band to your right. Place your right foot down a few inches in front of your left foot, then lift your left foot and press it against the side of the resistance band to your left. Repeat eight times.
Sitting Fly
Sit down on a yoga mat or towel with your legs extended in front of you. Place the center of a resistance band under your feet, then pull the ends of the band up so you are holding one end in each hand. Lean back a few inches, then bend your knees as you raise your legs in the air. Your calves should be parallel with the ground. Keep your elbows straight as you extend your arms into a "V" shape, with your palms facing the wall in front of you. Press your arms back so they are straight out to your sides at the height of your shoulders, then bring them back to the original "V" position. Repeat 20 times.
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