Leave 25% of your food on the plate at every meal, says weight-loss expert James O. Hill, PhD, author of The Step Diet. Save what's remaining as leftovers for a yummy lunch the next day. If you normally eat 2,000 calories or more each day, youâll cut 500 calories.
The muscles on the front of the thighs are called the quadriceps. They consist of the vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, rectus femoris and vastus lateralis. Each of these muscles get built up whenever you extend your knee. During running, this takes place when your lower legs move from a bent to straight position.
Running takes your legs through a large range of motion, working them from top to bottom. The quadriceps in the front of your thighs work to stabilize your legs and propel you forward, while the hamstrings in the back of your legs bring your legs back and up as part of your stride. Moving these large muscle groups quickly while running helps raise your heart rate.