Legs n feet

[Squircle]

I'm still really struggling with getting past the look of my legs and my feet. I feel like I've got quite blokish legs, but the kind that belong to a short guy who doesn't exercise, with knobbly knees. And at the end of them are these ugly, chunky, wide, big feet that I really hate.

Part of me feels like my feet have started to look a bit nicer recently since I started blocking injections at Christmas, but they are still a long way from looking female.

If anyone has any suggestions on getting my legs to look nicer (I'm worried about doing the wrong kind of exercise and making things worse) or can offer any coping strategies (beyond 'be more confident') I'd really like to hear them. I'm aware that the dysphoria I feel about this might be verging on dysmorphia because I am generally convinced that everyone has smaller feet than me (I'm a UK 8 wide but I'm only 5'7" and as mentioned they are chunky).

Help?!?

[suzifrommd]

Squircle, it's a universal condition of women to dislike some part of your body. All of us have something we don't like the look of. That's part of being a woman, and something we get used to. Loose fitting slacks will make your legs look like anyone else's.

Welcome to womanhood!

[katrinaw]

Haa so true Suzi

Hey I'm a short 5'4", size 9 Women's not massive but still on the large size for my height, and I've shortish legs, they used to be squat but over the last few years (been on HRT for 12 yrs) they muscle mass is at last disappearing, despite fitness exercising for the Aussie ski season. Your size is not bad, better than mine (oh-oh  )
I like higher heels, flats don't help my height either...

So gentle consistent exercise like walking, jogging etc. will help as well as time... I also Cycle too

L Katy 

[Squircle]

Just for clarification a UK 8 is a US 10.5 or  there about.

I get that a lot of women have parts of their body they hate, that's the consequence of being bombarded by unrealistic body ideals all the time. But those women don't have the underlying truth to deal with that a body part looks a certain way because it's (or was once) male, and its growth and formation has been determined by testosterone.

[katrinaw]

Yes that's a fair comment about the T ravaging, and yes it affects our sensitivity, cannot deny that.

But I know lots of women here that have huge feet, its not something people really take a lot of notice of, especially with higher heels, despite most wearing flats unless on the town... and legs do come in all shapes and sizes, including CIS, I used to really worry about mine, until I started noticing other women... kind of faded...

OK thanks for the sizing confirmation 

L Katy

[Squircle]

Sorry I assumed you were in the US! I shouldn't jump to conclusions! If you take Australian 9s then we wear pretty much the same size.

I know it's something I have to come to terms with, I guess I'd just feel better if there was something I could do to improve things. I have quite flat feet so I've been trying to do exercises to strengthen my arches in the hope my feet will look better.

[Sabrina]

What I would recommend is wear skinny jeans to slim the legs and pointed shoes to make the legs seem longer. Doing squats, mountain climbers, and running might help also. Confidence and not caring what others think is also helpful.

[Squircle]

What I would recommend is wear skinny jeans to slim the legs and pointed shoes to make the legs seem longer. Doing squats, mountain climbers, and running might help also. Confidence and not caring what others think is also helpful.

I do wear skinny jeans but pointy shoes elongate my feet too much. My legs aren't bulky or muscly, if anything they could do with a bit more fat on them esp at the top. It's just my knees stick out, and their overall shape isn't great. Then at the end of them are these oversized feet.

I have been thinking of taking up running, do you think it would help feminise my legs or just make them muscly?

[noleen111]

Squircle... Men actually have better legs than women.. that why they almost always use mens legs on pantyhose packaging..

[kittenpower]

Squircle, as for your feet, the only thing that I can suggest is weight loss which may reduce their width. You can shape your legs with a combination of aerobic activity(e.g., brisk walking, jogging, bicycling, etc.) and resistance training (e.g., weight training, pilates, yoga, bicycling, etc.) but if you have fatty knees, then diet may not affect them, in which case you might need liposuction. 

[Squircle]

Squircle, as for your feet, the only thing that I can suggest is weight loss which may reduce their width. You can shape your legs with a combination of aerobic activity(e.g., brisk walking, jogging, bicycling, etc.) and resistance training (e.g., weight training, pilates, yoga, bicycling, etc.) but if you have fatty knees, then diet may not affect them, in which case you might need liposuction.

