reducing leg muscle...? I want skinny legs :(

TXHunny84

Ok so I was always heavy- and I hold the majority of my extra weight in my calves thighs and hips. Well I've lost a bunch of weight over the last couple years and recently when I started dieting again. I read a forum a while back about how people who are heavy will build bigger muscle in their legs from carrying all that weight around- then after they've lost the weight their legs are still really big because those muscles were enlarged still from the extra weight they used to carry....

My question is- now that I have lowered my body fat%....how to I lower my muscle mass% in my legs so that they're slim and shapley and not still looking bulky?.... Wearing shorts and skirts is sooooo not happening with my big wide calves and thighs.

. I mean I'm a size 6 now in pants and I still can't wear tall boots because of my huge calves!! Asking for wide calf-boots at the store...embarrassing, no thank you.

Girls with this problem- you understand me right?....
thanks

erickirb

The problem you may run into trying to lose muscle is it most likely will come from somewhere other than your legs first, as it sounds like you naturally have larger legs. Just like fat, the body will chose where it loses from.

I would not recommend this but the best way to lose lean muscle is to eat at a large caloric deficit and do a ton of cardio, and don't lift much weights, also increase carb intake and lower protein as a % of caloric intake. Again I do not recommend this, I would say stay in a caloric deficit and continue lowering BF% so the only thing left on your legs is lean muscle, with very little fat.

Klem4

I don't know if there's a way or an answer, but I feel ya. I've always had large calves and thighs, even when I was thin! I've learned to embrace them though, and they don't really bother me anymore, since I'm gaining more definition.

sandwichcat

I can totally relate to this!, I can be as skinny as I would like to go, but my thighs will ALWAYS be big.. despite everything else (including the bottom of my legs) being small!

chivalryder

I imagine the bes thing you will have to do is wait and let your body make the adjustments itself. Don't do any strength training on your legs, and keep the cardio fairly light. Now that your body has less weight to move around, the muscles with tone themselves, and if not getting worked hard, the muscle mass may eventually go down.

However, this will be an extremely slow process. It could take a year or longer.

wee_emski

I have the same problem! I am small, but I've always had 'muscly' legs, it seems to be a genetic thing. I'm just going to work on toning them up because unless I got way too skinny everywhere else, I don't think dieting/losing weight would really reduce them much. But I so here you with the boots. Mine are a bit better now, but still don't own knee high boots. I compromise by getting mid calf cowboy boots/ ruched boots which are designed not to be super tight.

sillyhilly

Me too. I used to figure skate and have always had very strong muscular but thick calves and thighs. I've noticed the last few years though that they've slimmed some. I'm no longer skating and really walking is my main exercise. So cutting out the leg strength exercises helped... though it did take a long while to notice the difference.

MB_Positif

I've always had muscular legs even when I was a size 2 when I was younger. It's potentially genetic in your case, not a repercussion for being heavier. I love my muscular calves though...makes my ankles look cute and tiny

19nicole89

I feel ya. i can lose as much weight as i want but i will ALWAYS have wide hips, a big *kitten*, and thick thighs. oh joy.

Trechechus

I have "strong" legs too, and I used to HATE them. Then I came to realize that they are really a blessing. I love the power in my legs, and since I've taken up running, I like that they carry me so well. I'm not ever going to be a dancer with legs like mine, but that's come to be something that I have come to accept. Also, it's partially my bone structure. I see girls with super skinny legs, and notice that their knees are bout half the width of mine. Well, since that's mostly bone... that's that.

I'm not sure that I really like the sound of cutting down on muscle, since I find defined muscle totally sexy!

karensoxfan

I don't have this problem, so I can't relate, but don't forget if you intentionally lose muscle mass, your metabolism will decrease accordingly too, since muscle burns more calories than fat. I'd rather have "big" calves and ask for wider boots than have skinny legs and have to eat like a bird to maintain it.

Saffyra

Sadly, sometimes our genetics have more say in what our body looks like than we do.

Grats on your losses! And if you want boots, go in there and ask for them! No one will care that you want wide leg ones!

