Help! how to lean out?
bbunny95
Posts: 18 Member
Hi guys, i'm an 18 year old girl, my journey into fitness and working out started about two years ago, i decided that running would be the best for me because it's cardio and it burned a nice ammount of calories, problem is... i now have bulky legs that do not go well with the rest of my body and are not what i expected or wanted at all!
I need your help, what kind of workouts should i do to get leaner legs, i always had a very delicate frame as you can see in my pic my arms are very thin, so i really am out of porportion and have no idea of what to do! :frown:
I need your help, what kind of workouts should i do to get leaner legs, i always had a very delicate frame as you can see in my pic my arms are very thin, so i really am out of porportion and have no idea of what to do! :frown:
0
Replies
-
Hi guys, i'm an 18 year old girl, my journey into fitness and working out started about two years ago, i decided that running would be the best for me because it's cardio and it burned a nice ammount of calories, problem is... i now have bulky legs that do not go well with the rest of my body and are not what i expected or wanted at all!
I need your help, what kind of workouts should i do to get leaner legs, i always had a very delicate frame as you can see in my pic my arms are very thin, so i really am out of porportion and have no idea of what to do! :frown:
Based on this post and your entries in other threads I doubt that the problem is "bulky legs". Distance running is not generally a bulk producing activity nor is bulk easy for a female even with deliberate attempts to gain. What I've noticed in your posts is a low goal weight, no form of upper body exercise, an admission of an unhealthy relationship with food, and indications of a skewed body image.
First fix your relationship with food and body image issues. Until then any workout or eating plan is working towards an unhealthy goal.0 -
I agree with brianpperkins0
-
Hi guys, i'm an 18 year old girl, my journey into fitness and working out started about two years ago, i decided that running would be the best for me because it's cardio and it burned a nice ammount of calories, problem is... i now have bulky legs that do not go well with the rest of my body and are not what i expected or wanted at all!
I need your help, what kind of workouts should i do to get leaner legs, i always had a very delicate frame as you can see in my pic my arms are very thin, so i really am out of porportion and have no idea of what to do! :frown:
No endurance runner I know has bulky legs - male or female.
0 -
I suggest eating at a surplus and lifting heavy weights to build some muscle everywhere else to create better proportions.0
-
i decided that running would be the best for me... i now have bulky legs....
Really?! :huh:my arms are very thin so i really am out of porportion and have no idea of what to do! :frown:
Add muscle to your very thin arms perhaps?0 -
Guys listen my problem with food is eating way too much because i love it, but about a month ago i started controling my portions and it helped me because it basically "resetted" my stomach size, wich means that i'm not as hungry as i used to be, it's not THAT kind of unhealthy relationship you might think as in eating disorder.
My goal weight is 50 because it's the weight i've had before i started eating like crazy, and my ideal body is a lean delicate frame i'm not meaning getting like all bony, and my legs are bulkier than the ones that those runners have, i wanted them to be like that, i have short aductors so they get really thick with little exercise, the rest of my body is pretty lean except for that part, i was just asking if there was a way to lean them. I'm not planning in adding many more muscles to my arms they're already toned, and so is my stomach.
I appreciate your worries guys but i just decided to clear this up cuz everyone is thinking the same and i understand why0 -
Goal weight... is... 50 pounds???? :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway:
Get help OP.0 -
Goal weight... is... 50 pounds???? :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway:
Get help OP.
I believe she meant 50 kg (I took a look at her profile), which is 110#
Even that is low for some. How tall are you OP?0 -
Goal weight... is... 50 pounds???? :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway:
Get help OP.
I think, upon looking at her profile, she means 50kg, so about 110 pounds.
That aside I'm still all 'wha?' at her thinking those runners have bulky legs.0 -
Goal weight... is... 50 pounds???? :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway:
Get help OP.
I believe she meant 50 kg (I took a look at her profile), which is 110#
Even that is low for some. How tall are you OP?
Post history says she's about 5'6"0 -
Goal weight... is... 50 pounds???? :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway:
Get help OP.