I could lose a bit of weight but probably not enough to make a difference (I'm 140 pounds). My feet seem to have quite a bit of muscle in them though, which is odd because I have none anywhere else, so I was hoping that another year of hormones might cause some of that to melt away.

I'm definitely going to try getting some yoga DVDs or something though, and I need to get some kit to go running. I might look into the liposuction, thanks for the advice. I think with more exercise I can at least feel like I have some more control over my body.

[Squircle]

This is what I'm dealing with. Seriously I'm so disheartened just looking at these photos, and it's taken me quite a bit to build up the courage to upload them. Apologies for the dirty mirror! This is why I don't wear skirts 

[CollieLass]

Amy, please don`t stress too much over your lower extremities; they really don`t seem anything other than a normal pair of woman`s 'pins and plates'.....and to my eyes {especially so the picture on the right} are obviously the legs of a woman. 

HRT & A.A`s effected a dramatic reduction {in the term of many years} in the upper and lower leg`s musculature that I previously had, and also in the fat distribution of my legs and feet, which combined to have a great positive effect on re-shaping my legs.....Although the profound loss of muscle-mass over the years since, has left me with somewhat 'loose' calves and thighs.

Sometimes, Mother Nature will do what she wants, and we have to go with her flow.

Kindest,
Deb.

[Eveline]

OMG, you have cute legs! No kidding, stop stressing about them.

And just wait until the hormones have a couple of years to change your skin - the softer texture and slight changes in fat deposits are quite noticeable on legs.

Also, I have US size 11 feet, and I swear they look smaller when I paint my toenails.

[Randi]

There isn't really any "wrong" exercise other than not doing anything at all.
Walking may be the easiest and least damaging leg exercise.  Get a smartphone app to keep track and walk.  Just around the block at first, then one mile, then more.

I'm 65 years old and have fantastic looking legs.  I walked 700 miles last year, mostly 3 or 4 miles at a time.  A little estrogen added to all that muscle will yield absolutely gorgeous legs.  I used to have knobby knees and really ugly legs.  Now I could give Tina Turner a run for her money.

Muscle looks good on virtually anyone.

If anyone has any suggestions on getting my legs to look nicer (I'm worried about doing the wrong kind of exercise and making things worse) or can offer any coping strategies (beyond 'be more confident') I'd really like to hear them.

[Alysinspace]

I'm still really struggling with getting past the look of my legs and my feet. I feel like I've got quite blokish legs, but the kind that belong to a short guy who doesn't exercise, with knobbly knees. And at the end of them are these ugly, chunky, wide, big feet that I really hate.

Part of me feels like my feet have started to look a bit nicer recently since I started blocking injections at Christmas, but they are still a long way from looking female.

If anyone has any suggestions on getting my legs to look nicer (I'm worried about doing the wrong kind of exercise and making things worse) or can offer any coping strategies (beyond 'be more confident') I'd really like to hear them. I'm aware that the dysphoria I feel about this might be verging on dysmorphia because I am generally convinced that everyone has smaller feet than me (I'm a UK 8 wide but I'm only 5'7" and as mentioned they are chunky).

Help?!?

To answer your question
You could do squats especially weighted squats I use to work out for a very long time and squats literally work every muscle in your legs.  Squats will also work that booty girl c ;
Also your HRT is going to make some serious changes to your body, they are not quick but they will happen I promise you your hips legs everything you will get the curves you want especially with the mentioned body type you described. 
If I were you I would not worry
Love,
Alyssa

Edit: Your feet I guess you could shave a bit off with some weight loss but thats mainly your bone structure I wear a size 9 womens US thats one size before the biggest size they make before you really gotta look hard for a pair of shoes.  And to be honest your feet and legs look just fine the way they are and with a bit of HRT just wait c :

[Emily E]

Your legs look fine... your feet are not large (about normal for 5'7")

[iKate]

Your legs are FINE.

Besides, more excuses for cute shoes!

My biggest discomfort is with my hands. They look kinda big. Long nails tend to make them appear slimmer though.

[April_TO]

I have seen women with chunkier and bigger calves and yours does not even come close.
You're fine and your legs look feminine.

[katiej]

My cis wife just said she'd kill to have legs like yours!   

I also wear US size 11.  I wish my feet were smaller, but honestly I'm just glad they're not bigger.  Most stores in the US will carry size 11, but NEVER larger sizes.  So I just barely made it.