DrMAvDPhD

I have 17" calf muscle and 22" thighs (huge by many women's standards) and I wouldn't want to get rid of them. They look shapely and sexy. Muscle mass also increases your metabolism so I get to eat more. Sure, I can't wear some boots and skinny jeans, but who needs that? I look way hotter in heels and a short skirt than someone with smaller and softer legs!

LoraF83

What's with all the leg hating on MFP?

I understand about the tall boots - I have always had that problem, even when I was in high school and weighed 140lbs!

But since then, I've learned that my legs are fabulous! They are muscular, strong, and can take me anywhere I want to go. I can run for miles, take back to back spin classes, stand, walk, lift, etc. And I look damn good in heels and skirt.

Maybe you just need to start lifting some heavy weights to get some definition?

And, why are we ashamed to ask a store clerk for something that fits? That's what they are there for! And they make boots out of stretchy material too

Ladies - embrace your legs, train the heck out of them, and enjoy the results!! :drinker:

uk_ja

Keep the diet clean and balanced and build up to lots of long slow distance running and stretch a lot to lengthen those muscles.

Do not expect fast results, give it a year.

Rae6503

I'm guessing they aren't as big as you think. We are our own worst critics.

Second, we aren't all the same. We aren't all going to look like Victoria's Secret models. Embrace who you are. Be the best you, you can be. (I know it's cheesey). Learn to love your muscular legs. Muscles are awesome.

Di3012

Ok so I was always heavy- and I hold the majority of my extra weight in my calves thighs and hips. Well I've lost a bunch of weight over the last couple years and recently when I started dieting again. I read a forum a while back about how people who are heavy will build bigger muscle in their legs from carrying all that weight around- then after they've lost the weight their legs are still really big because those muscles were enlarged still from the extra weight they used to carry....

My question is- now that I have lowered my body fat%....how to I lower my muscle mass% in my legs so that they're slim and shapley and not still looking bulky?.... Wearing shorts and skirts is sooooo not happening with my big wide calves and thighs.

. I mean I'm a size 6 now in pants and I still can't wear tall boots because of my huge calves!! Asking for wide calf-boots at the store...embarrassing, no thank you.

Girls with this problem- you understand me right?....
thanks

The body will fit the activity it undertakes - eventually.

This is why sprinters end up with muscley legs whereas marathon runners have slimmer legs and a racewalker will have even slimmer legs (albeit, all three physiques will have muscle but the "look" will be totally different).

The more the explosive power of the activity, the more muscley will the legs be. Your trick is to find the correct activity for you and thereby, eventually, your legs will slim down to your desired size.

Having said all that, it will not happen overnight and can take many months or years to get your desired effect as genetics will play a major role in the size of your legs.

ItsMeRebekah

I want skinny legs too but aint ever gonna happen! just the cards i was dealt. make them strong and they will be sexy

jillybeanruns

I have "strong" legs too, and I used to HATE them. Then I came to realize that they are really a blessing. I love the power in my legs, and since I've taken up running, I like that they carry me so well. I'm not ever going to be a dancer with legs like mine, but that's come to be something that I have come to accept. Also, it's partially my bone structure. I see girls with super skinny legs, and notice that their knees are bout half the width of mine. Well, since that's mostly bone... that's that.

I'm not sure that I really like the sound of cutting down on muscle, since I find defined muscle totally sexy!

^ This. I used to hate my legs and now that I'm a runner, I realize how much power I have in my legs. You won't get skinny legs, but you can get defined legs...and that's SO much better.

MrsBully4

I don't know why some ladies don't want strong legs. Your legs are awesome. ): They move you around. You can do so much more with a strong pair of legs than wear some particular brand of boots.

tracy1031

I keep trying to convince myself that the power in my quads is what's sexy!! But, that does not help me look good in anything cut above the knee. =-( I definitely don't want to lose muscle though, having more lean muscle mass helps keep your metabolism higher which equals better fat loss. I'd rather be solid than skinny and if this is the way I look because of it, I just have to learn to love it.

smessina7

Haven't you seen Charlotte from sex and the city? Sure, her thighs and hips are a bit bigger, but she is gorgeous and rocks her body regardless. Everybody has something they don't like. You're beautiful regardless!

phillieschic

I have thicker calves and hammies, too...and I'm also a size 6-8. I run and my calves don't seem to change much at all.

