Neck veins: All the cool kids are wearing them these days! I’m so fashion forward! Image Source
Pop quiz: What do Madonna, Angelina Jolie, me and a random dude off the Internet all have in common? No it’s not that we all have “Call Me Maybe” stuck in our heads. (Okay, that could possibly be true. Curse you Carly Rae Jeppson.) Actually we have all had our gardenhose veins called out by strangers. The first time it happened to me I was standing on my head at the gym basking in the glow of what I thought was the admiration of all the onlookers. “Look at that!” “How does she do that?” “I’ve never seen that on a woman before!” It was that last one that clued me in that they might possibly not be as enamored of my circus tricks as I am.
Finally Gym Buddy Krista gasped, “Look at that VEIN! It’s huge!” Girlfriend speaks the truth. My neck veins are so prominent that I can take my own pulse just by looking in a mirror.
So I had a lot of empathy when I got this e-mail from a reader:
Justin writes, “Ever since I became a fitness freak I have noticed that my veins are ridiculously huge in my arms thighs and calves and even my feet. Women think its gross sometimes. I’m not a huge Guy or anything, I’m 6’0″ and 180 pounds. Is this normal?”
First I have to give Justin props for capitalizing Guy. At first I was going to fix his typo but then I decided that if he can be a Guy then I totally get to christen myself a Lady, which is even better because it either a) makes me related to the Lady of Gaga or b) means I’ve been knighted or rebirthed into royalty or something. Either option is awesome. Second, I feel bad that some heartless girls called him out on it because I know that feels.
But to your question. Yes, Justin, increased “vascularity” is totally normal and much talked about in fitness circles. Some people love it (mostly men, gonna be honest here) and are always trying to get more. Others hate it and will do anything to avoid. I think most people fall somewhere in the middle where a little vascularity is good but too much is bad. I mean, nobody wants this much:
I’m going to wager that not even this woman wants this much vascularity most of the time. Just guessing from the pic, she seems to be in peak form for a bodybuilding competition which means she in a state of serious dehydration and leanness so in her off season most of the veins probably go away. Maybe? Should I stop speculating about strangers on the Internet?
Ethel. That was the name of my first vein. Yep, I actually named it. I was so proud of that sucker. A little line right across the top of my right delt, that popped out whenever I did shoulder presses. When the one on my left shoulder emerged, it was christened Lucy. (Don’t ask why Ethel came before Lucy, I loved them both equally!) And since weightlifters see their bulging veins as evidence of their growing muscles, I wore Ethel & Lucy with pride and all of my weightlifting buddies rejoiced with me.
Of course as I’ve started getting older and have been working out longer I’ve acquired more veins – although strangely in places I don’t really workout much like my neck (see headstand story above) and my forearms. But it’s not just Justin and I that are publicly vein-y. Angelina Jolie & Madonna, both known for being simultaneously muscular and ultra-sexy, have been red-circled in the press for having rope-veined arms. And I’ve got to admit, my arms look just like Angelina’s. (Which is the only comparison between her & I you will ever hear me make. Look ma, I got celebrity veins!) Granted, the veins are worse when I’m lifting, dehydrated or clenching my fists. Just sitting here typing, you can’t hardly see them at all except for a couple on the backs of my hands. It seems deeply unfair that we chastise women for not looking “toned” but then ridicule the effects of the exercise necessary to get those shapely arms.
So how come some people have a subway map on their arms and other equally fit folks don’t? There are several factors that go into veinousness (yes, I made that up):
1. Genetics. Women in my family are prone to garden-hose veins. And I’m pretty sure the inherited fish belly color of my skin probably helps the veins pop as well.
2. Age. As we get older our skin thins out making veins more apparent.
3. Leanness. How much subcutaneous fat you have can make all the difference in how many little blue ropes you see. The leaner you are, the more veins will show.
4. Fitness. Because I am apparently not the only person who worries about such things, Scientific American has a very detailed and technical answer how exercise plays into this. It basically boils down to two things: growing muscle pushes veins closer to the skin and a lack of subcutaneous fat makes them more obvious (which explains why old people have such veiny hands). Bodybuilders have both bulging muscles and a low bodyfat percentage, hence the garden hoses.
So what can you do about it? I’ve got bad news for you Justin: Not much. There isn’t a ton you can do to reduce the veins but if you’re ultra lean putting on a little bit of fat can help reduce their appearance. Other things that I’ve been told help are to stay very well hydrated and to stay away from anything containing a vasodilator (like nitrous oxide – often found in bodybuilding supplements and fat burners). And you should of course get them checked out by a doc if you think something’s wrong.
