Hello, im new, have thigh questions

[Luna]

I have been biking with a group of people a few days a week. I ride a modest 25 miles a week just yet. I have a Townie cruiser bike as i cant ride a rode or mountain bike its hurts my bike. I have been doing 75 situps a night as well. I am 5'2 and weigh approx 118. Recently i noticed my jeans are tighter around my thighs and butt! and its making me frustrated, as i think fat. But people around me have saidi look fit. Now is this because im building muscle under fat? Or because I am just building muscle so my body now does not squish into tight jeans anymore. Im feeling a little confused, I thought I would slim down.

[CyclChyk]

Maybe you are pregnant? Bloated? Muscle typically takes up less space than fat so.... I am at a loss. Biking for me definately made me lose thigh and rump spread. If you have been riding and exercising for a short period of time, I would not worry just yet. But definately look into all aspects of what you are doing, including eating habits, caffiene intake, salt intake, etc. I know for me if I OD on salt and or caffiene, my otherwise loose pants feel abit snug.....

[missymaya]

There's a good chance that your building muscle and dont be scared of that. Its a great thing when you can wear somejeans and look at your rear and thighs and notice they're much fitter than they were before and you feel great When I first started riding, I lost a lot of weight, but then a gained a lot back,but not in fat. I didn't really notice until my BF told me one day that 'hey your legs and butt look really lean and great' that it was a good thing.
Also, if your being very active and eating well, your probably also loosing fat as well. Just watch what you eat and keep being active and you'll notice that your body is changing in a good way
Also, check out these forum discussions and you'll realize your not alone in weight gain.
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=4700

[lacyliz]

Welcome to the forum, Luna! BTW- 25 miles a week is great at the beginning. A year ago I started riding by doing 3 miles, then 4 etc. I now ride about 75 miles a week- and hope to do more.

I slimmed down pretty soon after beginning to cycle. I would definitely not worry about cycling making your thighs bigger - mine are more toned and muscular now, but less fat- in fact I need some new clothes because they are too loose now . So, like others said, check your food intake - if you are doing a lot of "carb loading" and not cycling long miles yet, that could be your answer. Just keep going and having fun out there.

[Wahine]

118 at 5'2" is not that big so my guess is that you are putting on muscle. Your glutes will definitely round out and your thighs will change shape. If you're noticing that your pants are tighter closer to the knees, that's very likely new muscle. Most people will find that they lose fat off the upper part of the thigh and gain muscle in the lower part.

Good job on getting out there and doing it!!

PS - even with back pain you can get a road bike, it's just a matter of finding someone to fit you properly. You can get special stems and headsets that bring your body position more upright, even on a road bike. Then you could still take advantage of the lighter faster bike with the comforts of a townie.

[freelivez2]

I must be gaining muscle, I am a newbie rider. Well not really but to the intensity that I am riding now is new for me and my pants are getting tighter!!! ahhhh, at 213 (maybe less) that's not what I want. I am paying close attention to what I put in my body and being a vegetarian protein is always a concern for me. so needless to say honey, I would definitely take your thighs and u can have mine. j/k

But today I had a good ride. 6.4 miles and a .9 mile walk; due to a flat
Dinner consisted of a herb salad, spaghetti w/ cottage cheese and a slice or wheat sourdough. YUM!!! I feel that I had a good protein day. Not worried too much especially after my evening workout.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well, I feel I should say this: if you don't want any muscles, then don't exercise!
Ask yourself- what is your goal?
Is your goal to be thin everywhere have no muscle and fit into really skinny tight jeans?...Then restrict your calories and fat severely and don't exercise.
Is your goal to be healthy and have less flab and fat but more curves because of having some actual muscles on your calves, arms, thighs, butt, etc? Then eat healthily and exercise often.

