big thighs - myth or reality?

[freelivez2]

I have always been a bigger boned girl. I danced, swam, ran track, played soccer, rugby, everything and still was about a 12 - 18. All my life. A struggle with the big thighs and my mother didn't help the situation. Mind you we wear the same size??? So anyhow, I'm getting serious into training now and I can see the ole' thighs getting bigger, I don't like it!!!! I think more than that, I hate the comments about how much I work out but my body never really changes drasyically. Any suggestions? ideas? But I admire strong legs and I don't feel that I have a problem with my thighs on my own but more as a collective when others comment. I love my mom but she has contributed greatly to my body image, issue. Anyhow ladies, biking chic look great! the thighs go with the spandex, embrace it!

[pooks]

It really is frustrating to see what our cultures and society imprint on us!

I looked at all those pics of beautiful legs and wondered how on earth any of you could seriously think you have a prob? But then, I also recall being 5'7" and 17 years old and weighing 127 pounds and thinking I needed to lose weight.

You see, I had a rather Olive Oyl straight up and down body (long legs and nice butt, though, as my husband will attest, heh) and since I didn't have a flat-tummy and small waist, I felt fat.

Now of course I'd LOVE to have that body again!

But as others have posted, this is largely genetic. One of my friends has a tiny waist, large butt and thighs. (Which of course is much better for her heart.) I'm apple-shaped, very round and desperately needing to lose weight -- but proportionally, I still have a nice round butt and long legs. Though the weight keeps them from being as slender as they once were, they are still proportionally "slim" if that makes sense (and I'm pretty sure it doesn't).

Anyway, my "thunder thighs" are due to fat, not muscle, though the muscle in my calves and thighs is getting more defined, the more I ride. But I'll never have a flat stomach and instead have the horrid midriff/belly blubber.

It's always something, isn't it?

Anyway, muscled thighs will never look like "thunder thighs" so embrace the muscle!

By the way, I was watching "What Not to Wear" and they were showing "sagging bottoms" and I kept twisting this way and that, looking at my own, and finally I asked my husband, "Is my bottom sagging?" He thought I was crazy, but affirmed my impression that no, despite everything else wrong with my body (my words, not his, of course) -- my butt is still an onion. Fortunately I lived long enough for that to be a good thing. <g>

[Pixiepowered]

Hi Everyone, new here,

I only recently really got into biking; I use to be a speed skater. In training 3 times a week for 2-3 hours a stretch, wow I got some big legs.

I thought it was cool looking. All my friends that were girls would joke; say if a big lizard with stout legs came on TV, or a frog or something, they would heckle me. It was a riot. And honestly the guys loved it. I certainly had a choice of dates and much flirting that summer! Not being rude but more honest, it seems that mostly women get the blocks on body size. (so a few women looked at me funny, stared at the gams not nicely, I did not let it stop my fun life or infringe upon my self image)

The MOST fun thing I can remember is going to the pool...(I was 30 then), and doing BACKFLIPS into the water. It was just a blast. SOOOO much fun. MY legs gave me the strength to really jump. I almost, but not quite, did a double flip.
I know they also helped me out to (just on a recreational level in local races), win 3 silver medals in the Georgia Games.

Now that I am getting back in to the swing of things, this is my main goal and what I am most looking forward too. (Perhaps I should do a before and after pic, that would be funny, and I might work harder.)

So all in all, get big legs, love them, and have big fun with them any which way you can!!

Cheers,
-Pixiepowered

[stacie]

Pixie, I think that is the most inspiring thing I have read in a long time. Thanks for sharing your story. We could all learn something from you about loving our bodies and being the best we can be. I hope you reach your dreams, big legs and all.