I believe she meant 50 kg (I took a look at her profile), which is 110#
Even that is low for some. How tall are you OP?
Post history says she's about 5'6"
Thanks0 -
OP, all I can say is that I don't believe you are truly going to get what you really need off of the forums. I whole heartedly believe that you should see a doctor/therapist.
I know this is not what you're original post was about, ignore if you like, just looking out for you.
I've had an as ED (Binge eating that eventually turned into Bulimia) since I was in middle school, finding a good therapist a year ago has done me wonders. My mind is healthy now, so now, I can finally work on my body the healthy way.0 -
In another post you state you have trouble sticking to a regular exercise routine, but now you've run so much your legs have become bulky? You can't have it both ways, you know. And, as others have said, endurance runners have lean thighs, period. It has to do with the type of muscle fibers activated by different activities.
You need to start being real with yourself. Your problem is not that you eat too much. Your body image is skewed in a potentially very harmful and damaging way. I really hope you seek some professional help.0 -
OP a full body pic showing this disproportianate figure should clear this up and lead to better suggestions.0
-
i did not say those runners had bulky legs..i said the complete opposite i was explaning that theirs werent, seriously i think this is being a big misunderstanding, as i've explained i've got very short aductors muscles a thing that even impeded me from going on with ballet dancing, and that's why they actually are bulky, i was just asking if there was a way to lean them this is like a big snowball of misundersanding lol0
-
i'm defintly gona try and do that because this is escalating really fast lmao0
-
Guys listen my problem with food is eating way too much because i love it, but about a month ago i started controling my portions and it helped me because it basically "resetted" my stomach size, wich means that i'm not as hungry as i used to be, it's not THAT kind of unhealthy relationship you might think as in eating disorder.
My goal weight is 50 because it's the weight i've had before i started eating like crazy, and my ideal body is a lean delicate frame i'm not meaning getting like all bony, and my legs are bulkier than the ones that those runners have, i wanted them to be like that, i have short aductors so they get really thick with little exercise, the rest of my body is pretty lean except for that part, i was just asking if there was a way to lean them. I'm not planning in adding many more muscles to my arms they're already toned, and so is my stomach.
I appreciate your worries guys but i just decided to clear this up cuz everyone is thinking the same and i understand why
You understand why because deep down you know we're telling you the truth. Until you fix your relationship with food and body image issues it is impossible for you to move forward in a healthy manner.0 -
Guys listen my problem with food is eating way too much because i love it, but about a month ago i started controling my portions and it helped me because it basically "resetted" my stomach size, wich means that i'm not as hungry as i used to be, it's not THAT kind of unhealthy relationship you might think as in eating disorder.
My goal weight is 50 because it's the weight i've had before i started eating like crazy, and my ideal body is a lean delicate frame i'm not meaning getting like all bony, and my legs are bulkier than the ones that those runners have, i wanted them to be like that, i have short aductors so they get really thick with little exercise, the rest of my body is pretty lean except for that part, i was just asking if there was a way to lean them. I'm not planning in adding many more muscles to my arms they're already toned, and so is my stomach.
I appreciate your worries guys but i just decided to clear this up cuz everyone is thinking the same and i understand why
You understand why because deep down you know we're telling you the truth. Until you fix your relationship with food and body image issues it is impossible for you to move forward in a healthy manner.
No.. i understand why, because it sounds like a low weight but im not that much above it and i've been in that weight before, it's low for some but it's my natural weight, i do not have an unhealthy relationship with food, i dont binge and purge and i don't restrict...i think everyone is jumping into conclusions, i know you all mean well but you are all seriousy so far away from it ...my question was merely if it was possible to lean out my legs, because they are bulky from running due to my short aductors muscles, they are short so while the others create muscle and look like the ones in the pics, mine have the same ammount of muscle but in a shorter space, wich means they get thicker, but whatever seriously im not even worrying anymore of it ugh0 -
Guys listen my problem with food is eating way too much because i love it, but about a month ago i started controling my portions and it helped me because it basically "resetted" my stomach size, wich means that i'm not as hungry as i used to be, it's not THAT kind of unhealthy relationship you might think as in eating disorder.
