At what weight/bmi will my thighs stop being fat? Taking bets

bendyourkneekatie

So after gaining a couple kgs over the last year I’m back at calorie counting, mfp is giving me 1200 calories and I’m eating roughly 50% exercise calories (I’m a distance runner, exercise calories can be huge). Since I’m back on the weight loss train I’ve decided that rather than an arbitrary number, my goal will be to finally eliminate the body fat I hate and that just won’t seem to shift: my thighs.
I’ve hated my legs since I was 8. I feel with the amount I run I deserve legs I like.
So I’m gonna stick at this till my thighs shrink or I hit an underweight bmi, whichever comes first (as in, I’m not gonna go into the underweight bmi range for this). What I wonder is, how low do I need to go?
My bmi is currently 20.85. My lowest bmi has been 19.9
I’m guessing I’m going to need to hit the bottom of 19 to see improvement.
Has anyone else had success getting rid of that one area that just won’t go? I’d really like to reduce chafing, wobbling, and not feel self conscious in running shorts finally. And maybe fit pants without them falling off my non-existent hips or squeezing my thighs ridiculously.

Foxes1994

For me I had to get very close to underweight for me to be slightly satisfied and even then I still decided it wasn’t good enough. Be careful with choosing a specific body part to pick at, it can turn into body dysmporphia really quick and then it will never be good enough. Instead of hating that body part try to find reason why you love your thighs.

jasonpoihegatama

How come you don't do full deep squats, and lugers, box step up ?

yirara

You know, this might not happen. If genetics determine that you wear your padding on your legs you'd have to go way underweight to get the legs you want. You could build muscle on your legs to make them less jiggly, but that won't help against stubborn fat.

mlinci

OP, is it you in your profile pic?

Even without considering the profile pic, most people’s advice will - should - boil down to “the only thing wrong with you is your perception of your body”. You seem to be healthy, sporty and of ideal weight. That is absolutely fantastic and worth celebrating.

neugebauer52

I noticed my first weight loss on my fingers - I can wear my wedding band again! Now I wonder if my pinky - toe is next. I don't think you can hope for weight loss in a specific area - unless you choose serious fat / skin removal surgery or lose a limb.

yirara

neugebauer52 wrote: »

I noticed my first weight loss on my fingers - I can wear my wedding band again! Now I wonder if my pinky - toe is next. I don't think you can hope for weight loss in a specific area - unless you choose serious fat / skin removal surgery or lose a limb.

This. I have a near-six-pack at a BMI of 21.6-ish... my ribs and collarbones show big time. And I carry all my weight on my thighs. if I wanted slim legs... well.. I had a BMI of 19.5 at one point in the past. It just didn't happen.

Deviette

There are various factors that will effect how big your thighs are. Genetics and ethnicity are a large part of that. When you already pretty light, chances are that you will just have thighs that look like that and you probably will never be happy with how they look. I hate to say it, but I just can't face seeing someone setting themselves up for disappointment like that.

smolmaus

yirara wrote: »

I’ve hated my legs since I was 8.

This makes me sad. I'm sorry you felt that way at such a young age.

yirara wrote: »

This. I have a near-six-pack at a BMI of 21.6-ish... my ribs and collarbones show big time. And I carry all my weight on my thighs. if I wanted slim legs... well.. I had a BMI of 19.5 at one point in the past. It just didn't happen.

Same. Well, past me was the same I have to poke around for a rib at the minute. Some (most) women just aren't built for catwalk bambi legs and a thigh gap and there's no point trying to teach elephants to climb trees.

Clothes not fitting right is a thing I understand, its frustrating, but the problem isn't with your body it's with this same expectation that women are identical shapes just scaled up and down. Get annoyed at the clothing companies not your legs!

sardelsa

I went really low. I lost a lot of muscle and still held on to problem areas and looked worse (no muscle with fat on top = not a good look for me). I would not recommend.

Instead I gained muscle. Over the course of many bulk/cut cycles I actually have less fat now in my problem areas than before and I'm at least 12lbs heavier. Plus I have my glutes and curves back.

xxzenabxx

I agree with Sardelsa. You need to build muscle! Too much cardio with little/no resistance training will give us flabby looking legs. It’s not about weight, it’s about body composition. Start lifting weights 3 times a week. I was 126lbs when I was a teenager and I had a flabby body. Now I’m 152 lbs and I’m way more ‘toned’ if that’s the word women like to use. I’m aiming to lose 22 lbs of fat to reveal more of this nice muscle. Also you might want to look into body dismorphia. From the picture your body looks totally fine!

