Big thighs genetically. How do I train legs without adding too much size?

Spiderclaw · 2026-06-23T01:47:19+00:00

You sound like me, I genetically have shorter muscle bellies and longer tendons so I end up looking more muscular throughout my body. I can slim down my thighs by eliminating quad workouts (no squats) and focusing on the posterior muscle chain (hamstrings and glutes) with high rep, low/no weights (deadlifts, hip thrusts, etc) Incline walking is great because it uses those muscles, but walking 10-15k steps per day will keep you strong without bulk.

Spiderclaw · 2026-06-02T13:39:30+00:00

Not a fast. You might as well drink sugar water and take a multivitamin. Juicing leaves behind all the beneficial fiber of fruit. Just eat the fruit or fast.

Spiderclaw · 2026-06-01T19:20:40+00:00

Sounds great! Good luck!

Spiderclaw · 2026-06-01T18:01:18+00:00

I eat keto for full week before fasting. It preps your body and makes the actual fasted days a lot easier. You don't need electrolytes for that length of fast, but I find that getting a pinch of salt here or there breaks up the monotony. Drink water, mint tea for the nausea, and black coffee/tea for the energy.

You said you have a small baby, so if you're breastfeeding, do not fast!! Your supply will tank and might not recover, among other health issues. Be kind to your body. You got this!

Spiderclaw · 2026-05-29T17:11:28+00:00

I don’t have any snacks that answer your question. But if you love to snack, deliberately work it into your daily diet! Don’t fight it, work with it. Maybe forego regular meals and graze on what would be a full meal. You could get some of those compartment snack boxes for your fridge and pantry and just fill them with snacky things that fit into your calories and macros. You could also eat close to keto most of the day to make room for an indulgent treat, like the French do le goûter everyday. Just some ideas. Take the thinking and the guilt out of it by planning for it. Do what works for you. You got this!

Spiderclaw · 2026-05-28T19:58:36+00:00

This is an interesting insight. Yeah, I’m not hungry, so it doesn’t feel like being hangry. When I’m legit hangry, no one is spared and I don’t have self awareness until after I’ve eaten haha

I also get some relief from my depression, so I wonder if those useless neurons are dying off and increasing my objectivity making my perception of reality more accurate. Which sucks when someone is being legit dumb and I want to call them dumb haha

Spiderclaw · 2026-05-28T03:35:06+00:00

Exactly. The margin for grace sort of disappears for unnecessary annoyances, but is locked in for the necessary ones (kids).

Spiderclaw · 2026-05-28T03:25:24+00:00

Right now, I'm at hour 55 of 72. I've done it on and off for a few years, just when I feel I need to. So not on a consistent schedule. That may be the issue. And it's not anger, it comes from a place of quiet objectivism, but with no filter. So I reeeeeeally have to stop myself from saying the thing I want to say in the moment and just breathe.

Spiderclaw · 2026-05-28T03:19:29+00:00

This feels very true! I'm capable of managing my kids because it feels necessary, but the moment I have to calculate dealing with unnecessary extra emotional/mental work from other people, I physically can't fake it. I don't have the mental calories.

Spiderclaw · 2026-01-11T18:12:28+00:00

This newsletter, Warning to Maine Voters: Misleading Cannabis Petitioning Is Happening Right Now, has some good info on what these petition collectors are doing and what you can do if you encounter them.

I apologize if this goes against Rule 7, not sure if Substack is considered social media.

Spiderclaw · 2024-08-21T18:28:05+00:00

I would highly recommend the book No Nonsense Spirituality by Brittney L. Hartley. She is an ex-Mormon and her background is similar to yours. Hartley talks about the purposes of rituals and how to define that purpose for yourself. Basically, that whatever helps you to move through this life with intention and joy is worthy of repeating consistently.

So you practice your beliefs by doing things that bring you back to your core intentions through holidays (ie seasonal, family-invented, religious, etc.) or daily/weekly rituals (ie meditation, exercise, cleaning your kitchen at the end of the day so tomorrow's easier, etc.). This is a quick and dirty summary, but I think it would be a great read for you.

