Downey:
Very few women have legs so muscular they have to worry about bulking them up. As I have explained on numerous occasions' bulk is nothing more than muscle with fat on top. The idea is to lose the fat and expose the muscle and only then will you have the legs you're looking for.

Over the years I've witnessed many women avoiding weightlifting like the plague because they were worried their thighs would end up looking like tree trunks.

I wish I had a nickel for every time I've seen a female doing leg presses, squats or lunges with only their body weight because someone told them it would keep their legs from bulking. Why anyone would believe that doing something at half speed would yield results is beyond me.

Let's stop and think for a minute, when was the last time that less effort equaled more results? That's right it doesn't, and neither does lifting light weighs that aren't challenging. I'm not saying you have to lift hugeweights like a power lifter. Nor would I ever suggest you do so. I am simply saying that regardless of whether you're male or female you can get great benefits from lifting weights with good form that challenge you're body.

The same principle should be applied to you're cardiovascular workout. If you are only doing light jogging that's not very hard you're body will get used to your program and results will stop after a week or two.

Instead find a level that's difficult but can be done without complete exhaustion. A simple way to find this level is to figure out where you're target heart rate zone is and then try and stay in that range. To find you're target heart rate zone subtract your age from 220 and then multiply the answer by 70-75%. The answer will give you a baseline to get started. It's important to remember that conditioned athletes are usually on the high end of the intensity curve because they're already in shape. In this case you may want to use 75-80% for your baseline.

It doesn't matter what exercises you choose as long as you pick from the ones that burn boatloads of calories. These are obviously the ones that require the most body movement. My favorites are the elliptical, arch trainer, row machine, treadmill and outdoor jogging. Each of these exercises requires both arms and legs to work equally.

Remember sometimes it takes a little intensity to get the results you're looking for. Lifting weight will add the missing piece.

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