Fit women who are short and stocky? Looking for inspiration.

HippieGypsySoul · July 2020

So I’m 5’4” and even at my leanest (140 lbs) I’ve always felt big because I’m stocky. My legs are super muscular, I’ve got huge calves. My forearms are very defined and muscular.

Sometimes I do not feel feminine - I try to focus on my strength but it can be a challenge. I feel like I’m built like a man. 😕

Can anyone share pics or links to profiles for women around my height who are stocky but still feminine looking? I could really use some realistic role models to look at when I’m feeling like a hobbit.

Thanks!

camillasmith1987 · July 2020

Hi, I am 5 foot 4 and muscular. I weigh 132 at the moment and still feel feminine. I'm not sure what the rules are about pictures but happy to be friends and motivate!

HippieGypsySoul · July 2020

Thanks!

deputy_randolph · July 2020

I'm 5'3 and anywhere btwn 130-140. I used to compete in powerlifting, so I'm pretty muscular (still bench and deadlift, but squats were killing my foot, so I stopped competing).

I'm not a particularly "feminine" lady, but I'm definitely never mistaken for a male. My butt is too big and shapely to ever be mistaken for the butt of a male.

HippieGypsySoul · July 2020

Thanks for your reply.
I suppose getting back down to 140, I might feel differently. I’ve been looking up women of my height and haven’t really found anyone looking stocky so maybe it’s just that I need to lose the fat layer and I won’t feel so hefty. I haven’t been 140 since I was quite young and I got there in a really unhealthy way so I suspect losing another 30-40 lbs will make a much more noticeable difference in my physique now that I’m eating right and lifting weights.

I hold most of my weight in my stomach, upper arms and upper back so I feel like a linebacker right now.

my4570 · July 2020

I’ve always considered myself an “athletic” build as I carry my weight in my upper arms, inner thighs, and calves. I’m 5’3 and was 125-130 for the past two years, but recently have shed some weight to be 118. I totally get it with the stocky/linebacker build; I’ve always had broader shoulders and a small waist so it makes my shoulders look even broader. Losing a little weight has improved my confidence so much! My goal is to be around 112 and then focus on toning during maintenance. I already have sooo much leg muscle, so it was just a matter of losing some outer fat to be able to notice any definition...same with my triceps. There isn’t a need to lose weight since you are healthy! But I did personally find losing just 10ish pounds to be a significant difference!

threewins · July 2020

The woman from the YouTube channel 'My thoughts will probably offend you' is shortish apparently. She's a personal trainer. There are numerous photos of her floating around online, plus her videos.

HippieGypsySoul · July 2020

my4570 wrote: »

There isn’t a need to lose weight since you are healthy! But I did personally find losing just 10ish pounds to be a significant difference!

Thanks for your reply!
I definitely have some weight to lose. I’m working my way back down. And I think maybe once I’ve manage to get the extra fat off I will feel less stocky. That seems to be the consensus.

HippieGypsySoul · July 2020

Thanks @threewins I will look her up

TiisTitanium · July 2020

I am short and stocky. I am 5'3 weigh 167lb and have big shoulders and back as a lot of my workouts have an upper body focus. I refer to my body type as rockin the sturdy peasant stock look but I have plenty of dudes tell me that I have a very "womanly" figure and that I should not to stress about losing weight.

Not sure how inspirational it is but here is what I look like at the moment

Clive_1963 · July 2020

your body is just a shell, the beauty is whats inside.

HippieGypsySoul · July 2020

@TiisTitanium
Thank you for sharing!
I can absolutely relate to the peasant reference you made. Lol

HippieGypsySoul · July 2020

@Clive_1963
Thank you. I do realize that and I’m working on body image but it’s not always easy. This is why I asked for examples of women who share my stature 😊

Kupla71 · July 2020

I have the same physique. I have broad shoulders and carry all my extra weight in my stomach and upper body. In the past when I’ve lost weight it was much less noticeable and I actually like my body at a healthy weight. Right now I have about 30 pounds to lose so it bothers me. I’ve noticed though that as I age my weight distribution is slightly shifting! 😊 I don’t know if it’s because I’ve not been strength training my upper body much anymore or simply my age but I definitely look more balanced.

HippieGypsySoul · July 2020

@Kupla71
Thanks for your comment. I definitely feel better when i'm lighter. I have about 20lbs until I'm back down to where I was when I last felt decent - but even then I still felt big. I am hoping to be able to lose 30-40 lbs total. I have been looking at photos of women of my height that I'd like to look like, and getting a bit discouraged that many of them are another 10-20lbs lighter than that. I'm not sure that's realistic for me so I've been on a search to find women who are more "dense" like me, while reminding myself that my body is unique to me and I can only try to improve myself. My stomach and my arms are my biggest insecurities. Ugh.

Kupla71 · July 2020

I hear you. I’ve put my goal as getting down to 140 lbs because I think that’s a realistic goal but really I think being around 125-130 or less would be a more appealing weight for me. I’ve always had a solid build. Even as a kid my mum described me as solid. It’s kind of a good thing in that I’m reasonably strong but it’s not a delicate look. I like feeling strong though. My stomach is my “biggest” problem area.

quiksylver296 · July 2020

Your description made me think of @PowerliftingMom!!! She’s badass! I haven’t seen her on the boards for awhile, but maybe this will summon her and she’ll come post some pics.

HippieGypsySoul · July 2020

Kupla71 wrote: »

I hear you. I’ve put my goal as getting down to 140 lbs because I think that’s a realistic goal but really I think being around 125-130 or less would be a more appealing weight for me. I’ve always had a solid build. Even as a kid my mum described me as solid. It’s kind of a good thing in that I’m reasonably strong but it’s not a delicate look. I like feeling strong though. My stomach is my “biggest” problem area.

That is absolutely me as well. I really don't know how i'd get down under 140 lbs. That's the lightest I've ever been and I starved myself to get there. I won't do that again.

Do you happen to have PCOS? I do and allllll my weight goes to my stomach. Ugh.

HippieGypsySoul · July 2020

quiksylver296 wrote: »

Your description made me think of @PowerliftingMom!!! She’s badass! I haven’t seen her on the boards for awhile, but maybe this will summon her and she’ll come post some pics.

Thanks!

tnh2o · July 2020

I'm short (5'3") with wide shoulders and not much in the way of hips but it never occurred to me that I was not feminine When I was doing triathlons I weighed 128 When I weighed 114 I looked terrible. Someone said I looked like "a hank of hair and a bone" . I once bought a suit and the skirt was a size 6 and the jacket a 12. It's hard when the media portrays the ideal woman as tall and willowy. Try to embrace the beautiful you.

AnnPT77 · July 2020

I'm 5'5", and not super muscular at around 130lbs (not completely devoid of muscles, either), but with wide shoulders, big hands/arms/head, small hips, literally no breasts (post-bilateral-mastectomies). I often joke that I'm built more like a 14-year-old boy than a 64-year-old woman.

(Got that contralto voice, too - sometimes store clerks call me sir, in this mask-wearing era!

)

I'm not going to try to talk you out of having whatever body goals you may choose (though I do sometimes argue with people who have goals that seem designed to *erase* their real selves, but that doesn't appear to be where you're coming from).

I just want to say this, from the perspective of a grizzled li'l ol' lady who's had various views of herself over decades (thin and obese, cuter and less, young and old-ish, fit and unfit, . . . .): These days, I'm inclined to think it's not so much that women should strive to "look feminine", but rather strive to realize that "feminine" is however their natural, well-cared-for, well-self-loved, strong woman's body *is*, by definition.

So: That body of mine I described, up top? It's "feminine", because I'm female - biologically, psychologically, intellectually - inherently. If someone feels differently about me, that's their problem.

Strong is a good thing, at any age. It'll be an even better thing when you're my age (so keep it

).

Just my opinions, obviously.

Best wishes for success at reaching your goals!

Linzdz · July 2020

I'm 5'3" (on a good day), around 128 lbs, and I lift weights 4 times per week. Sometimes I feel less feminine than I'd like. But, feminine is often thought of as dainty and week, whereas the strongest, most competent and hardest working people I know are women. I love my muscular shoulders and will wear a halter tank that shows them off. I don't like my thick thighs, so I'll pair with an a-line skirt. Few bodies are perfect, but we can dress ourselves to accentuate the positive.

tnh2o · July 2020

When I was fit I thought my muscular legs were my best feature.

lilharumaki · July 2020

Hi!! First of all, I’ve learned a lot in the last few years of recovering from body dysmorphia that your “femininity” does not depend on your body type! If you identify as a woman and you want to feel pretty, you can and you are! 💜

Second, my body is nowhere near perfect but I feel the same as you!! I am 5’1 and my lowest weight in adulthood has been 140... I am also muscular. Really want to get down to 130 though!! Let’s support each other!

(As you can see, I am very stocky but also love dressing girly! You can do it!)

Kupla71 · July 2020

Hi HippieGypsySoul! I don’t have PCOS but I’m on medication that makes it hard to lose weight. I went off the medication a few years back and lost lots of weight. I was under 135lbs. I wasn’t eating though so it wasn’t healthy. I’m trying to focus on being healthy now and accepting my body as it is right now rather than trying so hard to lose weight.

HippieGypsySoul · July 2020

Thank you everyone who has taken the time to reply. I sincerely appreciate all the positivity!!

Fit women who are short and stocky? Looking for inspiration.

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