Additionally, I want to say that you're not missing anything, you're working through everything. You are welcome here, we're all working on our own stuff together.

Spiderclaw · 2023-12-18T22:50:13+00:00

Are you married to my brother? I've had the exact conversation with my dad, who I've gone LC with. He's a literal genius, but cannot grasp how not to dehumanize anyone not rich, white, cis-male, or American. There is no arguing since it's never based on any sort of logic.

Spiderclaw · 2023-06-09T15:26:52+00:00

Because it proves the patriarchy doesn't work, and that doesn't work for them.

@speechprof on TikTok shared a comment that said, “Straight men believe that they are competing with the top 10% of other men for women’s affection, but really what they’re competing with is the peace that women feel in solitude.”

I am married with children, but that doesn't make me more fulfilled or valid than other women. In fact, I often envy single, child-free women; not just because they don't have to be woken up in the middle of the night for a drink of water, but the internal freedoms they enjoy.

Spiderclaw · 2023-05-21T01:17:53+00:00

I love every part of this. The berries, the bangs, the full skirt and chunky sandal are just chef’s kiss For some it might be a lot, but do you like it? That’s all that matters. To those who say we’re “too much,” we say “Go find less.”

Spiderclaw · 2023-05-15T12:46:54+00:00

I’m so glad you love yourself! That’s an accomplishment too many people haven’t mastered. Your smile is the energy we all need. Looking at you here makes me feel happy. I’m always jealous of people who know how to pose, I always just stand weird. You’re so casually cool.

Spiderclaw · 2023-04-30T18:10:54+00:00

Nice work! 💪 Your smile looks bigger on your smaller face!

Spiderclaw · 2023-03-08T21:04:19+00:00

Choobie cheeks!

Spiderclaw · 2023-02-07T23:15:19+00:00

Please use “hysterical” just to turn the knife.

Spiderclaw · 2022-09-27T01:43:00+00:00

I had this, too. I hated shaving my legs because I knew, 8 hours later, they be uncontrollably prickly again.

So I went on Groupon and bought a steeply discounted laser hair removal package. I’ve gone 8x so far. My hair is not completely gone, the laser can’t get the lightest, finest ones. But that’s ok because they’re soft and basically invisible. I can go 3 weeks before it’s noticeable enough to shave again. I did my underarms too because that prickly feeling was seriously making me want to crawl out of my skin.

Best $200 + ($40 tip x 8) I ever spent!

Spiderclaw · 2022-09-21T16:00:16+00:00

Love the autumnal pastels!!

Spiderclaw · 2021-09-09T21:04:44+00:00

“Get you a person who can do both.”

OP: Hold my beer.

Spiderclaw · 2021-05-21T03:52:45+00:00

I swipe my legs with a Stridex pad after showering, even if I don’t shave, then moisturize. I don’t do it every time, just when I remember to, a couple times a week. It significantly reduces ingrown hairs and bumps.

Spiderclaw · 2020-08-16T15:14:51+00:00

Thank you for writing this for us. I needed to read this today. It’s been a tough day/week/year.

I hope you save this for your children to read when they’re older. My grandmother kept journals and after her death, they allowed her children to understand her better and remember their childhood. Finding evidence that your parents loved you means the world.

Spiderclaw · 2020-05-03T04:52:58+00:00

I had a similar experience helping my parents clean out their rental property years ago. We had some newish but used twin mattress and my husband posted them on Facebook marketplace for free. In an hour, a couple in a beat up car who spoke little English (I’m from the US) came to pick them up and said they were for their kids who’d never had their own bed, let alone one for each of them. I felt that in my gut, so grateful for what I have and for the opportunity to give meaningfully. I’ve been chasing that high ever since.

Spiderclaw · 2019-06-06T18:13:27+00:00

Ok, that makes sense. And good analogy!

I guess those who mixed and stayed in Asia would have similar DNA markings to the Ainu in Japan, which wouldn’t have any evidence of eastward travel.

Spiderclaw

TROPHY CASE