Noreenmarie1234

yirara wrote: »

neugebauer52 wrote: »

I noticed my first weight loss on my fingers - I can wear my wedding band again! Now I wonder if my pinky - toe is next. I don't think you can hope for weight loss in a specific area - unless you choose serious fat / skin removal surgery or lose a limb.

This. I have a near-six-pack at a BMI of 21.6-ish... my ribs and collarbones show big time. And I carry all my weight on my thighs. if I wanted slim legs... well.. I had a BMI of 19.5 at one point in the past. It just didn't happen.

I know you didn't mention it but this post made me think of other posts people have about wanting the "thigh gap". I have not had a "thigh gap" even when I was underweight in the past. Some people have more narrow hips, making their legs appear not as slim as others. I have learned to accept my shape. You may be able to get the look you want without being underweight, but just keep in mind some people can never achieve the "thigh gap stick leg" look due to hip width. (I know that may not be exactly what you mean by thin legs, but I am just using it as an example)

RoxieDawn

At the weight you are in profile pic, you are not carrying much body fat at all, you've got super lean abs and your legs look quite lean as well.

Running does not build much muscle in our legs, but lifting does. Does lifting guarantee that you will lose most of the body fat in your thighs, I cannot say, it still hasn't for me 5 years later. I use my lifting for better performance as genetically I will not ever have defined muscle tone in my legs, I carry most of my body fat lower glutes and my legs all the way down to my upper knees.

Instead of looking for aesthetically pleasing legs, being able to do what I love is more important which one is running long distance. But as you get older (I'm 50) being hormonally balanced and being able to do what you love becomes more important than dipping down to low body fat ranges which also is difficult to maintain.

Give recomp a try, no need to lose more weight.

evileen99

xxzenabxx wrote: »

I agree with Sardelsa. You need to build muscle! Too much cardio with little/no resistance training will give us flabby looking legs. It’s not about weight, it’s about body composition. Start lifting weights 3 times a week. I was 126lbs when I was a teenager and I had a flabby body. Now I’m 152 lbs and I’m way more ‘toned’ if that’s the word women like to use. I’m aiming to lose 22 lbs of fat to reveal more of this nice muscle. Also you might want to look into body dismorphia. From the picture your body looks totally fine!

Yep, to get the legs you want, you need to put in some serious weight training on your lower half. Running isn't going to do it.

LoPotion

I have a BMI of 18.7 and I'm still pear-shaped. I've always been self-conscious of my hips and thighs, but with no more weight to lose, I had to face reality. Sometimes, we've just gotta make peace with our genetics and love ourselves, girl.

Maybe give strength training a go. If I have to live with big thighs, I'm going to make darn sure they're strong and firm.

kgb6days

I carry my highest fat percentage on my thighs. Always have - and unless I have it sucked out I always will. Even when I am nearly underweight. The only thing that helps me is building the muscle in my thighs with weight training. It will help your running too

Cassandraw3

I agree with others have said above. Losing weight will not make you any happier with your legs. Weight training will build muscle to make them look more defined. If it is a thigh gap you are going for, that is just not practical for some women. As another member of the thick thigh club, through lifting I have learned to love more what my body can do that what it looks like.

ceiswyn

Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »

I know you didn't mention it but this post made me think of other posts people have about wanting the "thigh gap". I have not had a "thigh gap" even when I was underweight in the past. Some people have more narrow hips, making their legs appear not as slim as others. I have learned to accept my shape. You may be able to get the look you want without being underweight, but just keep in mind some people can never achieve the "thigh gap stick leg" look due to hip width. (I know that may not be exactly what you mean by thin legs, but I am just using it as an example)

And from the opposite perspective - I do have a 'thigh gap', even though my BMI is around 24 and I carry my weight in my thighs. But I also have wide hips, so my thighs are just further apart to start with!