My goal weight is 50 because it's the weight i've had before i started eating like crazy, and my ideal body is a lean delicate frame i'm not meaning getting like all bony, and my legs are bulkier than the ones that those runners have, i wanted them to be like that, i have short aductors so they get really thick with little exercise, the rest of my body is pretty lean except for that part, i was just asking if there was a way to lean them. I'm not planning in adding many more muscles to my arms they're already toned, and so is my stomach.
I appreciate your worries guys but i just decided to clear this up cuz everyone is thinking the same and i understand why
You understand why because deep down you know we're telling you the truth. Until you fix your relationship with food and body image issues it is impossible for you to move forward in a healthy manner.
No.. i understand why, because it sounds like a low weight but im not that much above it and i've been in that weight before, it's low for some but it's my natural weight, i do not have an unhealthy relationship with food, i dont binge and purge and i don't restrict...i think everyone is jumping into conclusions, i know you all mean well but you are all seriousy so far away from it ...my question was merely if it was possible to lean out my legs, because they are bulky from running due to my short aductors muscles, they are short so while the others create muscle and look like the ones in the pics, mine have the same ammount of muscle but in a shorter space, wich means they get thicker, but whatever seriously im not even worrying anymore of it ugh
My relationship with food has never been the best one, i get really carried away with food without thinking if it's good for me or not. " Two days ago you stated "(p.s: i do have an unhealthy relationship with food but im trying to work with it)".
Now you claim you don't. The fact you cannot get your story straight is telling. Chronologically you might be an adult ... physically you are still developing and your attitude shows a need for further maturation.
Distance running DOES NOT PRODUCE BULK.0 -
Who said she was doing distance running?
I can't see anything?
Sprinters tend to be muscular.
While running long distances can lead to some muscle loss, it's more than to be good at it, you need the lowest weight possible and that means as little muscle as possible.
Long distance running with inadequate nutrition IS the sort of workout that may lead to muscle loss, as it goes.
I doubt it was specifically related, but when I did a 32 mile trail ultramarathon while at a deficit (I did carb load the day before and ate plenty that day and the day after), I knocked 10% off my squats, which didn't recover until my 1000 calorie deficit was tapered off.
I suspect it was more down to fatigue and inadequate resources for recovery, however.
For the record, OP, the consensus on MFP is that you are allowed to:
Be happy being fat.
Desire to be muscular.
You are absolutely not 'allowed' to desire a slim and non-muscular look from what I've seen
I'm lucky enough that I'm a reasonably large framed bloke that suits a muscular look.
Just as, all so often 'fat shaming' gets all sorts of vitriol, from the very people that are happy to 'skinny shame'.0 -
Who said she was doing distance running?
I can't see anything?
Sprinters tend to be muscular.
While running long distances can lead to some muscle loss, it's more than to be good at it, you need the lowest weight possible and that means as little muscle as possible.
Long distance running with inadequate nutrition IS the sort of workout that may lead to muscle loss, as it goes.
I doubt it was specifically related, but when I did a 32 mile trail ultramarathon while at a deficit (I did carb load the day before and ate plenty that day and the day after), I knocked 10% off my squats, which didn't recover until my 1000 calorie deficit was tapered off.
I suspect it was more down to fatigue and inadequate resources for recovery, however.
For the record, OP, the consensus on MFP is that you are allowed to:
Be happy being fat.
Desire to be muscular.
You are absolutely not 'allowed' to desire a slim and non-muscular look from what I've seen
I'm lucky enough that I'm a reasonably large framed bloke that suits a muscular look.
Just as, all so often 'fat shaming' gets all sorts of vitriol, from the very people that are happy to 'skinny shame'.
