Ladies with THICK legs

I have really thick legs, I always have. I refuse to wear shorts even when its 100+ degrees. I am 5'4'' and 159 pounds. My calves are 16.75'' and my thighs are 25 1/2''. I recently lost 24 pounds but my calves haven't changed at all!! I just want to be able to wear shorts and cute summer dresses and feel good in public, hell even in the privacy of my own house. I hate feeling like EVERYONE stares at my GIANT calves! Anyone have any pointers or going through the same thing?
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Replies

  • tracydr
    tracydr Posts: 528 Member
    Muscle is smaller than fat. Doing strength training will decrease the circumference of both the calf and thigh.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    Right, muscle is more condensed than fat so strength training is an option.
  • rightkindofwrong
    rightkindofwrong Posts: 16 Member
    My calves ARE muscle though, under some fat! They are pretty solid.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    I changed my response because personally I don't see anything wrong with your legs.
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    get some bike shorts to wear under your cute skirts, and rock those super awesome "THICK" legs honey. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a power house! I know this ad is talking about her butt...but check out those sexy legs!

    Nike-Women-Ad_zpsea8496a6.jpg
  • woodml1
    woodml1 Posts: 199 Member
    I also have ginormous calves. Mine are about 15.5 inches in girth and they do not shrink... ever. I'm trying to learn to love mine. People compliment them frequently (which I feel like is weird because they're just calves!) and I've been trying to say "thank you" instead of "OMG I hate them." Hopefully saying it will translate into meaning it!

    As for my thighs, those did shrink with weight loss. I've since regained some weight and use body-glide religiously when wearing skirts, dresses, or shorts to avoid the discomfort of chub rub.
  • Pie319
    Pie319 Posts: 129 Member
    I hate feeling like EVERYONE stares at my GIANT calves! Anyone have any pointers or going through the same thing?

    omg me too! i can't buy boots
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    wanna trade calves?

    i want mine biggah.
  • Erin_goBrahScience
    Erin_goBrahScience Posts: 1,215 Member
    Lean to love your imperfections.
    Learn to be comfortable in your own skin.
    Work to improve.
    Realize you can improve your appearance but you will always be you and that's beautiful. :heart:
  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member
    First of all, if your profile picture is you, you look beautiful and your legs are amazing.

    You should be rocking short shorts and heels with those stems!

    ...as for how to make them smaller? Lower body fat. You *can* lower LBM too if that's the sort of thing you're into.
  • mariposa224
    mariposa224 Posts: 1,241 Member
    I changed my response because personally I don't see anything wrong with your legs.
    ^^ This. And...
    If that's you in your profile pic, and I'm guessing it is, how can you say that your legs haven't changed? They are visibly smaller in the picture on the right...
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Stop worrying about it. They don't look like big to me. I'm sure no one even notices much less thinks they are "giant". People look at and take in your entire image not just the one tiny detail you seem to focus on. Rock some shorts and skirt. No one is perfect. We are all different. Having thicker legs isn't "wrong". A little self acceptance goes a long way.
  • Accept your shape!!! You look awesome!
  • terem00
    terem00 Posts: 176 Member
    I'm 5'4 and my legs are slowly shrinking.
    I lost 75lbs and I started measuring after 30lb weight loss. At that point my thighs were 25 and calves were 17.
    Now after the last 35lbs my thighs are 21 and calves are 14.5.
    So far it's taken nearly 2 years to get to this point. My legs look big as I have very big leg muscles in my thighs however have no visible muscle in my calves so it just looks like fat calves.
    I am happy though because just last winter I bought my first pair of knee high boots :smile:
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    No one is staring at your calves. Your legs look fine. They're not even that big.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Based on your profile picture, I would say you have some very attractive legs, and perhaps, you should stop being so hard on yourself.
  • DeltaZero
    DeltaZero Posts: 1,197 Member
    I came.... looking for thick legs.


    Finding none, I'm leaving now.

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  • jmy1975
    jmy1975 Posts: 56 Member
    I have the same problem and living in AZ (where I grew up) I just got used to wearing pants in really hot weather. I tend to where capris and longer skirts and dresses. I also don't see a problem with your legs, but I understand because I have the same issue. I build muscle really easy in my legs and they just get bigger instead of smaller. I even tried running and that helped lean them out a bit. Also yoga and pilates gives you longer leaner muscles rather than bulk. Hope that helps.
  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    I hate feeling like EVERYONE stares at my GIANT calves! Anyone have any pointers or going through the same thing?

    omg me too! i can't buy boots

    I could never buy boots either because my calves are big (from being overweight, not muscle). I found some at Lane Bryant that fit me great. They cut the calves bigger and the shoes are just normal shoe sizes.
  • esthergrub
    esthergrub Posts: 12 Member
    I hate feeling like EVERYONE stares at my GIANT calves!

