Why do the ankles stay fat?!

[BrainInAJar]

Hey all,

I'm a yoyo dieter (although hoping Wegovy will end all that!)

Whether I'm 9 stone or 15 stone, I still have fat ankles. Cankles, really, ie no definition of an ankle at all, it just merges into the rest of the leg.

Now I am chunky of leg anyway (have to buy wide fit in wellies even when thin) but I've noticed that this is common with many people (inc celebrities) who lose weight - they retain the ankles of a much heavier person.

Anyone have any thoughts on this terrible first world problem?!

thanks

Sorry, OP, it’s genetic.

Hang on! What’s this about low carb and cankles ?

I have legs like columns and it is the bain of my life that I can’t wear dresses or shorts (poss lipodema).

For those of you swearing by total low carb, did you gain actual shape in your legs or did they “just” slim down?

Can you also outline what the very low carb entails?

It’s just body shape. I’ve always had tiny wrists and ankles that are more fitting to a child than an adult. When I was larger by legs looked ridiculous compared to my ankles, now I’ve lost loads of weights they’re more relative.

Perhaps I should give that a go, though I've done low carb before and it hasn't changed my cankles. Also I don't want to lose weight anywhere else. But perhaps in the spring I'll experiment.

I have big calves - makes my ankles look slimmer!

My legs look like 16th century paintings (of men) in doublet and hose. Legs like a scrum half since I was about 15 years old, even when I was BMI 19.

I don't mind now but I hated my legs as a teenager when women only seemed to have gazelle legs with no visible muscle.

I do go to the gym and run and I used to dance but there is definitely a genetic component. You can see it standing next to my dad in swimwear when I was about 8 years old - same shaped legs. DD1 is the same. DD2 has the gazelle legs and actually wants them to be more muscly 🙈You can't win.

It could be down to genetics, my cousin is similar. She’s tiny up top, beautiful waistline, but has very heavy legs. She hates that even during my pregnancy my ankles never changed shape, they are quite skinny. I’d love her shapely waistline and she’d love my ankles 🤷‍♀️

Are you still carrying excess water/fluid around your ankles. I asked my GP for a mild water tablet. I don't take it all the time just when necessary. In the winter about twice a week but in the summer every other day.

There are of course treatments available such as liposuction and kybella but some people end up in a worse situation afterwards due to side effects! Especially with the injections. For me, personally, it would never be worth the risk for something as minimal as cankles. I am hoping to have abdominoplasty one day, which is also has its own risks, but I see the risk assessment in a different way.

@BrightNewLife my legs actually are a reasonably nice shape now my knees and ankles aren’t so thick, the calf area didn’t really shrink at all I’ve always had good strong calves.

I started off doing my own version of low carb then found BIWI’s bootcamp on Mumsnet. Now after many years I do my own thing and am a bit more flexible but for me, having better legs is worth the sacrifice of certain foods.

Mine didn't change even when I low carb'd.

Isn't this just being a pear shape?

I think it is genetics or water retention, poor circulation or a combination of all.

My mother has always been very slim with super fat ankles.
I think she also has poor circulation too though- bad varicose veins, constant constipation.

I practise yoga daily, and part of that is some inverted postures, which allows gathered fluid to move back into the body. You don't need to do headstands, shoulder stands are fine, or lying back on the floor with legs up the wall. You can also lie on the floor with legs bent up on the sofa.

Done for 10 minutes a day it can support lymphatic drainage and take pressure off valves in the blood vessels.

If you have column legs or cuffed ankles you might have lipodema. I have this

I've low carb'd before and it didn't change my cankles.

Some people have bigger bones and tissues