The Best Ways to Get Rid of Cankles (& Look Your Best)

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Say goodbye to chubby ankles and hello to skinny ones
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Cankles, a contraction from the term "calf-ankles," refers to chubby ankles with poor definition or a lack of distinction from where the lower part of the calf muscle terminates and the ankle joint begins. Cankles is not a medical term, but rather a derogatory term usually reserved for describing women's thick ankles. A variety of factors and conditions contribute to the formation of cankles such as genetics (perhaps the most common), obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and lymphedema. Minimizing or getting rid of cankles is dependent on their cause. Cankles caused by health conditions tend to be much more treatable than those dictated by genetic factors.

Section 1 of 3:

Slimming Down Your Ankles

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  1. Walking, jogging and cycling are all good exercises that force your lower leg muscles to contract. [1] If you have poor circulation in your legs due to faulty valves in your veins or are overweight, then exercising your lower legs muscles can help your overall blood circulation and weight distribution. [2]
    • If you decide to jog, then run on softer surfaces (such as grass) and wear well-cushioned shoes or else you increase the risk of damaging or spraining your ankles and contributing to your problem.
    • Start with exercises that don't put too much pressure on your ankles and other leg joints, such as swimming or cycling.
    • Stretching your ankles and lower legs may also promote better blood and lymph flow.
    • Fat loss usually occurs from the face and abdomen initially, so be patient for the fat to be burned off from around your ankles.
  2. In addition to cardiovascular exercise, focus on reducing the number of calories you consume on a daily basis. Most people who are relatively sedentary only require about 2,000 calories per day to maintain their body processes and have enough energy for mild levels of exercise. Reducing your calorie intake by 500 calories daily will result in about 4 pounds of fat tissue loss per month.
    • Salads made with leafy greens and fresh vegetables are excellent choices for weight loss because they are low-calorie, high in nutrients and relatively bulky (high in fiber), so they fill up your stomach. Just remember to go easy on the salad dressing.
    • Drinking lots of water is great for weight loss because it's calorie free and helps to curb your appetite.
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  3. Diets high in salt tend to make tissues look puffy because the sodium within salt pulls the water from the cells into the surrounding interstitial spaces, creating a type of swelling called edema. [3] The face, hands and feet/ankles are common areas affected by high-salt diets. Most processed foods are high in sodium, so focus more on fresh meats and produce.
    • Canned tomato sauces, salsas, crackers and pickled veggies are particularly high in sodium. Your daily sodium intake should be between 1,500 mg and 2,300 mg. [4]
    • A low-sodium diet recommended by many doctors is called the DASH diet. [5]
  4. Chronic alcohol intake can injury the pancreas and liver because ethanol is relatively toxic. A damaged liver doesn't work properly making enzymes and processing amino acids, which leads to edema (water retention) in the body. [6] Alcohol is also fairly high in sugar-based calories (especially when combined with soda pop) without containing any other nutrients, which promotes weight gain. Beer can be particularly problematic because some brands are also high in sodium.
    • Consider switching to red wine, which is healthier for your blood vessels. [7]
    • Avoid eating the peanuts and pretzels that are served at some bars, as both are very high in salt.
  5. Fluid accumulation (edema) around the ankles can also be caused by peripheral arterial disease, which occurs when small arteries carrying blood to the legs slowly become narrowed or blocked from plaque accumulation inside the arterial walls -- a disease process called atherosclerosis. [8] Without proper blood flow, the tissues of the foot and ankle don't get enough oxygen and other nutrients and become damaged. With time, the feet and ankles may become inflamed. Taking blood thinners (usually a prescription medication) prevents the plaque build-up in arteries and promotes better blood flow and blood pressure. [9]
    • Commonly recommended blood thinners include aspirin and warfarin (Coumadin).
    • Arterial plaque contains cholesterol, so maintaining a healthy blood cholesterol level may help prevent atherosclerosis.
  6. Compression stockings are available online, at medical supply stores, or maybe your medical specialist will give some for free if you're diagnosed with a vascular disease. Compression stockings provide support to muscles and blood vessels, which reduces edema / swelling and promotes better circulation.
    • Putting your feet up while resting, watching TV or sitting at the computer will help with blood flow from your legs due to reducing the effect of gravity. Laying down is even better.
    • Soaking your feet and ankles in a warm Epsom salt bath can significantly reduce pain and swelling.
  7. Pregnancy not only involves weight gain that may negatively impact your ankles, but also periods of poor circulation and changes in hormonal levels, which often promotes fluid retention in the lower legs. So if you're worried about your cankles during pregnancy, then you can certainly reduce your sodium intake, but simply wait until you give birth and see if your ankles go back to normal size.
    • Going on moderately paced walks and always raising your legs when you sit will help reduce edema in your ankles while you're pregnant.
    • Realize also that edema can come and go with a woman's menstrual cycle. [10]
  8. If you're having trouble losing the fat deposits around your ankle, then schedule a consultation with a vascular or cosmetic surgeon in order to discuss fat removal via liposuction. [11] Being invasive, surgery should be your last option to combat your cankles, not your first choice because of the potential convenience. In addition to liposuction, the surgeon may be able to shave or remodel the bones and muscles of the lower calf and ankle.
    • Make sure you understand all the risks of undergoing surgery, such as allergic reactions to anesthesia, infections and heavy blood loss.
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Section 2 of 3:

Dressing to Make Cankles Look Smaller

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  1. Long pants will cover your cankles and slim your legs at the same time. Wide-legged styles are best, as these don’t hug your ankles. Try to avoid skinny jeans and cropped styles that cut off right above the ankle. [12]
    • Long dresses and skirts also have a slimming effect. Just make sure they cut off at the ankle, not above it.
  2. High-waisted bottoms lengthen your legs, resulting in a slimmer-looking ankle. Try high-waisted pants or a long, high-waisted skirt. [13]
  3. Chunky heels can make large ankles look slimmer. Stay away from stilettos, which are small and thin, making your ankles look larger in comparison. [14]
  4. Ankle straps will only call attention to your cankles. Instead, pick shoes that cover your ankles, like high boots, or shoes with pointed toes, which help elongate your legs. [15]
  5. If you don’t want to give up cropped pants or sandals with ankle straps, try accessorizing. Bold accessories, like handbags, sunglasses, and jewelry, will draw eyes upward and away from your cankles. [16]
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Section 3 of 3:

Determining the Cause

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  1. If you perceive your ankles to be unusually thick (especially if a sudden change has occurred), then schedule an appointment with your family physician. Your doctor will examine your feet, ankles and legs, ask questions about your family history, diet and lifestyle, and maybe even take your blood pressure or send you for a blood test (to check cholesterol levels). Your doctor will determine if your cankles have a relatively benign cause (such as weight gain or edema from too much dietary salt) or if they are related to a health problem (such as poor circulation or heart disease). However, your family doctor is not a foot or circulatory specialist, so you may need a referral to another doctor with more specialized training.
    • Genetically, some women have naturally larger bones/ankle joints and thicker calf muscles, which cannot be remedied without invasive surgery.
    • Obesity obviously involves fat accumulation around the body, but the face, abdomen, buttocks and thighs are much more common destinations for fat deposit than the ankles. [17]
  2. If your family doctor thinks your cankles are related to a blood flow problem such as venous insufficiency (a vein condition that causes blood and other fluid to accumulate around the ankle and foot) then you may be referred to a vascular surgeon for a consult. [18] If a hormonal problem is suspected (such as low insulin levels, which is indicative of diabetes), then you may be sent to an endocrinologist. If a heart problem is suspected (such as congestive heart failure), then a cardiologist might be the most appropriate doctor to see and treat your problem.
    • Vascular ultrasound is a painless procedure that allows a doctor to assess the function of the veins and arteries of your lower leg.
    • Podiatrists are foot specialists who may also be helpful in diagnosing ankle problems.
  3. Make sure you get the doctor to clearly explain the diagnosis, especially the cause (if possible), and provide you with various treatment options for your cankles. If it's determined that you have no health issues and your larger-than-normal ankles are simply due to genetics and body type, then focus more on body acceptance and overall health, while being less concerned about something as frivolous as the aesthetics of your ankles. Body shapes and sizes can be changed somewhat, but only within well-defined limits.
    • Muscle fiber types and bone structure are inherited characteristics, so losing weight and working out your leg muscles may have very little impact on your cankles. [19]
    • Research the various causes of thick ankles on the internet. It will give you ideas of potential treatments you can do at home, but always stick to reputable medical/health sites.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Will doing calf exercises make my cankles worse?
    Dean Theriot
    Personal Trainer
    Dean Theriot is a Personal Trainer and the Owner of Timberline Fitness in Houston, Texas. With over 25 years of experience in the fitness industry, Dean specializes in personal, group, and sport-specific training. Dean holds a BS in Exercise Physiology from LSU. Dean combines resistance and cardiovascular training with pilates exercises for comprehensive workouts for his clients. His sport-specific training includes football, basketball, and baseball.
    Dean Theriot
    Personal Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Cankles are a matter of body fat percentage. You won't develop cankles by doing too many calf exercises. Exercising your calves should actually help with cankles.