I used to joke and say that because of my legs, I am well grounded in a wind storm. :drinker:

I've pretty much learned to embrace the fact that these are the legs that I have...and if running 25-30 miles a week doesn't make them thinner, then NOTHING will!

OtekahSunshield

I have giant calves; they're so big that I can't get both my hands around them. I love them though! Sure I can't wear hooker boots or skinny jeans (gag me), but they're muscular and awesome!

olee67

Essentially, you can accomplish this with very high rep/very low weight and muscle starvation. Sounds extreme, but, let me explain.

Essentially what you need to do is train your slow twitch muscle fibers more than your fast twitch muscle fibers. You're goal then is to train in such a way that you are endurance training... Your ulitmate goal should be to do one set of 100 reps. The exercises you choose are up to you. Start off with five sets of 20 and work up from there until you reach 1 set of 100 reps.

Now, as far as post workout nutrition. For 3-4 hours after you workout, you don't eat protein. No protein, no muscle rebuild. You can eat protein before and 4 hours after, but, the key is to lean out your muscle, not replenish it. In other words. Eat a salad or chomp on a carrot to feel full...

Ramp up your cardio too. Shoot for something low impact and do it for at least 30 minutes 5 times a week.

Here's a link with a more step by step approach: http://www.livestrong.com/article/240846-how-to-reduce-muscle-size/

I too have big legs from hockey. When I get thing again, I'll have to start wearing pants that don't fit my waist so my thighs and butt can all get in there

LeenaRuns

I used to hate my big, muscular thighs all through high school and through my 20s. Now that I'm 30 and an avid runner, I am so proud of what these big, muscular thighs can do--I never thought I'd be training for a half marathon, but I am. Celebrate your legs!

vypeters

Your body shape is your body shape. It's like my poor daughter asking how she can reduce her EE chest - without surgery, she can't, and there's no surgery for our big calves.

I wear size 6 or 8 jeans (in boot cut) but need wide calf boots. But that's my body. Can't change it. Instead, learn to love your strong legs.

Kalraii

PENCIL SKIRT, HIGH HEELS AND ROCK IT! Sadly knee high boots don't suit (or fit often) me either. I detest mid calf boots on me too, they make my calves look bigger. BUT THIGH boots really do the trick (with jeans ofc!) Either that or sandals and heels (no clunky heels) with a skirt no higher than around my knees. If you strut side to side there is a bigger sway and I personally think it looks more... womanly? That's just how I perceive myself, however. The muscle will go eventually there are plenty of people who had defined legs that over the years with aging or a lapse in training get slimmer in the muscle department. You will too, but losing weight is faster than reaching perfect definition. Best of luck!

taso42

It sounds as if you're trying to change your body type, which isn't really possible. Genetics governs a lot of this. As long as you're fit and lean, you will look good.

blinkinglight

I understand because my legs are very muscular. My calves have always been big. I've just accepted this as how my body is going to be. As I lose fat I'm really starting to like my legs because you can SEE the muscle in my thighs and, well, I just think that's pretty awesome.

Muscle is going to keep burning fat and muscle is something you want to have! I wouldn't try to lower your muscle mass %.

Diary_Queen

You can order wide-calf boots online if you're embarrassed, but I have the same thing.... when I was at my heaviest (327 lbs.) my calves were each 25" around! I bought the most extra-wide wide calf boots with stretchy side goes and back laces -- had to take the laces completely out and still use boot stretcher spray to stretch them another 1" just to barely get them to zip up. Yes, it's tough... most jeans fit 'ok' until I sit down, then they slide up a bit and get stuck on my hugh calves. Im not particularly embarrassed by mine because as far as muscle definition goes, that's one of my most rockin places... but I know how hard it is to dress very large calves.