What to Do to Lose Weight in the Thighs & Butt Using Steppers

It doesn't matter if it's swimsuit season or jeggings time, having a great-looking butt and thighs is important year-round. If you are trying to lose weight off your thighs and butt, consider a stepper machine. By adjusting the difficulty level you can pursue different methods of exercise, all of which can be effective for losing weight.

  1. How to Lose Weight

    • Unfortunately, there is no such thing as spot reduction -- meaning you can't force your body to only lose weight in your butt and thighs. Cutting calories as part of a healthy diet and increasing your activity level both contribute to general weight loss. When you eat fewer calories and exercise effectively, you lose weight over your entire body. However, muscles burn more calories than fat, so increasing your muscle strength in your butt and thighs certainly helps get rid of unwanted calories -- and makes your posterior firm and attractive as well. Increasing the resistance in your stepper machine forces you to use more muscles to get the job done, providing you with a targeted muscle-building exercise.

    Starting Small

    • According to the American Council on Exercise, if you want to lose weight, then you should aim for 45 minutes of exercise between five and six days a week. This can be done at a moderate intensity, so don't fret that you have to run up the imaginary mountain your stair stepper provides every day. Just work hard enough so your heart beats at a rate no less than 55 percent of its maximum. To determine your maximum heart rate, subtract your age from 220.

    Ramping Up

    • If you are already exercising regularly and still aren't getting the results you want, try high-intensity interval training, or HIIT. According to MayoClinic.com, interval training burns more calories than regularly paced cardio. HIIT training increases your metabolism, to help you burn calories long after your workout is done. Intervals are easy to add. After a five-minute warm-up, increase your speed or resistance so your heart is pumping at 85 percent of its maximum for one minute and then ease up to 65 percent of its max for one minute. A 30-minute workout using intervals is more effective than putting in the same time at a regular speed.

    Boosting Your Circuit

    • Steppers can be included in a resistance-based circuit routine to help you burn more calories during weightlifting. Keeping your heart rate up while you perform your strength-training exercises helps you burn more calories while you get stronger. When you circuit-train -- meaning switch through exercises in a repeated circuit -- include stepping at your maximum speed as one of the exercises. This will blast your heart rate, which will then stay elevated while you pump those muscles with the other exercises in your circuit. Increase your butt and thigh muscles and lose weight throughout your body, all in one workout.