Question:
I AM 9 MONTHS POST-OP AND HAVE LOST 94 POUNDS MY QUESTION IS FOR ALL YOU BOTTOM HEAVY
PEOPLE I STILL HAVE TREE TRUNK CALVES AND ANKLES AND WONDER HAVE ANY OF YOU LOST THAT WEIGHT LAST AND IF SO CAN YOU RECOMMEND ANY EXERCISE TO LOSE THE MASS ON YOUR LEGS. THANKS FOR ANY TIPS YOU CAN GIVE ME. — jessica S. (posted on September 17, 2003)
September 17, 2003
my calves are the only place that hasn't lost inches, but I don't care
becasue it is all muscle anyway from holding up my huge body for so long.
My ankles just sharnk on their own. I can see veins on my feet which I
think is just gross. So it could get worse.
— Heather M.
September 17, 2003
Hello. I am 8 months post and still have my huge tree trunk legs and
ankles. I saw a plastic surgeon today and she said that they will stay that
way, that is just the way God meant my body to be. She said it's just the
way my body is shaped, and she said I will never be thin as a bone, but
more of a Marilyn Monroe shape with sexy curves. That is fine with me! I
would like to have thin legs, but if the rest of me is thin, who cares????
— Tracey N.
September 17, 2003
The tree trunk legs is usually more of a genetic thing and does not change
shape after the weight loss. I do not know if there is any PS that can be
done for it. I have larger calves but am fortunate to have small angles
and so I have shape to my legs even though they are larger. I do not think
my calves will ever be small or properly sized if I got way down in weight.
Hope you find some reasonable solution.
— zoedogcbr
September 17, 2003
As others have stated, it may be your gentically based body shape. I know
that I will never get to be 'slim and trim', because I'm built like a fire
hydrant, most of my excess is right around the middle and on my ample
posterior!, but by bicycling and workouts at the gym I have pretty well
developed legs and shoulders. The best thing you could do for yourself is
to either join your local rec. center or gym and using a reputable fitness
evaluator, tell them what you want to do, to sculpt certain aspects of
yourself. It is impossible to change a basic shape, but it is possible
through the correct exercise and routine to accentuate portions of your
body that reflect well on your overall shape. I know that after I have my
surgery, and can get back onto the machines and bicycling, I will hopefully
lose my excess, but I will never have '6-pack' abs, but I will be able to
flatten my hydrant to a fairly flat trunk line, and keep the definition in
the legs. The rear I'm sure is going to take a lot for work for me, lots of
reverse leg lifts and leg crossovers.
— track
September 17, 2003
Hi - I too have huge calves and thighs and ankles and you name it. I did
get rid of all the fat according to my plastic surgeon, but that has left
me with lots of droopy skin. I worked very hard at the gym to lose the fat
(lots of cardio and leg exercises). I just didn't consider what would
happen to the leftover skin. My plastic surgeon is in the process of
dealing with this problem for me. His concern is leaving me with scars. I
would rather have some scarring and pants that actually fit then have this
disgusting sagging skin for the rest of my life. As I told him, I don't
want to wear micro mini skirts. I just want to have more clothing options
besides jeans to keep all that skin in place. Good luck to you in your
weightloss journey!
— Traci H.
September 17, 2003
Well all I can say is I feel your pain!
Although I don;t have the (tree trunk leg) syndrome I do have the (barrell)
syndrome.....If I could jusy lose this mid section after surgery- I'll feel
so much better- and lose some og my way fat (BREAST)Whew.....I'll be good
as new-
I had a friend who had the tree truck thing going on- she went on the
adkins diet lost like 100lbs in 6 months- ...lol lost everything but the
tree trunk legs... Legs were the same size up and down!
no curves at all!
— Nicole S.
September 17, 2003
I was just complaining about my calves yesterday!! I have ALWAYS had big,
muscular calves. I could NEVER wear boots. After losing 125 pounds and
reaching goal a year ago, I STILL can't wear boots!! My calves are still
too big. All other areas of my body have trimmed down but these have not
gotten any smaller. I think my only hope is liposuction on the calves to
remove the excess fat.
— Patty H.
September 17, 2003
Yep, definitely inherited trait with me. I have pictures from high school
with me in a size 3 dress and tree-trunk legs. My brothers look like
troglodytes. My mom said she married my dad because she wanted all her kids
to have skinny legs like him but we all got her barrel calves instead. Oh
well, my ankles are so strong, it helped when I was a ballerina.
— Susan R.
September 17, 2003
Although I have lost weight and actually toned my thighs (I no longer pose
a fire threat from the friction created by my thighs when I walk), I think
my calves will always be big and pretty muscular - probably from hauling my
big self around all those years.
— koogy
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