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  • Question
    How do you lose ankle fat?
    Dean Theriot
    Personal Trainer
    Dean Theriot is a Personal Trainer and the Owner of Timberline Fitness in Houston, Texas. With over 25 years of experience in the fitness industry, Dean specializes in personal, group, and sport-specific training. Dean holds a BS in Exercise Physiology from LSU. Dean combines resistance and cardiovascular training with pilates exercises for comprehensive workouts for his clients. His sport-specific training includes football, basketball, and baseball.
    Dean Theriot
    Personal Trainer
    Expert Answer
    You can't spot reduce, but leg exercises can help with circulation while also burning extra calories. Great options include walking, jogging, and cycling.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    I'm skinny, but I have cankles. Does that mean I'm fat? I want slim ankles.
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Having cankles doesn't mean you are fat. If you are not overweight, your cankles are probably genetic. Try jumping rope to make your ankles look smaller. Jumping exercises build up muscle in your calves, making your ankles look smaller in comparison.
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      • Spot training an area to lose weight there doesn't work. Thus, exercising your entire body will lose weight from your ankles faster than just focusing on movements that target your lower legs.
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      • Weight training is typically better for losing weight than cardiovascular exercise.
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      • The estrogen contained in birth control pills can cause swelling in some women's ankles and legs.
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      References

      1. ↑ Dean Theriot. Personal Trainer. Expert Interview. 22 January 2021.
      2. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/managing-your-weight/12-tips-to-help-you-lose-weight/
      3. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/edema/basics/causes/con-20033037
      4. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/salt/about/index.html
      5. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/dash-diet/art-20048456
      6. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/edema/basics/causes/con-20033037
      7. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/red-wine/art-20048281
      8. ↑ http://my.clevelandclinic.org/florida/about/publications/treating-leg-circulation-problems
      9. ↑ http://www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/diagnosis-treatment/treatments/btpills/btpills.html
      1. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/edema/basics/causes/con-20033037
      2. ↑ http://www.liposuction.com/legs-ankles.html
      3. ↑ https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2011/10/how-to-flatter-wide-calves.html
      4. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2571672/Kiss-goodbye-cankles-Diets-wont-help-dress-disguise-chunky-ankles-ANGELA-EPSTEIN-finds-out.html
      5. ↑ https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2011/10/how-to-flatter-wide-calves.html
      6. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2571672/Kiss-goodbye-cankles-Diets-wont-help-dress-disguise-chunky-ankles-ANGELA-EPSTEIN-finds-out.html
      7. ↑ https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2011/10/how-to-flatter-wide-calves.html
      8. ↑ http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-does-fat-deposit-on-t/
      9. ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000203.htm
      10. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7649409

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To get rid of cankles, exercise your lower leg muscles by cycling, running, or walking, since this can help circulation and reduce swelling. Another way to combat swelling is to wear compression stockings, which support the leg muscles and promote blood flow. If your cankles are caused by being overweight, begin a moderate exercise routine to help reduce your weight slowly and slim your ankles. For example, you could start walking or climbing the stairs to work. Combine your exercise routine with a lower calorie diet rich in salads and vegetables to lose weight faster. Try to limit your salt intake by restricting how much processed foods you eat, because high levels of salt can cause your ankles and other parts of the body to swell. For tips on how to dress to make your ankles look thinner, keep reading!

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