A boy called my legs "big"...

So I play on an intramural soccer with boys once a week (I'm in college). Last night, me and 2 of my guy friends were putting our shoes on, and the one said "oh look there's a girl on the other team with big legs like yours...i mean muscular..." me and the other guy friend looked at him, and the other boy said "just shut up" and i laughed it off at the time and made a joke about him not opening his mouth anymore. I've really been trying not to let it get to me, but I have always been self-conscience about my muscular legs since I've been in maybe 5th grade. I am 20, 5'2 and currently probably btwn 112-115 lbs. I run alot, and my legs are very muscular, and I lift them a bit too, but I don't really know what else to do. I've tried exercising less in the past, and they obviously looked worse and flabby. I am trying to get to at least 108 now, but I'm not an idiot, 5 lbs isn't going to make THAT big of a difference in my legs.

I seriously have been trying to ignore this all day, but I'm finding it hard to study right now b/c I can't concentrate b/c it keeps popping into my brain. The kid is generally nice too, I don't believe he said it to hurt me it just kind of came out. But now I'm on the verge of tears because my parents woudl always tell me my legs were beautiful and not big at all and I was just being too critical of myself, but now it seems like I am not the only person who thinks my legs are big.

Don't let it get to you!! You are athletic. That is a good thing. Many guys like girls that have a more curvy body. I've played soccer since I was 4 (I am 23) and I played in college as well. I always had big legs and lifted too. My boyfriends always commented how they liked that about me. So please please please do not let this bother you. If he is generally a nice guy, he did not mean it in a bad way. Hey, that means he has been checkin' out your legs right ?? He probably likes them haha.

Don't let this bother you.  If he meant to say it in a bad way, he wouldn't have tried to correct it.  Legs on women (and men) who play sports like soccer are generally bigger and more muscular.  That is NOT a bad thing!  I know women (including myself) that would rather have muscular athletic looking legs.

My legs are skinny...but they are soft and jiggly..

I would love to have your legs over mine any day ...

Don't be hurt..You are athletic..and your weight is like..perfect!

Please don't worry.  He obviously meant it in a positive way.  He noticed your muscles and is impressed.  So impressed, in fact, that he has an eye out for it in other women as well.  (He's probably also just a little bit jealous.)  :-)

Back in the day when I played soccer, I remember a guy saying that my legs were big... I laughed it off, but it hurt... until now- I see pics from back then and what I wouldn't give to have those legs back!!

Flaunt them!!

Hey! I know what you mean... I'm a dancer and we're known for having pretty lean legs.... except for me. Don't think about making your legs any smaller, it's only going to hurt you in the end, especially since you play soccer. It's not worth getting injured over! Besides, You're a great weight and you are one hell of an athlete! Go find yourself a really sexy dress and some cute shoes and show off those gams!!!

thank you so much everyone! you all seriously made me feel so so so much better! I've really been trying to work on my self-confidence and appreciate my body and this did not help but all of you did! Its so funny too because when I see another girl who is muscular I thinkthey look great, I would never call their legs "big" I would call them fit and toned. Its just, you know, you're always more critical of yourself I guess. So I'm going to go for a run and hit the gym to enhance my muscular legs! hehe.

If you are twenty years old, and playing intramural sports, I will assume that you are in college, correct?  So, this totally off the subject, but at your age, members of the opposite sex are not "boys"; they are men.  You are not at "girl"; you are a woman.  You are an adult (that's a good thing!), so own it!

(Sorry for the rant; just a pet peeve of mine!)

i know exactly what you mean! i'm the same weight and height as you and my legs are not in proportion to my upper half at all! especially my calves...i was a gymnast for 16 yrs...not like bars and beam and vault...just floor. i was a power tumbler. so you can imagine my calf size. i'm trying to embrace them too but i understand its hard. anyway, you can message me if you're ever down and need someone to relate to!

When I ran track, I gained a lot of muscle weight and several inches on my legs. While it was all muscle, I was so self conscious about it. But then I complained to my sister about all the weight I had gained and she said, "Seriously? I would have thought you lost weight, you're a lot more... toned." Flaunt your toned, firmed legs! Better than my flabby ones!

alyssa2012, my calves are so disproprotionate to my body it is insane. They used to be alot worse when I played soccer all the time in high school, I seriously had a hard time finding boots to fit them, and I was skinnier than I am now! They've gone down some, but they are still incredibly muscular and large for someone my size haha. But I refuse to quit working out and let them get fatty!

alaskanmama...it is difficult to remember to call them men b/c they certainly don't act like men if you know what I mean  haha.