Exercise will burn fat and build muscle. We're not talking Arnold Schwarzenegger here.....just having some visible muscles in places where you may have had none before. For example: before I started biking, I was 25 lbs heavier with no real muscle. My thighs were fatty and jiggly and of uniform thickness all over. Now my thighs lost a lot of fat padding- they have CURVES where they go in or out. The fronts of my thighs stick out MORE because I have nice muscles there, but my thighs are slimmer than before in areas where there aren't muscle. You can see way more air space between my thighs when I'm standing with my feet together. Yet my calves are bigger and curvier...muscle. I love the beautiful curves on my legs now- they look so much better than the muscle-less legs of before. That might mean that tight jeans won't fit as much as before. I look leaner overall, yet I have more muscles that stick out. There is definition where before there was just muscle-less smooth lines.
Take your choice when you are deciding what your goals are...but congratulations for starting to exercise!!

[Kitsune06]

Luna- You seem to be experiencing the same phenomena I end up going through every spring...

I didn't ride much thru the winter- I rode, but not that much... put a little weight on, but not much... I'm 5'5 and 120# give or take a couple, so 'not much'. just enough to fill out my curves a little. I start cycling and b/c I ride a mtb, fewer revolutions to more power (read: mashing) my muscles get big-huge fast. It *seems* like they do that faster than I end up burning the fat around/over them, so for awhile, the curve-hugging pants I wear for work get a little huggier than I'm comfortable with. Just mind your diet- the muscle built will eventually start noticeably raising your metabolism and you'll lose some of the insulation. That and +1 to what Cyclchyk and Wahine said.

I need to get back in the saddle more... It's not the 120- I'm happy at 120-130. It's the "squish" factor... and I'm feelin' a lot more squish than I'm happy with...

[indysteel]

Sounds to me like you're just adding some of muscle. Now, I could be just rationalizing my "fat" days, but I sometimes feel like my muscles, especially my leg muscles, literally swell after a hard/new workout. For instance, when I started doing some weight training this fall, I could swear that my thigh muscles were swollen after the first couple of workouts, almost like they were retaining water. I imagine there's a scientific explanation for it, e.g., increased bloodflow, but I don't know that for sure. In any event, they always return to normal after a few days.

I, personally, lost some inches in my upper thighs, hips and butt when I started riding. I also lost about 6 pounds, which I managed to keep off. My mid- to lower thighs, however, have gotten bigger, especially from spinning over the winter.

I agree with Lisa, though. The goal (hopefully) in exercising is to get more fit/stronger. If that means bigger thighs and/or booty, I'd encourage you to embrace that. That said, remember to watch your calories intake, too. You need to fuel your increased activity, but don't overfuel it.

[Luna]

thanks so much for your adivce and experience. When I horse back rode for years, I had fit thin thighs. The biking I guess is swelling them some and yes I DO WANT a heathier lifesyle and if it means tighter jeans so be it.. I feel stronger and fitter and firmer. This is only after say 3 months. SO that is how new I am.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

thanks so much for your adivce and experience. When I horse back rode for years, I had fit thin thighs. The biking I guess is swelling them some and yes I DO WANT a heathier lifesyle and if it means tighter jeans so be it.. I feel stronger and fitter and firmer. This is only after say 3 months. SO that is how new I am.

That sounds great Luna.
Hey when I was young I had a horse for a several years and rode every day, but I never got big leg muscles. Think about where your "horsepower" is coming from next time you're riding your bike uphill.

[freelivez2]

okay I hope you don't get offended by this but thanks for being my bicycling ma. you put a lot in perspective for me. Thanks....
I do understand this but with the history and family influence it is hard for me to always have a clear head and think the way I should POSITIVELY!!!! Thanks you

[Luna]

That sounds great Luna.
Hey when I was young I had a horse for a several years and rode every day, but I never got big leg muscles. Think about where your "horsepower" is coming from next time you're riding your bike uphill.

Yeah, thats great, I will think of my legs as horses legs. To a horse person horse legs are the best!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

okay I hope you don't get offended by this but thanks for being my bicycling ma. you put a lot in perspective for me. Thanks....
I do understand this but with the history and family influence it is hard for me to always have a clear head and think the way I should POSITIVELY!!!! Thanks you

I am totally tickled- thank you for those very kind words!
Yes it's not always easy to keep things in perspective when society in general, and sometimes family as well, are constantly sending us mixed messages.
You sound like you have your head screwed on right though!

[mimitabby]

Yes, it WAS easier going up hill on a horse, wasn't it.