Monster Legs

[solobiker]

If you guys think those are 'monster thighs'....you're NUTS!
You make me laugh!

Look, it's just like that last thread on this subject- women describing their thighs and butts as huge....then we see photos and they are just lovely, not overly big at ALL. Yikes, get real!

I just measured myself:
5'5"
thighs- 24"
hips- 42"
waist- 32"
age- 54

Yes, I could afford to lose 10 pounds and am working on that, but jeez, I'm still no 'monster thighs' or 'thunder thighs'- not by a long shot!
Look at me!:

Do I seem overweight or 'monster' anything??
I don't think so.

You gals are mere lightweights! Quit griping about your lovely healthy bodies!

Thanks for posting this, you and I are about the same size except for the height, I have about an inch or two on you. You definately do not have monster thighs like you said. You like great!

[BarbaraAlys]

Sara wrote:

It really is too bad that our culture makes us think that a healthy weight is overweight. Although I need to lose 6 pounds to get to the healthy weight category of the BMI. I must admit that I'd rather be this size and know that I'm in pretty darn good shape and have pretty darn strong legs than to be super skinny with no muscle.


HUH? I don't think our culture tells us that an over weight is healthy. There is a PC kind of movement that we tell people they can be fat and fit (in fact I've noticed that not one of the doctors I've gone to in the last year has had the courage to tell me I should loose weight, and I'm over 200lbs at 5'6"!), but most of our culture says if you are not skellital you are fat.

I don't think that BMI is an ideal way to test your body composition, though it is the easiest since all you do is weigh and take one measurement. It is really off on people who have significant muscle, since the scale does not know the difference between fat and muscle. A better way would be through a body fat analysis of one type or another, the simplest being calipers. Watch out for those scales that give you body fat % using bio-impedance they are not as accurate as calipers and are hard to keep consistent.

As for the skinny leg vs strong...I'm not skinny anywhere on my body, but I have strong muscular legs. I get more compliments on my legs from both men and women, virtual strangers and friends, than those with slender legs. Yes, it is harder to find boots. Yes, it is harder to find pants that fit the thighs and are not too big in the waist, but I'll keep my strong legs.

Barbara

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

HUH? I don't think our culture tells us that an over weight is healthy.
Barbara

No, Sara said:

It really is too bad that our culture makes us think that a healthy weight is overweight.

you are not understanding what she said. She is saying that when we are actually a healthy weight then society tells us we are overweight.

[Flur]

Actually I think you both are correct. The biggest issue I've seen is that society, doctors, advertisers, etc. send such mixed messages that people don't have any idea what a healthy weight is. So they attach themselves to whatever works best for them mentally. If they want to be super skinny, they attach themselves to that definition of a healthy weight and what a healthy person looks like. If they're on the heavier side are happy with it, they attach themselves to that definition. You can have two people who are the same height and weight, and one will think they need to lose 20lbs, and the other will think they look too skinny.

Body fat calculations are really the best way to determine if someone has too much fat, but even the definition of "too much body fat" fluctuates depending on where you look or who you ask. And on top of that, what's right varies per person. I tend to follow the rule that if you are getting enough exercise (30+ minutes/day) don't have a horrible diet and don't have any risk factors, you're probably fine.

For me, I know that I'm not getting enough exercise, and now that I'm working to change that my body composition will change. I'm at a healthy weight/BMI/body fat now, but even that doesn't make me healthy without the right amount of exercise.

[beccaB]

Has anyone gone out and purchased the Wiifit? It's an exercize platform that goes with the nintendo Wii. I set myself up as a user and it says my BMI is too much, but it's kinda funny. You have to give yourself a "mii" which you can make look like yourself, and after I got mine set up it made me fatter than I had set up myself to be, based on my weight. I probably do weigh "a lot" but I'm fitter than most people I know!
I guess you just have to do the right things for your health and not be concerned about fitting into the mold.

[beccaB]

OK, here's a word my teenage daughter just taught me- muffin-top.
That's where the love handles are. It's something I wish I didn't have.
I did have 3 kids, so I suppose there could be some extra skin in some places. Yes, That's it. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

[callmecrazy]

OK, here's a word my teenage daughter just taught me- muffin-top.
That's where the love handles are. It's something I wish I didn't have.
I did have 3 kids, so I suppose there could be some extra skin in some places. Yes, That's it. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

If it's any comfort, the "muffin top" term is usually referred to the girls or women that squeeze themselves into pants that are much too small, hence pushing everything they've got up and over the top of their pants. If you're dressing in clothes that fit, they're just love handles... so go ahead and love them!

[short cut sally]

As promised, I "borrowed" a tape measure from work and have measured. First I want to say that I am built like Lisa/BleekerSt. and I think she looks rather nice in that picture..and that I consumed a crap load of chocolate frosted brownies yesterday while at work-I was having a rough day.. So here goes
THighs--32"
hips--39"
Waist--33"
Height--5'4"
Weight--150#
Yes, before biking seriously and being strict on food portions/intake I weighed 136#. But that was after losing 40# and I loved myself at 136#. I started biking more and more, and think (I know) I've really let my other cardio aerobics and caloric intake go to the curb! I have calves and upper/tops of my thighs that have defintion which is something I never had before. The back side however is like the container of cottage cheese.

[sundial]

Hee hee! You guys are small fries.

[KSH]

Monster Thighs here and proud of it!

My thighs are rock solid. No fat on them. They look great. I have even had a couple of people marvel over how great they looked when I'm riding my bike. The definition of my quads along the side of my leg and my hammys.

Hey, it's me. I can't make 'em any skinner. I'm healthy. I ride an average of 400 miles a month... run around 70 miles a month... and swim a good 30,000 yards. I'm strong. I'm healthy. I'm an athlete.

And if someone doesn't like it... I'll just crush their head with my Monster Thighs.

I'm the girl in the picture! In the yellow.

[lovelylibrarian]

Thanks again for all of the support everyone. I'm actually really starting to like my legs since I've been biking more. I'm looking foward to having biker's legs. When I can get up those big hills, I'll really be so proud of myself. I'm working on it!

When I posted this original post I was really down because I tried on a few pairs of hiking pants at REI and they were all really tight around the legs. I even tried 2 sizes larger than my regular size. I'm over it now. I wound up getting the cute skirt you see in the picture I posted.

Someone earlier asked where I was backpacking. It was in Lassen Volcanic Park in CA.

[RolliePollie]

No, Sara said: you are not understanding what she said. She is saying that when we are actually a healthy weight then society tells us we are overweight.

Thanks for clarifying what I meant, Lisa. I did not mean it's healthy to be overweight. I meant society seems to be promoting super skinny instead of a normal, healthy weight. This is actually ironic considering the obesity crisis in this country.

I'm finding it very interesting that so many of us seem to have similar measurements even though we are different heights and weights. Goes to show that everyone carries their weight differently I guess. I have always tried not to focus too much on the pounds I see on the scale, but it's hard when it's staring you in the face. I agree that the BMI is not the greatest. But I would still like to stay within the healthy range!

I have decided that my thighs look good if I look at myself from the side. But KSH, those are KILLER thighs! I want thighs like that!

[lovelylibrarian]

But KSH, those are KILLER thighs! I want thighs like that!

I know! I'm totally using that picture as motivation to work my butt off and get those killer thighs.

[KSH]

Thanks ladies! Trust me, my Ironman training has done it to me. Riding an average of 500 miles a month... and running 75 miles a month = killer thighs. HA!

Thanks again though. I use to hate them.