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I want skinny legs

Original Post
Orphaned · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 11,560

This thread is going to get hilarious with the bullshit answers given but I bet a little good advice will come up. Most of you are probably going to think I've got a problem, I do, it's just not this one.

I'm skinny already but I don't have the upper/lower body proportion of hard climbers my weight. I have leftover legs from my triathlon, or cycling, or even pedicabbing days. Fact is, I don't need them. Bird legs would get the job done and I'd be lighter.

I don't have giant muscular legs and they certainly have shrunk since I quit racing several years ago. What's a good strategy to cut weight on the legs? It's got to be muscle, I'm well under 10% body fat, I don't have the good fortune to drop fat.

I can be as light as 137 and as heavy as 145. I average 140. So how then do I drop 5 off the legs?

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

Shave your legs. Eliminate excess hair weight!

Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520

You're just going for this look, aren't you?

Buff Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 1,145

My pocket knife; I'm pretty quick. I watched man vs wild and everything

Dirty Gri Gri, or is it GiGi? · · Vegas · Joined May 2005 · Points: 4,115

Go swimming in shark infested waters.





No BS, I'm dead serious.
1Eric Rhicard · · Tucson · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 10,101

Break both of your legs or use a wheel chair for the next six months.

The "I have huge legs" excuse for not climbing harder is lame. Every excuse I ever used I have proven to be BS between my ears. I did this by getting on things and sending the day after I used any of a number of excuses including the huge legs excuse.

Might be a few folks on here that would help break those legs for you. Ha ha.

Mike Lane · · AnCapistan · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 880

A tactic I remember from the old days is to acquire a few groupies to haul your gear for you while you take an hour on a 15 minute approach

Elena Sera Jose · · colorado · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 350

If I had skinny legs my HUGE upper body would look out if proportion .....so...nah

Elena Sera Jose · · colorado · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 350
Delta Bravo wrote:A tactic I remember from the old days is to acquire a few groupies to haul your gear for you while you take an hour on a 15 minute approach
+1
Jonathan S · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 2,113

running is your best bet.

Monomaniac · · Morrison, CO · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 17,295

John,
PM sent.

Dobson · · Butte, MT · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 215

Knee surgery made my brother's leg freakishly skinny. You could try tearing your acl, or even just immobilizing your legs for a month or so. It's amazing how much muscle mass you can lose that way.

I'm not exactly sure why one would trade the ability to get to the climb for a letter grade of sport-climbing improvement, but I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works.

Neal Gerber · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 0

I too have thick legs and am curious as to what Mono has to say.

Brendan N · · Salt Lake City, Utah · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 405
Monomaniac wrote:John, PM sent.
Can you share with the class?

spandex of the desert
sanz · · Pisgah Forest, NC · Joined Nov 2011 · Points: 210

Eat a significant amount less than usual and do low-impact cardio to go into caloric deficit - this will make you lose weight.

The trick is to keep from losing climbing muscles. Continue to work those out hard and use your legs as little as possible, and your body will consume the unused muscles first.

The intervals idea sounds bad to me - your burning leg muscles will have to use calories to recover. I usually hate on elliptical machines because they confer none of the strength benefits of running or cycling - but in your case that might just do the trick. Rowing would be good too, since it uses upper body.

Basically, force your body to consume itself and don't use the muscles you want consumed. Sounds like fun!

Nate Reno · · Highlands Ranch, CO · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 156

I too am interested in what the maniac has to say.
Seems he was even more of a big-leg ratio kind of guy back in the day


compared to now


And those aren't what I'de consider teenage-skinny-jeans legs going up that .14

I'm w/ JohnL - I don't think he's saying heavy legs are an excuse for not climbing x grade, I don't use mine as an excuse. I think overall weight does make a difference, and removing it from somewhere that isn't providing any benefit is the logical choice. I'm not quite down to the body fat % to where I'de be shedding muscle to drop lbs, but not too far off either. Interested in other people's experiences w/ this.
Cory Harelson · · Boise, ID · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 2,410

I lost a ton of muscle in my legs due to atrophy in a matter of weeks when I broke my leg. Perhaps you could immobilize your legs and get around on a wheelchair or crutches for a week or two?

Monomaniac · · Morrison, CO · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 17,295
Nate Reno wrote:I too am interested in what the maniac has to say. Seems he was even more of a big-leg ratio kind of guy back in the day
That's nothing, look at this:

Thunder Thighs!!!
chuck claude · · Flagstaff, Az · Joined Jul 2006 · Points: 225

1) Break your legs. I lost 3cm from my right calf while it was in a cast for 10wks. Just break both at the same time otherwise it just looks freakish.

2) pull the Hugh Herr trick, and then you'd have interchangable legs at that. Although people will then discredit your ascents saying that you really aid climbed it, since you can interchange your feet to fit the crack (see HH's ascent of City Park at Leavenworth)

Brendan N · · Salt Lake City, Utah · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 405

sanctioning

pokey 50

Jim Gloeckler · · Denver, Colo. · Joined Jul 2004 · Points: 25

RUN IN THE SAME PAIR OF TENNIS SHOES FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS......THIS WILL DO THE TRICK, AND WEAR ENOUGH OF THE TREAD OFF SO THAT YOU WON'T HAVE TO MAKE CARDBOARD SHOES.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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