The upside? No one will ever have to stick you multiple times when taking blood! Like my mom, who is a nurse, always tells me: “You’re a phlebotomist’s dream come true!” She’s so easy to please.
In the end some of us just have bigger veins than others and I’d hope that the ladies would recognize they’re just a sign of your amazing buff-ness! And if it isn’t veins, we’d be worrying about something else. It seems like everyone has a fitness side effect they don’t love. Jillian Michaels wrote that she refuses to do oblique ab work because it thickens her waist. My friend Dee hates how her traps get really big and bulky when she works her shoulders a lot. I hate how working my lats makes all my shirts, dresses and bras too tight. Is it wrong or bad to have strong obliques, a muscled neck or a broader back? No – in fact some people love these things! But it’s also not wrong or bad to dislike it on you. We all have an idea of how we’d like to look and that’s okay. So if you like your veins and are happy with them, wear them with pride (and you will find a girl who will not be “grossed out” by them!). But if you don’t like them you can try the above ideas to try and reduce their prominence somewhat.
So how about you guys – any other vein-y folk out there? Do you wear them with pride or hide them away? And how do you feel about women being critiqued for the size of their veins, of all things? Do you have a side effect of exercise you don’t particularly like?
I also have Charlotte/Angelina arms; totally grosses out my kids.
In my case it’s not genetic, because once upon a time I had to get poked two or three times to find a vein. Then I started exercising and voila, easy to poke veins.
I also have a thick waist and big traps from working them. Anyone doesn’t like it? Tough s&@#, I can beat you up if I need to.
You can see the veins in my arms but they don’t pop out- however, I’ve had serious Sarah Jessica Parker hands since my 20’s. Feet too. I just have no body fat there. My upper chest bones also become very apparent very easily, even when I’m a few pounds over my ideal weight. I just *only* carry my weight in my midsection- haha.
I gagged a little when I saw that first picture. Then a lot when I saw the second one. I can see my veins, too, but it’s because I’m pasty, verging on translucent.
I can handle them everywhere else but for some reason the ones on the front of my calves just skeeve me out. Add the deadlift scars and yeah those things are NOT,and never will be, objects of beauty.
Yup – my shoulders build muscle like no one’s business. I can go from ooh muscley to super manly in short time, and finding shirts that fit over those muscles is not easy. I have to watch myself. My veins have always showed in my arms and hands, even when I was bigger, so I try not to look at them, cuz they are still there…even moreso now. For me the annoying thing about being thinner is how, for some reason, you can see my ribs right below my neck regardless of my weight and I don’t like the look of it – it drives me crazy. I guess everyone has a spot they get annoyed with 🙂
I actually love garden hose veins on a guy. I just can’t resite squishing them over and over and over and seeing them bounce back up.
And I actually envy my gorgeous identical twin cousins because they have that long, lean skinny but strong physique with garden hose veins! I find it looks like they are healthier and could survive being stranded on a deserted island longer than I.
I have subcutaneous fat (ahem) + really tiny skinny veins that require multiple prodding from blood nurses and also STOP giving blood outright if they ask for too much!!!???
My arms tingle if they are left above my head for any lenght of time including tying a simple ponytail…. so CELEBRATE YOUR GARDEN HOSES Guys and Ladies!!!
Oh my goodness, I thought I was the only one who liked to squish veins!! My hubby gets so frustrated because when he gets worked up about something, a huge vein appears on his forehead and I simply can NOT take him seriously–I just HAVE to squish it!
Kari
http://www.dreamingintherealworld.blogspot.com
PS. Charlotte, I’m glad you only resemble Angelina’s veins…I’d take your body over hers any day!
First of all, your pictures cracks me up!
I don’t have to deal with veins but I find myself getting pretty self concious about sweat. I do not understand how some people can run outside in 80 degree heat and not get back and butt sweat!
I am very jealous. Usually anytime someone needs blood I blow through at least two people if not more while they try to find someone who can stick me.
I agree with the vein-squishers. I love poking big veins. My first boyfriend had these huge veins in his arms, and I would poke them all the time, and it amused both of us.
I actually like seeing a little bit of popping veins. They make you look fit and capable for some reason. As for me, the only poppy veins are in my hands and feet, because I have little buried veins (doctors hate drawing blood from me because my arm veins are so hard to find), and only when my hands/feet get super hot do the veins pop. Though I’m so pale you can see the blue in my hands anyway.