Original Post by wannahotbod:

it is difficult to remember to call them men b/c they certainly don't act like men 

Haha! It sure seems like that. Embrace your muscular legs. I have big flabby thighs and I would kill for them to be muscular!

When I read the name of your thread, I thought about a similar story before I even clicked yours.

I had been hanging out with this guy who was pretty scrawny - like 5'9", 135 lbs. I'm not really sure what attracted me to him, but that doesn't matter. I'm 5'10", 150 lbs. One day he was telling me about a new girl where he worked, and he called her a giant. "She's huge. Like, she's like the freakin' jolly green giant. Seriously. Like 6 feet tall, I mean she's not fat, but she's just big overall. She's GOTTA weigh like 150 lbs." 

I was just like WOW! You have no idea! I just laughed at his ignorance and never said anything about it (what girl wants to admit how much she weighs?). But I did happen to meet this girl later.. she definitely weighs more than 150 lbs. I would bet at least 170 - BUT she looks good. She is tall and very fit. She looks awesome. He is just dumb because he's a little shrimp! (Kidding)

So the moral of my story is "What the hell do guys know anyway?"

Eh.

I love having strong legs. They make me feel sexy in heels. I 've met a lot of men in the gym who are always working thier puny calves that are a little jealous at how sculpted mine are with minimal effort. He might have truly meant to say muscular or strong, which I can't imagine being an insult. Don't go trying to lose weight to impress anyone. You'll be unhappy and scrawny and may never meet this man again. Hes not thinking about it. Men are slow sometimes.

Embrace it. You are small anyways, so how big could they be? Check out the last pic in my gallery (a before pic) if you wanna see big thighs.

Original Post by wannahotbod:

alaskanmama...it is difficult to remember to call them men b/c they certainly don't act like men if you know what I mean  haha.

 Well, if you use the power of suggestion, and continue to think of them as men, and call them men, they will (eventually) take on more man-like qualities!  The same goes in thinking of yourself as a woman.  My oldest son is 19 and I have made every effort to instill in him that he is an adult, albeit a young one!

BTW, I say embrace your muscular legs!  They are yours, you've worked hard for them, and I have no doubt that they are beautiful!

Original Post by wannahotbod:

 But now I'm on the verge of tears

..

TIP.... When you've got a distinctive feature, ...  make the most of it.  I'm sure J-Lo suffered a lot of 'big bum' comments before her 'booty' became her best asset.  What would Manilow & Streisand be without their respectively famous conks?..... just boring old lounge singers, that's what.   And did a whopping great chest ever stop Dolly Parton getting noticed?  Exactly.    So someone thinks you've got 'thunder-thighs'.... and you knew that all along?   Then be proud.  You're going to find that in many quarters that's considered extremely desirable!

Original Post by gi-jane:
 And did a whopping great chest ever stop Dolly Parton getting noticed?  

 

Haha no I think that may have been exactly what helped her get all the attention!

Kick him. Your muscular legs will make it hurt more. JK!!!

HAha.

No, I like having muscular legs. Sure they are bigger but I feel like I can do things better (run, kick, swim, DANCE! haha. )

PLUS: youre muscular legs burn more calories than regular legs. Now you get to eat more. And who doesnt like eating.

i had the same problem too. i was at a dance lesson when one of the male partners asked if i ran. i replied yes because i'm a cross country and track runner. He said i can tell. Your legs look "strong". Lately I've been very self-conscious about my "strong-looking" legs and wondered if they were too masculine looking. After reading this however, i realized that what he said may not have been a bad thing. Thanks you guys :) and by the way. i see soccer players all the time in the field where i run around. They have HOT legs :) with the sexy athletic toned looks :D so I'm pretty sure its not suppose to be insulting :P

Honestly, I'm jealous.  I wish I had muscular legs!!  I've been running and trying hard to get them in shape, but it's a challenge.  Just think of it as a compliment, you have what many, MANY women want.

And if he says anything again, remind him of how strong your legs are, and how much it would suck for him if you decided to kick the crap outta him. :)