Vent!

OK, I am 43, 5'1, 124lb. I have a great upper body. Lower body-let's say that it looks like the body of another person. I exercise 60-90 minutes most days of the week. I do cardio (intense cardio, on the bike or speed walking at the steepest incline on the treadmill) and lift weight (at least 2 hours of weights a week, heavy, low reps, on a circuit). I control my calories trying to not go above 1300. I eat about 80gr of proteins a day (from poultry, seafood, soy) and whole grain carbs. I eat less than 30g fats and very little saturated fats. I am a model citizen when it comes to diet. No alcohol, no smoke. I cut most added sugar from my diet, although I do use Splenda in my breakfast (Kashi, skim milk and a touch of Craisins). I drink half a gallon of fluids and sometimes more. Nope, no sodas.

With all this, my thighs still look like I haven't left the couch in weeks. I am so frustrated I want to punch something. What do I have to do to slim them down, stop eating at all? If I eat less, I will go into starvation mode and gain weight. Guess what: if I eat *even a little bit more* I will gain weight. My thiroid is just fine, and I am starting to think that the only way to remove this disgusting fat on my thighs is liposuction--which is out of the question, at least as long as there is a mortgage to pay.

Please don't give me any tripe about how I should just accept my body. I want my body to look like all the hard work that I put into it. I know I am not alone in this frustration. And contrary to all the psychobabble that goes along, I think it is perfectly fine and understandable to be MAD AS HELL when you work harder than most and you still look like a frikin'couch potato.

So just say it. We are mad. I am mad, and now I  am going to go back on the bike and stay there until my stupid fat legs will buckle.

i do know how you feel.  i have this 'pooch' on my tummy that i hate and no matter what i do and how much weight i lose, it's still there.  grrr!!!!!!  i'm no fitness expert, but maybe just do some focus toning exercising.  leg lifts, squats, etc.  leg lifts are really killer. 

also, just remember how hard you do work and how it's paid off on your upper body.  that deserves some credit.  i'm sure you don't look like a couch potato either.  we are way harder on themselves, especially when we're trying to improve.   you have worked so hard and don't forget it!!  if you keep doing what you are, you'll reach your goal.   good luck!!

I have the SAME exact problem. UGH it is INCREDIBLY frustrating. I always just think how wonderful it would be to snip away that chunk of fat on my thighs. *sigh*

I honestly don't know what to do either. My body fat % is pretty good (under 18%), but then why do I have so much fat on my thighs? 

I fail to comprehend how someone with under 18% body fat can have loads of fat on their thighs. I think I'm going to have to see a picture, maybe that's just what you see when youlook in the mirror!

WOW. I AM SO GLAD YOU POSTED BECAUSE I AM IN THE SAME EXACT POSITION.

I pretty much have the same exercise and food regimen as you too, haha. No matter how hard I work, all the effort, how much I try, my legs always look like the legs I see on much much bigger women, and like I never exercise and eat like crap... On the other hand, I've got an amazing, sculpted upperbody. My body literally looks like someone glued two different people together.

So I totally feel you. And yes, I AM MAD. WE ARE MAD. AS HELL. We should be, this is effing annoying.

I'm 5'6, 140, 17 years old.. What are your measurements? Mine are: Bust: 32, Waist: 26, Hips: 40, THIGHS: 24 3/4" ... almost as big as my waist, how cute.

Original Post by rosl:

I fail to comprehend how someone with under 18% body fat can have loads of fat on their thighs. I think I'm going to have to see a picture, maybe that's just what you see when youlook in the mirror!

My thighs are just out of proportion compared to the rest of my body. And no, it's not in my head. Most people with my BF% have skinny skinny legs. 

Usually when I buy shorts/jeans, I have to get a bigger size to fit over my thighs. Then I have to wear a belt because the waist is too big. It's just annoying. 

I think it has to do with hip size. I think the smaller your hips are, the bigger your thighs will look. My hips are small for my height - they're 32.5 inches (I'm 5'6" 131lbs). My thighs are 21.5 inches. If my hips were bigger, then my thighs might look better. 

I would kill for 18% body fat! 

Anyways....  I broke down into tears after getting pinched and measured by my trainer dude yesterday.  I have been working hard (exercise and diet) for a year...  Only HALF way there???  I feel quite a bit different, but I guess it's not reality... 

His exact words to me were "Fix your personal ****"........ 

Original Post by stwright:

I would kill for 18% body fat! 

Anyways....  I broke down into tears after getting pinched and measured by my trainer dude yesterday.  I have been working hard (exercise and diet) for a year...  Only HALF way there???  I feel quite a bit different, but I guess it's not reality... 

His exact words to me were "Fix your personal ****"........ 

 I'd be inclined to remind him who was paying his wages! Find a new trainewr maybe you're in a rut with this one, just a thought.

Usually when I buy shorts/jeans, I have to get a bigger size to fit over my thighs. Then I have to wear a belt because the waist is too big. It's just annoying. 

Me too! All my friends know me for my buttcrack - HA! Even with a belt on, it likes to make an appearance. My waist is so tiny compared to my thighs. I wouldn't mind if they were muscular.. but they're just big old cellulite-filled saddle bags. 

Original Post by jcl76:

Original Post by rosl:

I fail to comprehend how someone with under 18% body fat can have loads of fat on their thighs. I think I'm going to have to see a picture, maybe that's just what you see when youlook in the mirror!

My thighs are just out of proportion compared to the rest of my body. And no, it's not in my head. Most people with my BF% have skinny skinny legs. 

Usually when I buy shorts/jeans, I have to get a bigger size to fit over my thighs. Then I have to wear a belt because the waist is too big. It's just annoying. 

I think it has to do with hip size. I think the smaller your hips are, the bigger your thighs will look. My hips are small for my height - they're 32.5 inches (I'm 5'6" 131lbs). My thighs are 21.5 inches. If my hips were bigger, then my thighs might look better. 

I checked your gallery. Your thighs are not out of proportion to your body. You have very nice legs. Relax.

I checked your gallery - what the **** are you complaining about? There is NO FAT on your thighs! You look like freakin Victoria Secret Model! I guess that just illustrates that it is really hard to look at yourself objectively - I also struggle with this issue. I've lost ~80 Lbs so far (in exactly a year), but when I look at the mirror all I see is my fat upper arms and flabby stomach...