Yeahhhh. Telling someone who is 55kg and 5'6" and has admitted in other threads to having issues with food and feeling back about eating 1400 or so calories that they probably aren't bulky/probably don't need to lose weight is totally skinny shaming. You've totally got this figured out: it's not that she sounds like she has an unhealthy relationship with food it's that we all want her to be fat or muscular.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1298075-help-did-i-eat-too-much (the thread where the OP says they feel guilty about 1382 calories and is worried it will make fat grow.)0 -
Who said she was doing distance running?
I can't see anything?
Sprinters tend to be muscular.
While running long distances can lead to some muscle loss, it's more than to be good at it, you need the lowest weight possible and that means as little muscle as possible.
Long distance running with inadequate nutrition IS the sort of workout that may lead to muscle loss, as it goes.
I doubt it was specifically related, but when I did a 32 mile trail ultramarathon while at a deficit (I did carb load the day before and ate plenty that day and the day after), I knocked 10% off my squats, which didn't recover until my 1000 calorie deficit was tapered off.
I suspect it was more down to fatigue and inadequate resources for recovery, however.
For the record, OP, the consensus on MFP is that you are allowed to:
Be happy being fat.
Desire to be muscular.
You are absolutely not 'allowed' to desire a slim and non-muscular look from what I've seen
I'm lucky enough that I'm a reasonably large framed bloke that suits a muscular look.
Just as, all so often 'fat shaming' gets all sorts of vitriol, from the very people that are happy to 'skinny shame'.
Soooo....you read all this and what you hit from it is that you think the OP is a sprinter?
She's saying that she's got bulky abductors....at 5'5" and 110 pounds and she would like to find a way to atrophy her already very thin thighs to the point where no abductors are visible. Does this sound reasonable to you?0 -
is totally skinny shaming.
She says her unhealthy relationship with food is in relation to eating too much, not eating too little.
I know that pretty much all my problems with food are in relation to eating too much, HOWEVER, very occasionally I have had feelings of guilt and so on from overeating when trying to maintain a deficit.
Looking at the thread you linked to, it seems she took the advice offered and was happy with it - specifically stating she had 'freaked out' in the situation from feeling full, which she wasn't so used to. Overall seems a fairly reasoned and sensible response.
And yes for the rest, more interpretation without the facts .Soooo....you read all this and what you hit from it is that you think the OP is a sprinter?
I was giving another extreme example to balance the extreme examples already given. For your average person doing *some* running, it's quite likely they will increase muscle size a bit, I'd say - certainly from what I've seen.
I presume you're not seriously suggesting you believed she was an actual 'long distance runner' that specifically focused on doing the best she could in marathons and longer events?
I don't like to pass judgement on people's desires for their own body image.
For instance, I'm not a fan of the vast majority of piercings and tattoos - but I don't go telling people it's bad to want to look like that.
I WAS pointing out that, as your post reinforces; around here there are some things that are considered unacceptable - wanting less muscle is one of them. I wasn't particularly offering a commentary on that point - it is what it is and I'm not going to be the one to try and change it, as noted by the way that this system happens to work just fine for me.0 -
is totally skinny shaming.
She says her unhealthy relationship with food is in relation to eating too much, not eating too little.
I know that pretty much all my problems with food are in relation to eating too much, HOWEVER, very occasionally I have had feelings of guilt and so on from overeating when trying to maintain a deficit.
Looking at the thread you linked to, it seems she took the advice offered and was happy with it - specifically stating she had 'freaked out' in the situation from feeling full, which she wasn't so used to. Overall seems a fairly reasoned and sensible response.
And yes for the rest, more interpretation without the facts .
I think you should find a thread with someone who doesn't have clear signs of disordered eating to try and make your 'MFP doesn't support being slim' statement, or at least take the five minutes to look through the OP's post history (Where shes admitted to having issues with food, being in recovery, that she shouldn't be trying to lose weight) before assuming that other people lack facts. Some of us clearly know about things not spoke about in this thread and have based our views on that.
