Thigh Gap-ish

e_v_v
e_v_v Posts: 131 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi!

I am 5'3" and built like a gymnast. I have ALWAYS had the weight loss goal to lose enough weight so that my legs don't rub when I walk or run. I don't necessarily need the "real" thigh gap (feet together and you have a gap all the way up to your torso)--I simply want to end the chafing, the thinning fabric near the inner-thigh-area on my jeans, and the ride-up associated with wearing short shorts. However, no matter how much weight I lose, I NEVER seem to lose it in my inner thighs. I wondered if since I have a generally small, compact frame if my hips are simply not wide enough to ever have empty space there while still having muscle. Anyone else struggle with this problem or have any advice? Is it possible to be very fit yet still have your legs rub when you walk?

Replies

  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Yeah it's possible to be fit and still have thighs that rub. A certain amount of that is fat, yeah, but genetics definitely play a factor as well.
  • robininfl
    robininfl Posts: 1,137 Member
    I am slim hipped and have 'dat gap' only when I am very slender (underweight by most standards), not when legs are muscled. So for me, less fit = more gap, it only happens when I am skinnier than fit. They don't chafe though.

    So yeah, you may have conflicting goals, it's not necessarily possible to have enough muscle on your legs to be fit, and simultaneously have them small enough to have the gap between the thighs.
  • cJOYv6881
    cJOYv6881 Posts: 72 Member
    edited March 2016
    My understanding, and please anyone correct me if this is wrong, is that having a thigh-gap has a lot less to do with your weight and a lot more to do with the shape and size of your pelvis and hips. I'm 257 pounds and my thighs only touch a little, I've always assumed it's because my hips are huge.
  • jessicapk
    jessicapk Posts: 574 Member
    I don't have a gap or anything but, after losing almost 60 lbs, I don't chafe, which has been WONDERFUL. I'm still about 232 lbs but maybe I'm blessed in at least that way genetically. I think those things happen at different times for all of us.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    It's genetic and based on pelvic width
  • klkateri
    klkateri Posts: 432 Member
    edited March 2016
    yes, the thigh gap is mostly dependent on the width of your hips. I actually read that's why the obsession (not that you have one, cuz I'd like to not have thigh rub either) is so bad because no matter how thin someone might get, a gap is not always possible.

    Example, I have wide hips but my legs are set close together so even though I have the width there is little chance of me having a gap unless I'm at 60 pounds and even then, maybe not. Its a structure thing mostly.
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    ebrass73 wrote: »
    Hi!

    I am 5'3" and built like a gymnast. I have ALWAYS had the weight loss goal to lose enough weight so that my legs don't rub when I walk or run. I don't necessarily need the "real" thigh gap (feet together and you have a gap all the way up to your torso)--I simply want to end the chafing, the thinning fabric near the inner-thigh-area on my jeans, and the ride-up associated with wearing short shorts. However, no matter how much weight I lose, I NEVER seem to lose it in my inner thighs. I wondered if since I have a generally small, compact frame if my hips are simply not wide enough to ever have empty space there while still having muscle. Anyone else struggle with this problem or have any advice? Is it possible to be very fit yet still have your legs rub when you walk?


    I don't think there's a single fit male on the planet that doesn't have thighs that rub. The problem is the clothes that are irritating you. Not the legs. Wear some compression shorts under your shorts when you walk/run. Problem solved.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Thigh gap is 100% genetic.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    It's genetics.

    Have you tried body glide for the chafing?
  • C_Stretton
    C_Stretton Posts: 201 Member
    Ninkyou wrote: »
    Have you tried body glide for the chafing?

    This... or even just deodorant or antiperspirant helps too.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    Yeah it's possible to be fit and still have thighs that rub. A certain amount of that is fat, yeah, but genetics definitely play a factor as well.

    It's genetics. Even when I was underweight (5'5" - 106 lbs) my thighs rubbed together.
  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,630 Member
    _Waffle_ wrote: »
    ebrass73 wrote: »
    Hi!

    I am 5'3" and built like a gymnast. I have ALWAYS had the weight loss goal to lose enough weight so that my legs don't rub when I walk or run. I don't necessarily need the "real" thigh gap (feet together and you have a gap all the way up to your torso)--I simply want to end the chafing, the thinning fabric near the inner-thigh-area on my jeans, and the ride-up associated with wearing short shorts. However, no matter how much weight I lose, I NEVER seem to lose it in my inner thighs. I wondered if since I have a generally small, compact frame if my hips are simply not wide enough to ever have empty space there while still having muscle. Anyone else struggle with this problem or have any advice? Is it possible to be very fit yet still have your legs rub when you walk?


    I don't think there's a single fit male on the planet that doesn't have thighs that rub. The problem is the clothes that are irritating you. Not the legs. Wear some compression shorts under your shorts when you walk/run. Problem solved.

    Definitely a nuisance for me especially if I wear boxers on long runs. Hurts for days.
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    20yearsyounger wrote: »
    _Waffle_ wrote: »
    ebrass73 wrote: »
    Hi!

    I am 5'3" and built like a gymnast. I have ALWAYS had the weight loss goal to lose enough weight so that my legs don't rub when I walk or run. I don't necessarily need the "real" thigh gap (feet together and you have a gap all the way up to your torso)--I simply want to end the chafing, the thinning fabric near the inner-thigh-area on my jeans, and the ride-up associated with wearing short shorts. However, no matter how much weight I lose, I NEVER seem to lose it in my inner thighs. I wondered if since I have a generally small, compact frame if my hips are simply not wide enough to ever have empty space there while still having muscle. Anyone else struggle with this problem or have any advice? Is it possible to be very fit yet still have your legs rub when you walk?


    I don't think there's a single fit male on the planet that doesn't have thighs that rub. The problem is the clothes that are irritating you. Not the legs. Wear some compression shorts under your shorts when you walk/run. Problem solved.

    Definitely a nuisance for me especially if I wear boxers on long runs. Hurts for days.

    Some Vaseline or Body Glide on the thighs works great too but occasionally I'd forget and you can lose a lot of skin. Just do yourself a favor and switch to something like compression shorts for anti-chaffing.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    _Waffle_ wrote: »
    ebrass73 wrote: »
    Hi!

    I am 5'3" and built like a gymnast. I have ALWAYS had the weight loss goal to lose enough weight so that my legs don't rub when I walk or run. I don't necessarily need the "real" thigh gap (feet together and you have a gap all the way up to your torso)--I simply want to end the chafing, the thinning fabric near the inner-thigh-area on my jeans, and the ride-up associated with wearing short shorts. However, no matter how much weight I lose, I NEVER seem to lose it in my inner thighs. I wondered if since I have a generally small, compact frame if my hips are simply not wide enough to ever have empty space there while still having muscle. Anyone else struggle with this problem or have any advice? Is it possible to be very fit yet still have your legs rub when you walk?


    I don't think there's a single fit male on the planet that doesn't have thighs that rub. The problem is the clothes that are irritating you. Not the legs. Wear some compression shorts under your shorts when you walk/run. Problem solved.

    not entirely true.

    wearing a skirt and no tights/shorts +walking/heat/sweat = chafing. massive chafing- go on any wedding forum and you talk about women wearing fitted gowns and having to deal with chub rub- the struggle... is real.

    solution- wear nylons or boy shorts.

    but I cosign- wear shorts under the shorts- fixes the problem. I can't wear bike shorts to run- my legs chafe to badly on each other. I wear fitted capris- no chafing.
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