-Annonymous

Many women athletes, once they end competitive play, work on reducing the size of their muscles in different parts of their bodies. As both a softball and soccer player, you are most likely performing power movements in order to train your legs. These power movements probably involve lifting very heavy loads for a few repetitions while weight training and performing explosive movements, such as pressing off of your pivot leg when sprinting.

The amount of muscle in your thighs can be reduced, but it may hamper your athletic performance if you are still active in softball and soccer. As a power athlete, you have chiefly fast-twitch muscle fibers (Type II). Most of your muscle type will not change, as the type of muscle fibers do not predominantly change over the course of one's life. Basically, you are born with the primary type of muscle fiber that you will always have; however, a small amount (and let Alice emphasize a very small amount) may adapt to your change in workout regimen and transition to slow-twitch muscle fibers (Type I), found predominantly in endurance athletes.

If you are no longer playing or simply have a strong desire to decrease the muscle size in your quadriceps and hamstrings that make up your thighs, you need to stop lifting heavy weights while strength training. As opposed to performing one to four sets for three to five repetitions at a very heavy weight (85 - 100 percent of your one-lift maximum, which is the most you can lift for only one repetition, after which, you cannot repeat the exercise), you need to begin doing three sets for 15 - 20 repetitions at a low weight (approximately 50 - 70 percent of your one-lift maximum). Below are some leg exercises to include in your training (many of which are described in detail in the Related Q&As listed below):

• squats
• leg press
• leg curls
• leg extensions
• seated and standing calf raises
• adductor
• abductor

Another option to lessen the size of your thigh muscles is to introduce distance running into your training regimen, as long as you do not have or are not prone to any joint pain in your legs. This activity can transform the size and structure of your legs. This is because distance runners adapt to this form of endurance training by developing leaner muscular legs (even though the muscle type will predominantly remain the same). You may consider starting with one mile and then build up to five to ten miles during a training session.

You can check out this resource for more info:

"If You Don't Use It, Will You Lose It?" on the American Council on Exercise web site

People may be genetically predisposed to have strong leg muscles in their thighs. This might not only apply to you, but also may be a reason for your athletic success. Although your legs may not look traditionally feminine, it's important to recognize their beauty in performing strong, powerful moves when scoring a goal or running to home. Since it sounds as if you're still active in softball and soccer, you might come to terms with your priority — to stay competitive in these sports, to play at a more leisurely level, or to stop for the time-being. Depending on what you choose will determine whether, how much, and for how long you can transform the muscle mass in your thighs.

The bottom line is that you need to prioritize, whether it's more important for you to have strong muscles that serve you athletically, or smaller muscles and less athletic prowess (or power). If you desire both, and you cannot change what is in your genes, then you may be able to change how you view your powerful, capable body.

Alice

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