Forget the thigh gap-I’ll take strong legs over skinny any day! The power of strong legs lies in the ability to simply move better. Think about how much you walk around, trek up and down stairs, and go from sitting to standing all day. Every single one of those movements will become easier the more you work out your legs, particularly your thighs or what would include your quads, abductors,  (outer thighs) abductors (inner thighs), and even your hamstrings. To get you to peak performance in and out of the gym, check out the best types of exercises to build up strong thighs.

Below are 3 Ways to Build Strong Thighs:

Combine Strength and a Cardio

People get fearful of putting on too much muscle and having big legs, so they turn to cardio for the solution to that issue, also if you are looking to change the composition of your legs more muscle and less fat – you have to do a combo of both strength and endurance training. In other words, while you can run around town as much as you want, or hit the elliptical too, you still have to pick up some weights if you want to strengthen your thighs.

For Strong Thighs, Learn to Love Lunges

Lunges copy the movement pattern you take when you go for a walk, shifting weight from one foot to the other. And they seriously tone your thighs, while strengthening most muscles of your leg. Start this exercise out bodyweight style, just like a squat, until you’ve built up the confidence and form to take it up a notch.To up the ante on your lunge, add weight, holding a dumbbell or kettlebell at your chest, or one on each side, with arms straight down by your sides. You can also place the back foot on a box or bench behind you to turn your lunge into an Bulgarian split squat, which ups the stability challenge.

For Strong Thighs, Step on a Machine

Almost any cardio machine-the treadmill, elliptical, stair climber, and rower- will help you build stronger thighs. Your legs do a lot of the work after all. Experts recommends working at an all-out effort for 30 seconds, then resting for another 30. Try to hit 10 rounds. If you are continuously working then resting, your body will burn fat to keep up with the work put into each interval. To really make your legs feel like Jell-O, I suggest opting for the bike or stairmaster.