It isn't that people are against her being 'slim' it's that she's already slim and wants to be slimmer at the cost of muscle mass. No one is saying 'you have to build more muscle or be muscular' they're saying 'being willing to sacrifice muscle for the sake of weighing 5kg less isn't healthy'. If you really think that supporting people no matter what is more important that supporting healthy tendencies and mentalities well...hey, that's all you.0 -
Who said she was doing distance running?
I can't see anything?
Sprinters tend to be muscular.
While running long distances can lead to some muscle loss, it's more than to be good at it, you need the lowest weight possible and that means as little muscle as possible.
Long distance running with inadequate nutrition IS the sort of workout that may lead to muscle loss, as it goes.
I doubt it was specifically related, but when I did a 32 mile trail ultramarathon while at a deficit (I did carb load the day before and ate plenty that day and the day after), I knocked 10% off my squats, which didn't recover until my 1000 calorie deficit was tapered off.
I suspect it was more down to fatigue and inadequate resources for recovery, however.
For the record, OP, the consensus on MFP is that you are allowed to:
Be happy being fat.
Desire to be muscular.
You are absolutely not 'allowed' to desire a slim and non-muscular look from what I've seen
I'm lucky enough that I'm a reasonably large framed bloke that suits a muscular look.
Just as, all so often 'fat shaming' gets all sorts of vitriol, from the very people that are happy to 'skinny shame'.
Nice use of hyperbole in place of fact on your part.
Eating 1400 calories is not overeating for a 5'6" still developing teenager .... "bulky" does not happen with the type eating and exercise she claims to do " my problem is, i have trouble sticking to a regular workout routine, like in a whole week i might go once or twice for a 30 minute jog and do some ab exercises but nothing that will make big change. " (note, no sprinting mentioned) ... so basically her own words discredit every you've stated in several poorly thought out posts.0 -
is totally skinny shaming.
She says her unhealthy relationship with food is in relation to eating too much, not eating too little.
I know that pretty much all my problems with food are in relation to eating too much, HOWEVER, very occasionally I have had feelings of guilt and so on from overeating when trying to maintain a deficit.
Looking at the thread you linked to, it seems she took the advice offered and was happy with it - specifically stating she had 'freaked out' in the situation from feeling full, which she wasn't so used to. Overall seems a fairly reasoned and sensible response.
And yes for the rest, more interpretation without the facts .Soooo....you read all this and what you hit from it is that you think the OP is a sprinter?
I was giving another extreme example to balance the extreme examples already given. For your average person doing *some* running, it's quite likely they will increase muscle size a bit, I'd say - certainly from what I've seen.
I presume you're not seriously suggesting you believed she was an actual 'long distance runner' that specifically focused on doing the best she could in marathons and longer events?
I don't like to pass judgement on people's desires for their own body image.
For instance, I'm not a fan of the vast majority of piercings and tattoos - but I don't go telling people it's bad to want to look like that.
I WAS pointing out that, as your post reinforces; around here there are some things that are considered unacceptable - wanting less muscle is one of them. I wasn't particularly offering a commentary on that point - it is what it is and I'm not going to be the one to try and change it, as noted by the way that this system happens to work just fine for me.
So the answer is YES, you do believe that being 5'5" & 100 pounds is a reasonable goal for the OP. Got it.0 -
I think you should find a thread with someone who doesn't have clear signs of disordered eating to try and make your 'MFP doesn't support being slim' statement, or at least take the five minutes to look through the OP's post history (Where shes admitted to having issues with food, being in recovery, that she shouldn't be trying to lose weight) before assuming that other people lack facts. Some of us clearly know about things not spoke about in this thread and have based our views on that.
I've looked through the OPs history now and the one post I hadn't seen before isn't particularly relevant.
I don't see anything about being in recovery from an eating disorder relating to eating too LITTLE - the suggestion seems to be getting over eating too MUCH - something a lot of us have come from (says me that ate 4000 calories today, intentionally - but I've also had decent periods where either all the time (a while ago) or on alternate days (recently) my calorie goal was similar to the OP's, despite me being a much larger bloke. Didn't see anyone making a fuss over that.