Hmmm…there are so many things I could say: You’re so vein(ey)? Your workouts haven’t been in vein? This post is written in a particular vein? I like a good vein with dinner?
OK, yeah, that last one…
Big veins don’t freak me out. I’ve always had them in my hands, and, luckily, in the inner elbows. The only time they scare me is when someone is SO mad they’re telling and their veins pop as their face turns red. I’m always worried they’ll have a coronary.
But your visible veins are the result of healthy living. Wear them proudly! 🙂
Haha it reminds me of that moment in “Friends” when Joey refers to Monica’s anger vein as a separate person…
Not particularly keen on veins myself, but given the choice between veins and fat on me, I would probably choose veins!
Definitely on board the vein train. I have massive veins that protrude from my forearms and all down the backs of my legs. Which makese sense, becaus in comparison to the rest of my body, I carry barely any fat in those areas (apple shaped). I don’t know, I kind ofh ate it, espeically at the gym when I’m surrounded by all dudes- a tiny girl with crazy veiny limbs, but my boyfriend tells me their probably all envious, so not to worry about it. I agree with Sarah, veins it is!
I agree. I think veins are sexy. My wife has really shapely legs with veins, but they
always turn me on.
Interesting. This is actually one way I self-monitor my weight, I am prone to slips in eating and upticks in exercise, and one indicator that I’m going too far is when I start to notice unnatural visibility of veins in my forearms–NOT due to having killer forearm muscles, alas. The benefit to the veins, though, is I am so self-conscious about them is that it’s usually a motivator for me get my ass in line and put some weight back on.
Thanks for linking to the SciAm piece, fascinating.
The veins in my hands are very prominent, and I have boney fingers, so my hands are not the prettiest to look at. I must be an exception, as it’s hard to get blood from me. Probably doesn’t help that I am cold all the time. Also, my chest is like a map- bright blue veins running in all directions. Kind of embarrassing when wearing strapless dresses.
I am VERY veiny!!!!! I think all factors apply – age, leanness, fitness. I was veiny younger too but I think mine was due to fitness & leanness then & then the age factor added in now. I actually wear with pride! For my age, is shows I am working to stay fit & healthy. Down side – the blood drive people say if I get hurt & it is a vein thing & nobody around, I may die too fast due to that – when I give blood, I fill the bag up fat! :-O
What…..wait women don’t find a big throbbing veins sexy?!
Damn, there goes my whole game plan.
Although it does make giving blood a heck of a lot easier. My buddy and I once went rock climbing before giving blood at the college blood drive. The nurses there loved the fact that they didn’t have to hunt for the vein.
Maybe I should have asked one of them out on a date………..
People! Stop being self conscious! Veins are important–they like bring blood and stuff everywhere. (I heard that’s important, at least.)
I am a registered nurse and work in the ER. Ever since trying to find other people’s veins I have become fascinated with mine and often think, “I could start an IV in my knuckle!” I also really like that my veins get big post workout and often think that there is no way I could have atherosclerosis (artery clogging) in my vascular system. I say, “Wear those big, squishy veins with pride”… I know I do. 🙂
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A guy that I’m newly dating mentioned my vascularity though he mentioned it in a way that conveyed it was sexy. I have large veins due to genetics, low body fat, and consistently active lifestyle. I hold most of my body fat, as most women do, in my hips, butt, and thighs, so my veins are not noticeable in these areas. My hands, arms, and feet however are my areas of least body fat percentage and when I am physically active consistently, they bulge. I don’t pay much mind to them and did not think they were too noticeable until my date mentioned it, but it is nothing to be ashamed of. I think they make me look healthy and fit. They are the worst on my hands and feet but creep out on my forearms as well. As far as people criticizing vascular physiques…haters gon hate, they are most likely jello or fascinated. Don’t pay them any mind, keep fit, and love yourself and your body. I personally find it very sexy when a guy is vascular because I’ve never seen an unfit guy with huge veins, normally I only see fit guys with them. The point that it gets a bit too much for me is body builder status, but that is just my personal taste and there are plenty of girls that are completely into that, so if that’s your thing guys, keep on keeping on and the ladies who love it will marvel at your evidence of hard work. We are all beautiful, bulging veins or not. I think this is such a silly thing to be self conscious over. Tubmeisters would love to have to complain about their vascularity, you are blessed.