What Types of Belts Help You Lose Weight for the Thighs?

Unfortunately, belts used to melt away the pounds don't promote weight loss. Even if you wrap both thighs in these devices, you're not going to see much of a change in your measurements. The only proven method to reduce the size of the thighs is to lower your total body fat percentage.

Unlike exercise belts worn around the midsection, slimming belts for the thighs are typically worn when the body is at rest. Most manufacturers will tell you to wrap the thighs with the belts to retain heat. The heat retention is said to tone and firm the thighs, hips and buttocks, as well as improve both blood and lymphatic circulation within the legs. While there's nothing wrong or dangerous in wearing these belts, they're not doing anything to reduce body fat. The only sure way of doing this is to generate a caloric deficit.

It takes a deficit of 3,500 calories to lose 1 lb. of fat. If you use more calories than you take in, you help the body reach this deficit, which can promote weight loss and slim the thighs. To hit this deficit, you need to reduce your caloric intake and increase your level of physical activity. A slimming belt does neither.

Instead of wearing these belts, look for ways to cut calories from your diet. One of the easiest ways of doing this is to reduce portion sizes. If you fill your plate with less food at each meal, you lower your caloric intake and are more apt to hit that deficit needed to lose fat. On top of this, try replacing high-calorie foods with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean cuts of meat. Each one of these options is lower in fat, which helps reduce the caloric value of food.

While there's no way of spot-reducing the thighs, you can incorporate certain exercise into your workout routine known to strengthen and tone this area of the body. Swimming, biking, walking, jogging, cross-country skiing, hiking and even dancing all cause the legs to work against your own body weight. This not only causes the body to burn additional calories, which can help reduce body fat, but it also can help to add muscles. The addition of muscle can make the legs shapelier, thereby improving their appearance. Try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week.