Can any one please advise on cankles :(

[Halfpint2017]

I have cankles naturally chunky ankles or as dh says sturdy legs. I know you can’t concentrate on one part of the body but can anyone give me ideas on how I can make my legs more toned so they don’t look so stumpy? I’ve attached a couple of photos they get me down so much and too self conscious to wear skirts, shorts etc thanks. PS my legs are very red because I’m just out of the bath.

What I see in the pictures is lymphedema or possibly lipedema and the first thing I want to tell you about it is to avoid hot baths, especially if they are hot enough to make your legs so red.

You need to have lymphatic draining massages, walking in water or swimming, even walking, and losing weight will also help reduce the fluid in your legs.
Careful with salt and carbs.
When covid is sorted, I would go for a visit at a gp or specialised physio. In the mean time you can try this auto-massage and exercises.

I haven't watched this but it came up when I was copying the link

I was also going to suggest it's a water / fluid retention issue rather than muscle / fat.

OK I hadn’t thought if that before. I’ve always had thick set calves but I have also noticed they don’t slim down at the ankles like most people’s ankles. I’ll try cutting to look at my diet and look in to massage maybe it will help it’s so frustrating even for finding boots/wellies to fit me.

Those aren't cankles. You have an ankle. My calves are a bit smaller than zyours but I don't have a prior ankle like you.

Proper, not prior.

Haha rosiecockle you have made my night 😂I think I’ll try having showers instead of baths as I love a very hot bath and look in to changing my diet see if it makes a difference.

You will need some sort of compression to drain the fluid. Just diet and showers won’t be enough. Try to alternate hot and cold, spending more time on the cold.
Buy a dry brush and learn how to do the dry brushing

Thanks a LeGrandBleu for all your advice you seem to know what to do which idea great. I will buy some compression socks, and a dry brush. I am working from home just now and the weather is good so maybe this is a good time to work in a routine for daily massage and brushing etc. I’m hesitant to book my GP just now because of the pandemic you feel as though have to be really ill to book an appointment! However it might make all the difference to see them. I’m not aware of any massage therapists in my area who specialise in lymphatic drainage but I shall certainty look it up, I live on a remote island with not a lot here. It’s amazing what showing a couple of photos on here will do!

If you are near the sea, walking in the cold sea water is fantastic for circulation. Up and down the bay, letting the waves hit your legs. Lymphatic massage is very different from a normal massage .
Walking or cycling is a good activity, don’t do weights.
My legs are my weak point. No matter the amount of time spent on the gym, I will have a very shredded torso and arms and legs with little definition if any. As if upper body and lower body belonged to two different women. I am very slim but have dreadful circulation so I need to compensate. Massaging, punching and rolling and the brushing helps.

Yes I am very close to the sea so I will do that. I enjoy doing weights but I haven’t done any lately so I will steer clear for a wee while and try to do more walking. Whenever I have lost weight in the past my legs don’t change but after looking online and after hearing from you it is starting to make sense as to why they always stay the same.

Enjoy walking in the water. Great for circulation and a massage at the same time. It is winter now on Sydney so I won’t be doing that in the near future and water is soooooo cold here