[FreshNewbie]

Don't really have a picture ready but wanted to comment. I am 24 now and always been fighting to keep my weight down through diet and exercise. Even though I am still in my early 20's it's really hard for me to get the scales moving no matter what I do. However, I always had large thighs and calfs. My calfs are bigger than my BF's and a lot of young men I see in the gym. The thing is that I always wanted to make them stronger and more muscular, never had a desire to have these skinny lets with knee cap sticking out ( model look). Last year I went on a ride with my bf that had these really challenging hill that his male friend couldn't finish. Well, my big thighs and calfs helped me climb it twice without using granny gear while my bf was on a granny (shh don't tell anyone I said that). What I want to say is : we should enjoy every positive thing that biking and exercise gives us, love your thighs because they will get you up these hills and let you smoke your SO on hills.
I am off to do more squats and leg presses

[stacie]

i wish I had thought like that at 24. You have a huge world of opportunity with that attitude. Now go kick his arse!

[FreshNewbie]

Stacie I came a long way, I was struggling with body image dis. since I was 14 due to many factors. I always tried to lose weight even when I was 100lbs at 16 y/o. I started lifting weights about 4-5 years ago and started looking at myself a little differently. I started to appreciate muscle more and the strength and energy my muscles gave me.

[Kitsune06]

I can attest to the big thighs thing...
when I wasn't riding at all, I bought a bunch of clothes for work- little business casual attire, etc etc, which fit snugly but comfortably...

then I started riding. Not just to work but everywhere.

My thighs are now ranging from 'tight' to 'very tight' in some of these pants, and... uh... butt, too. I *swear* it's not extra shpeck. *sigh*

it's great having a sculpted butt and nice-shaped thighs/calves, but now I have to go clothes shopping (again!) to find things that will fit comfortably. Grr.
Why can't I just wear freakin' baggy cargos?

[run it, ride it]

Hey, not enough pictures of all your gorgeous legs! Keep 'em coming!

I used to have tiiiiiiny little muscley distance-runner thighs.

Now? DGIS (Dear Guy I'm Seeing) has tiny little distance runner thighs and I've been feeling like quadzilla.

I apologize in advance for the blinding Canadian paleness:



Oh, and don't forget the bruise from Sunday's bicycle crash! I've been using it as an inkblot test on unsuspecting victims. What do YOU see?

[pooks]

You call that "quadzilla?" You could be a Rockette with those legs. LOL

[run it, ride it]

Oh, I know they're not all that big!

But you gotta understand how COMPACT this guy's motors are! And how compact mine USED to be! All his housemates are x-c runners, too. They told me my thighs were "gigantic!" hahaha.

Cycling + lazy horse = 'gigantic' thighs!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I just crack up with all these pictures with the hands pointing at the thighs thing. Like we wouldn't notice all the gorgeous thighs if you guys didn't "point" at them. Too funny!
All your legs look GREAT!!! If I could get rid of some of my cellulite and the last of my "love handles" I'd send in pictures too!

[surgtech1956]

What's spinning? (Sorry for the dumb question) - Have patience with this newbie. Thanks

[Pixiepowered]

Cheery hello to All ~

Stacie thanks ! I can't say it was always a road of self acceptance, but now it is just too sweet to be here to dare travel elsewhere.
Interesting thread. Shows our frailty as women, the body issues we carry no matter what size. Love Thyself should be a commandment if you ask me.

Did I mention that the stork is to drop off a new baby at my house, a 2007 Jamis Nova? The bastard charges these days....heh. I am SSOOO excited, and then I will be back in the saddle trying to get those big legs back.... Oh to be riding again. Just sitting here sans kitten in lap, puppy at feet, wanting to ride...Humm could get pup tart in a trailer perhaps....Chi cat is too busy vege-ing out and snacking to be bothered. She is not worried about her thighs...and totallly blissed out. Perhaps we all could learn something from the cat....

ANY of you ladies that can't wear skinny jeans, and have some muskaly (Popey's word) gams to feel proud of, please feel free to share, and in doing so inspire me onwards and upwards...(as all of you have already in this thread)

[Reesha]

Hello! I'm new to these forums and to road biking but not to mountain biking! To answer your question stacie, spinning vs. mashing has to do with the way you cycle. Do you keep in the low gears and go for a high number of RPMs? That's spinning. Or do you keep the gears up high so you're power pedaling and pushing super hard with fewer RPMs? This is mashing.