(...and I have collarbones so prominent I can actually tuck my fingers behind them to hold my arms in place when I'm doing crunches, and you can count my upper ribs, and yet I still have fat on my thighs, stomach and bum. That is just the way my fat distribution goes; my mother's is the same.)

yirara

Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »

yirara wrote: »

neugebauer52 wrote: »

I noticed my first weight loss on my fingers - I can wear my wedding band again! Now I wonder if my pinky - toe is next. I don't think you can hope for weight loss in a specific area - unless you choose serious fat / skin removal surgery or lose a limb.

This. I have a near-six-pack at a BMI of 21.6-ish... my ribs and collarbones show big time. And I carry all my weight on my thighs. if I wanted slim legs... well.. I had a BMI of 19.5 at one point in the past. It just didn't happen.

I know you didn't mention it but this post made me think of other posts people have about wanting the "thigh gap". I have not had a "thigh gap" even when I was underweight in the past. Some people have more narrow hips, making their legs appear not as slim as others. I have learned to accept my shape. You may be able to get the look you want without being underweight, but just keep in mind some people can never achieve the "thigh gap stick leg" look due to hip width. (I know that may not be exactly what you mean by thin legs, but I am just using it as an example)

I actually do have a bit of a thigh gap. But as you say: because I have a very wide pelvis. Still my padding sits on my thighs. A massive amount on the inside, and also quite a bit on the outside. Front and back are fairly ok though Nothing I can do about it. It's just what it is.

BuffMom84

Um, if that's really you in your profile picture, I don't think you have anything to worry about! My legs have been big my whole life (because of my dad) and I learned by now that there's no way they're ever going to look how I want them to. However by doing squats, deadlifts, etc. I can make them stronger and less jiggly at least. Everyone has something on their body they don't like. Also, I didn't know "thigh gap" was still a trend. That's so 2004!

endermako

You can't spot reduce. You are already at a healthy bmi, my recommendation is to do a recomp

Pipsqueak1965

I think you are a bit dysmorphic - your thighs are slim! As is your body. I am like that too - bloody hate my thighs! Apparently they aren't fat, but that's how I see them.

TavistockToad

You might have a bit of fat on your thighs, but you don't have fat thighs.

tulips_and_tea

Admittedly, I've said in the past that I "hated" my legs due to IMO too much fat on my thighs so I'm trying to NOT be a hypocrite here, but this: "I’ve hated my legs since I was 8. I feel with the amount I run I deserve legs I like" completely contradicts the fact that you're a long distance runner! Your legs, exactly the way they are now, enable your activity level. I've worked on being grateful for what my legs do for me. Visually nit-picking them is a complete waste of my time.

Panini911

I hear you! seriously what is with these thighs :P

But for the record - I see the photo in your profile and i'd be SOOO happy if my legs/thighs looked like that. that's like 100x nicer that my thighs

My legs and arms are where my body likes to keep the weight last too it appears. It's even worse with the bit of saggy skin on top of all the fat on the legs now. Ditto the arms I can see definition under there but lots of loose skin with fat around it still there.

I don't think i'll ever be super happy wearing shorts or shorter skirt even when I am done with the weight loss. Oh well.

FL_Hiker

What in the world is a thigh gap?

TavistockToad

FL_Hiker wrote: »

What in the world is a thigh gap?

When you have your feet together, if your thighs don't touch, that's thigh gap.

Phirrgus

A couple of years ago I saw some photos of recomp results, some women and some men. OP, you should look some up. One younger woman after a year or so of following a lifting program, the results were pretty spectacular. Her weight stayed the same.

endermako

TavistockToad wrote: »

FL_Hiker wrote: »

What in the world is a thigh gap?

When you have your feet together, if your thighs don't touch, that's thigh gap.

which is totally genetics. some of us can be sticks and still not have a thigh gap

Alassonde

I am 5' 4", and even at 114 pounds I had a belly. I actually don't think I can get rid of it without going to severely underweight. Weight training did help a little, at least gave me a butt to balance it out. It's the first place fat settles and the last place it leaves for me.

mom23mangos

Nope, even at a BMI of 18.6 I still carried what little excess fat I had on my inner thighs. I've never been able to see muscle definition in my legs. I'd have to go pretty far underweight I think and I'm not willing to do that. Instead, like others have said, I try to celebrate what they can do. I have strong, powerful thighs. Your legs (which look great to me btw) are able to carry you over far distances. Show 'em some love.