    People aren't looking at you. They're too busy looking at themselves.

    A larger, muscular body is the potential for strength. Make something of your potential. And quit worrying about other people! :smile:
  • sarah44254
    sarah44254 Posts: 3,078 Member
    omg me too! i can't buy boots

    It does suck to not have any boots fit. Really. They are so cute.

    I am not happy with my legs. 5'4" like you, with 17" calves and 28" thighs with a waist only an inch bigger than a thigh. I don't like shorts, but I've started wearing skirts and dresses. For some reason, I love the way my legs look in skirts/dresses but hate them in shorts.

    Also, thigh rub is terrible. It is my bane. It has been 108F lately here in southern Arizona, and I am still in pants most of the time because even in skirts/dresses I need to wear spandex underneath to prevent the thigh rub (which is a serious issue not just annoyance), and it is just so hot.

    But, my legs were smaller when I was smaller. In 2011 I got down to 137 (I'm 168 now, so not really close, haha) and my legs were still larger in proportion than the rest of me (genetics!) but they were smaller than they are now. The thigh rub wasn't quite as bad (still bad though).

    So, keep losing body fat, keep doing strength training, and work on loving yourself - big legs and all. :)
  • nilbogger
    nilbogger Posts: 870 Member
    My legs are about the same size as yours. Hell, yeah, I'll be wearing shorts and skirts this summer. Why not?
  • happyjack1976
    happyjack1976 Posts: 74 Member
    omg me too! i can't buy boots
    [/quote]

    ^ this. I cannot buy boots, cannot zip because of gigantic calves. Oh well, they help me run faster. :-)
  • bamadwl
    bamadwl Posts: 111 Member
    Most men I know (yes, I do know there are exceptions) like thick legs, or as I like to call them cheerleader legs. If a girl is very thin and petite, her legs will be proportionate to her body. If you're not that body type, it just looks like chicken legs, or sticks, which to me isn't a good look IMHO.
  • husseycd
    husseycd Posts: 814 Member
    I have little twiggy calves, so...
  • estaticaa
    estaticaa Posts: 67 Member
    I'm going to say the obvious and you probably already know this, but if there is still fat in your calves for you to lose, you will get there eventually if you continue to work out and stay at a calorie deficit. Patience is all you require.

    You have the same body type as me, and the fat on my legs was the first to show up when I started gaining and now, as I continue to lose, it will probably be the last to disappear. I think the difference is, right now, I'm starting to love my body again. I look at myself in the mirror and think I look hot. No, wait. I am hot, I don't care what anyone else says - they can either agree or disagree. I don't wear short shorts because I feel it doesn't fit my age, but I do wear dresses and show off my calves all the time.

    Bottom line is, I look at your profile picture and see a great looking body, I hope one day you'll agree with me and start wearing anything you like!
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
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  • TallGlassOfQuirky
    TallGlassOfQuirky Posts: 282 Member
    I am not happy with my legs. 5'4" like you, with 17" calves and 28" thighs with a waist only an inch bigger than a thigh. I don't like shorts, but I've started wearing skirts and dresses. For some reason, I love the way my legs look in skirts/dresses but hate them in shorts.
    ...
    So, keep losing body fat, keep doing strength training, and work on loving yourself - big legs and all. :)
    Sarah is smart,and I am the same way with my sturdy German legs. My calves were 15.5" when I had around 20-ish% body fat (although I am much taller at 5'10") and I still had large thighs. I never felt confident in shorts, like they emphasized the size of my legs, but skirts and dresses were much more flattering.

    Also, lowering your body fat is the best way to reduce the size, but keep in mind that your build might just mean you won't have tiny legs.

    Finally, your legs do look good as they are now.
  • rightkindofwrong
    rightkindofwrong Posts: 16 Member
    NOPE! boots are a NO GO! i have a pair of UGGS that i can wear ONLY if i roll them down because they cant go past my ankles :(
  • Glynneybug
    Glynneybug Posts: 196 Member
    I have GIANT calfs also- BUT- I would just like to throw this out there, when I stare at other people's big calfs I'm not thinking anything but "DAMN! Look at those big sexy buff legs, grrrr." But that is just me. I think you have beaufitul legs and I'd perv on ya, if you were walking down the street. ;o) All bodies are different and my grandmother would say with strong big legs you must have good understanding!!!
    ~Glynis