Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To keep these boots and hope my calves shrink??

27 replies

Namestheyareachangin · 13/12/2018 08:06

I have bought the most beautiful boots for a bargain price online. They only zip two thirds of the way up!! 😭

I am currently as fat as I have ever been (usually a size 10/12 and around 10 stone, currently a size 14 and probably closer to 12 stone - scared to get on the scales!). My mum died in the summer and I've been eating and feelings, I made a conscious decision while working with my counsellor not to give myself a hard time about it while I was still dealing with my grief and just do what I needed to do to get through the day... I'm coming out the other side a bit now, and am ready to stop with the packet of biscuits/bagof donuts a day 😳... But do calves really get fat/thin? Boots I had before I got fat still fit... So are these just boots that will never got my legs??

OP posts:
Trills · 13/12/2018 08:21

Send them back.

They won't make you happy.

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 13/12/2018 08:26

They're not a bargain if they don't fit.
The fact that your own "thin" boots still fit your calves means that these new ones are cut narrow, possibly why they've been reduced.
If necessary, buy something else as inincentive to slim.

Kwackerly · 13/12/2018 08:31

If they are leather and not too tight, you can stretch them using a hairdryer. I have done this successfully. You can Google for method...

NancyDonahue · 13/12/2018 08:38

Calves are mainly muscle I think, like forearms. I'm not sure losing weight will shrink them massively.

I would send them back and buy yourself a gorgeous pair of boots that fit you now.

BettyCrook · 13/12/2018 08:42

Could you measure them with old ones to compare calf width ? Bear in mind that leather stretches and moulds to your feet/legs so they may have stretched with wear.

Some boots are designed for smaller calves and others are made for curvier ones so its not always a universal standard size. Some brands more or less generous, too.

I have never slimmed down for a dress or top. I just ended up feeling awful and berated myself more. I'd get a refund.

And yes, calves, even fingers and feet, get smaller and bigger with weight.

BettyCrook · 13/12/2018 08:44

They will pretty much stay the same shape but the calves circumference does change with weight loss or gain. Granted, some put on the weight first on lower half of body so it shows more in ankles and some naturally have skinnier ankles and legs that gain weight at the very last but if you take measurements you will record a difference.

OrcinusOrca · 13/12/2018 08:45

Calves do get thinner. I had this once. Depends how much of a bargain they were and if you really think you will lose the weight or would rather have the money back.

Probably worth figuring out if you have big or small calves naturally and if the boots are particularly narrow though, I have very slim friends who have quite wide calves and struggle with tight boots.

SurfnTerfFantasticmissfoxy · 13/12/2018 08:46

It depends on your legs - my calves absolutely get fatter and thinner depending on my weight but I do have a minimum size that I don't think I'd ever get below. Might be worth hanging on to them for 6 months if you really love them and see what happens when you do drop a bit of weight.

Original poster
Namestheyareachangin · 13/12/2018 08:58

Thank you all for taking time for my trivial nonsense problem! Grin I think I will do the measuring thing (my legs and the boots!) and try to stretch them with the hairdryer method - it's close, and they are leather, so should give over time!! And I really love them, they're quite unusual and I haven't seen anything else like them when I've been looking around.

And yes, definitely motivational to get back to the swimming pool and stop pouring sugar down my neck. Quite apart from boots not fitting I'm genuinely worried so much sugar and rapid weight gain I may be giving myself diabetes Sad

OP posts:
Merrychristmasyoufilthyanimals · 13/12/2018 08:59

I have big calves and i feel your pain. I have lost just over 3st and my calves have shrunk and gone more defined. So it can happen. stair master and 5-10k runs helped me especially when the comfort end cravings kicked in. Dorothy perkins do really good boots for big calves.

Original poster
Namestheyareachangin · 13/12/2018 09:06

Thanks Merry! I used to love running but utterly knackered my knees (cheap trainers and running long distances on pavement, fool!) so stairmaster may be the way forward. I get so painfully bored in the gym, swimming isn't so bad and exercise classes are good... I hate cycling but for legs I guess a spin class might be a good idea.

Onwards and upwards! xx

OP posts:
PostmanBos · 13/12/2018 09:08

I lost about an inch off my calf after losing about 1.5stones. I measured it as I hated not being able to wear boots. I still had quite big calves but I could now fit into many boots not just the special wide fitting ones, but the slim fitting ones still no.

NewishMum85 · 13/12/2018 09:09

You could buy a boot band to extend them until/unless your calves shrink

www.bootband.com

Original poster
Namestheyareachangin · 13/12/2018 09:15

Newish that looks genius!

OP posts:
user1471592953 · 13/12/2018 09:33

Yes, calves do lose weight. I couldn’t fit into my skinny boots when I put on weight during pregnancy. I’ve now lost the weight and the boots fit again.

Blobby10 · 13/12/2018 09:45

I feel your pain OP!! I have naturally big calves in addition to being tall and having longer legs so standard boots always end up fastening at the widest point of my calf!! Many years ago I gave up on my dream of finding a lovely pair of knee high boots which would fit round my calves and actually go up to my knees. The pull on ones fall down and even wide fit ones tend to finish 3/4 of the way up my calf. I've given up on looking good now and focus more on keeping my feet and legs warm Grin

Ohhhthepain · 13/12/2018 09:50

Wont the old boots have gently stretched with you over time? Meaning they still fit.

I'd keep them as motivation, my calves gain and lose weight.

Eliza9917 · 13/12/2018 10:14

There's these things you can get that you insert in to the zip area and it extends the boots. I can't remember what it's called though so that's not much help.

Ceilingrose · 13/12/2018 10:22

If you are not happy with your weight, and can afford to store them, keep the boots. Aim to get on track with a new you looking forward and eating sensibly in January and you'll soon fit them. I've just got back into my narrower boots after losing 12 pounds.

Lazybonita · 13/12/2018 10:25

I have successfully stretched leather boots with a hairdryer!

Ohhhthepain · 13/12/2018 11:53

I'm now wondering if I can stretch a leather skirt waist band with the hair dryer, I got a size down to allow it to stretch naturally without getting too big but haven't felt inclined to spend the time being cut in half doing it!

abac · 13/12/2018 11:54

Can we see a photo of the boots? Grin I'm being nosey.

BettyCrook · 13/12/2018 11:55

ohhhthepain if its the waist band area i really rate ditching the carbs. within a week the bloat is gone (for me at least).

katekat383 · 13/12/2018 12:01

Oh my goodness no. They will hurt your legs and may even restrict circulation. Leather will not “give”.

NottonightJosepheen · 13/12/2018 12:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.