And yes, again you're making my point :laugh: on this site you are now allowed to want /less/ muscle. That is the point I was making - so we agree?
By the way, if you've got some decent science back up it not being 'healthy', I'd love to see it. Though I haven't suggested it IS nor isn't healthy - merely that it's a taboo on this site, to which it seems you agree.
brianpperkins :
Who said 1400 calories WAS overeating?
I certainly wouldn't say that because I don't believe that.
Again, I was offering the opposite of the similarly ridiculous (I would suggest) comments about long distance running - when it turns out the only distance mentioned is 30 minutes :laugh:.
As you apparently like facts and not 'hyperbole' perhaps you could take the time to READ my post, then point out where what I've said is 'discredited'.
I do apologise that I obviously didn't make it clear that enough that I was using an opposing example, rather than specifically describing the situation of the OP - next time I'll try and use a flashing sign or something?0 -
So the answer is YES, you do believe that being 5'5" & 100 pounds is a reasonable goal for the OP. Got it.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
You jumped straight to your conclusion in one nice little hop there.
Nice going!
Wait, no.Not at all. I was, as it goes, criticising those that DO jump to conclusions.
That's actually just what I think is stupid.
0 -
Also, again, I should note that people ARE agreeing with me, it seems?
It's just that they don't like that I'm saying it out loud?0 -
I think you should find a thread with someone who doesn't have clear signs of disordered eating to try and make your 'MFP doesn't support being slim' statement, or at least take the five minutes to look through the OP's post history (Where shes admitted to having issues with food, being in recovery, that she shouldn't be trying to lose weight) before assuming that other people lack facts. Some of us clearly know about things not spoke about in this thread and have based our views on that.
I've looked through the OPs history now and the one post I hadn't seen before isn't particularly relevant.
I don't see anything about being in recovery from an eating disorder relating to eating too LITTLE - the suggestion seems to be getting over eating too MUCH - something a lot of us have come from (says me that ate 4000 calories today, intentionally - but I've also had decent periods where either all the time (a while ago) or on alternate days (recently) my calorie goal was similar to the OP's, despite me being a much larger bloke. Didn't see anyone making a fuss over that.
And yes, again you're making my point :laugh: on this site you are now allowed to want /less/ muscle. That is the point I was making - so we agree?
By the way, if you've got some decent science back up it not being 'healthy', I'd love to see it. Though I haven't suggested it IS nor isn't healthy - merely that it's a taboo on this site, to which it seems you agree.
brianpperkins :
Who said 1400 calories WAS overeating?
I certainly wouldn't say that because I don't believe that.
Again, I was offering the opposite of the similarly ridiculous (I would suggest) comments about long distance running - when it turns out the only distance mentioned is 30 minutes :laugh:.
As you apparently like facts and not 'hyperbole' perhaps you could take the time to READ my post, then point out where what I've said is 'discredited'.
I do apologise that I obviously didn't make it clear that enough that I was using an opposing example, rather than specifically describing the situation of the OP - next time I'll try and use a flashing sign or something?
I don't know what I find more amazing: That you think someone is 5'6" and 55kg because they have issues over eating (That's the very cusp over underweight by BMI) or that you think my issue with someone being willing to cut muscle mass to be at an underweight BMI proves your point that MFP is anti muscle. If the OP was overweight or obese and was willing to drop muscle to get to a healthy spot I wouldn't say a word but when someone so desires having a certain number that is medically underweight that cutting muscle mass seems A-ok then warning bells do go off. You're trying to ignore context, or shape the context to suit your point, and I just don't get it.
I suggested that you find a different thread for your soapbox because in this one you're dealing with someone who everyone but you seems to think has some issues she needs to work on and trying to make a broader point. The OP isn't the person for you to piggy back your point off of. You wanna get mad at Skinny Shaming fine, I'd be the first person to cheer you on (I've personally called out all manners of body shaming on this site, skinny shaming included) but I don't think this is the place for 'broader' points.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 426 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions