Got Quads?

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I'm easily 20#s heavier than ideal for my height and build (I'm nearly 155 at just < 5'4"), but I love how beastly my thighs are. Sunday was the Tour de Tahoe and I rode it with the JDRF Ride to Cure team. I was really nervous about all of the climbing and especially at elevation with asthma...but I surprised myself. The steep switchbacks fairly early in the ride were barely a blip on my radar. I was passing people like mad, including lots of people who walked their bikes up. At my ideal weight I think I could be kind of a semi-monster!

[Owlie]

High five! Hills kill me. I just tell myself that there's no shame in walking.

I also don't put on a ton of extra muscle bulk. Maybe that means I'm not riding enough.

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I also don't put on a ton of extra muscle bulk. Maybe that means I'm not riding enough.

Nah, I'm a solid mesomorph...I bulk pretty easily. You ride plenty!

[jessmarimba]

Haha... I bulk up a little, too. My BF made a comment the other day on "how big my thighs were" - I knew what he meant & was not truly offended but it was funny listening to him try to backpedal his way out of that one!

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I consider it a compliment when my hubby comments on my thighs...he has ENORMOUS thighs and likes me "sturdy," as he puts it. Our kid is a beanpole, but we have no doubts that once he hits puberty his legs are going to get beefy, too. Both his dad and I were pretty twiggy as kids.

[Elphaba]

Also a mesomorph. Never was a beanpole!

Me too. Kristen, you look great. I am 5'4" and 150 give or take. I have lost 35 pounds in the past 2 years and have pretty much determined this is where my body is happy. I know I carry extra weight in my rear and thighs. In fact, my 11-year- old son keeps telling me he heard on tv that larger legs are a sign of a healthy heart. Keep active, keep an eye on what you eat and the rest will take care of itself.

[Cycling Sister]

I'm easily 20#s heavier than ideal for my height and build (I'm nearly 155 at just < 5'4"), but I love how beastly my thighs are. Sunday was the Tour de Tahoe and I rode it with the JDRF Ride to Cure team. I was really nervous about all of the climbing and especially at elevation with asthma...but I surprised myself. The steep switchbacks fairly early in the ride were barely a blip on my radar. I was passing people like mad, including lots of people who walked their bikes up. At my ideal weight I think I could be kind of a semi-monster!

Amazing quads!!! I'm jealous at the definition! I always hear people say that a lower body weight is important when climbing. However, I think muscle mass is more important. My quads are not very muscular. Women who weigh 20 plus pounds more than me routinely beat me up hills.

[Irulan]

I've dome really well with target #4 cut.

[Crankin]

I have the calf issue, but not giving up my skinny pants. I love being able to wear them at my age. I buy Gap skinny or jeggings because they stretch a bit. Of course, the top part falls down, too because of this.

[Owlie]

I have the calf issue, but not giving up my skinny pants. I love being able to wear them at my age. I buy Gap skinny or jeggings because they stretch a bit. Of course, the top part falls down, too because of this.

I love Gap's jeans (though I prefer the boot-cut) except for that problem. They're fine out of the dryer, but after two or three days...
(Grad student; I refuse to do more laundry than necessary.)

[jessmarimba]

My favorite Gap jeans just fell apart the other day.

I can't wear their "skinny" jeans but the "real straight" look like skinny jeans on my calves. However, I crouched down wearing them the other day, and the knee just split wide open. After looking closely at my Long 'n Lean pair (bought at the same time), the butt is getting pretty threadbare and I'm afraid of those splitting as well. I bought them both in fall of 2010 so they're hardly 2 years old (though I did wear them a LOT). Not sure I'm going to buy them again, at least not new. I found an older pair at Goodwill the same time I bought the Levis and they seem to be thicker and less stretchy so hopefully they last a little longer.

(And Owlie...you think 2-3 days is bad...I'm pretty sure some of mine go weeks between washings!)