Everybody wants to have a pair of nice-looking legs we don’t have to hide, right?

Unfortunately, relatively few of us are blessed by nature (or should we say genealogy) with naturally good looking legs.  The truth is – for most of us it takes some work to give our legs that “toned” look.

The good news is that there are numerous ways to help our legs to stay healthy, shapely and pleasing to the eye.

Don’t worry; this is not going to be a trip down vanity lane.  The bottom line is that our legs are very important and should not be neglected.  They have to carry and support us every day for our entire life.  So naturally, they deserve some of our attention and we should care about their wellbeing.

To ensure your legs are the best they can be here are eight important tips for things you can do that will vastly benefit the wellbeing and appearance of your legs :

You guessed right – Wear compression stockings – or support hose whenever you can (except when you are sleeping or laying down) to boost circulation in your legs and specifically to help your veins not have to work so hard with transporting the blood back to your heart.  In addition, wearing support hosiery with graduated compression can help prevent or reduce any swelling, spider veins or varicose veins in your legs.

Today’s fashionable compression and support hose are nearly indistinguishable from traditional fashion hosiery and can be worn for all occasions from a professional workplace to a night on the town.

Exercise regularly – Your legs and feet like to be in motion to get that toned look.  To accomplish this you can engage in activities such as walking, hiking, running, swimming, cycling or any combination thereof.  Doing these 30-45 minutes a day and at least 3-4 times a week will produce great results.

If you are not used to exercising or having any medical conditions you should consult with your physician first to get recommendations on how to ease into it and build your exercise regimen gradually.

Put your legs up! – This one may sound contradictory to the above.  But yes, give your legs and feet a break and lift them up above the level of your heart (6 to 12 inches) whenever there is an opportunity.  This will help the blood circulation in your legs and believe it or not it will also improve the appearance of your legs.

Don’t sit or stand still for long periods – If you have an occupation that requires you to sit or stand in the same place for most of the day this may be difficult.  If possible, get up at least every hour and exercise your legs.  If you can’t move around try to do some of the stationary exercises as described in our post “Tips for Preventing Economy Class Syndrome or Coach Class Syndrome as a Result of Long Distance Air Travel” to stimulate circulation in your legs.

Avoid hormone treatments if possible – Hormone replacements and birth control pills can have side effects of narrowing your blood vessels, weakening the walls and valves in your veins and cause varicose veins.  Consult with your physician before making any changes and to explore alternatives you may have.

Hydrate your body properly – Drink eight 8 ounce glasses of water each day (8 x 8 rule), which is slightly more than what the average adult loses throughout the day.  Avoid or severely limit the consumption of sugary, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages.

Cleanse and moisturize your legs the right way – Exfoliating with a loofah or sponge every time you shower or bathe for radiant and smooth legs.  Don’t forget to use moisturizer (best are those with ginger or pine extracts) after each cleansing.  You will notice the effect.

Avoid tanning the natural way – Protect your legs (and skin in general) from direct sunlight.  Use effective sunscreen (containing zinc oxide) for protection against the damaging UVA and UVB rays when you must be out in the sun.  If you must have the tan look or need to hide imperfections opt for spray or cream tanning solutions.