Running is making my calves bigger!
kmstars
Posts: 17 Member
I just started running a little over a month ago and I run anywhere from 3 to 4 miles about 5 times a week. I run at a pace of a 10 min mile, or 6 mph. Since then, I've noticed that my calves have gotten extremely larger! To the point where my skinny jeans are really hard to fit over my calves! Does anyone have any pointers or an explanation as to what I can do to make them smaller?!? I already had an issue with how BIG they were before I started running! Now they're even larger and I really don't like it! I have really started to love running too which is the problem.. I don't know what to do. 
0
Replies
-
Buy capris? I don't know how to make the smaller. I've just accepted that my skinny jeans have to have a good amount of stretch in them to fit over my calves, and I have exactly one pair of knee boots that fit. Because they lace up and I can do them up to fit my legs.0
-
Embrace the calves! I would just try to build the quads and hams and to balance everything out. I slowly built my calves to be more in proportion with my upper legs! And flares and bell bottoms are back.0
-
Water retention in the muscles as part of repair and glycogen replenishment for future activity.0
-
The benefits of running are going to outweigh the negatives. So learn to deal with it, buy different pants.0
-
brianpperkins wrote: »Water retention in the muscles as part of repair and glycogen replenishment for future activity.
This. Also you need to pick different parents if you want smaller calves.0 -
Why is having slightly larger calves seen as such a negative? I mean, other than the fact that my legs don't fit into my jeans that well, what is the big deal? It is a good thing!0
-
Well I really don't want to buy new jeans and boots, if I can just get them to go back to their normal size I'd be happy!0
-
Why is having slightly larger calves seen as such a negative? I mean, other than the fact that my legs don't fit into my jeans that well, what is the big deal? It is a good thing!
Skinny jeans and fitspro crap on instagram. There's not one single man that says "Oh look. She has muscle in her lower legs. Abort!" My favorite thing about this is that the same woman worried about having bigger calves typically likes wearing heels to make her calf stand out. They even pose on their tiptoes when they're barefoot.
:laugh:
0 -
My calves are monsters, and I love them. When I wear heels, I always get compliments about how sculpted they look.
Learn to love them!0 -
http://getoffmyinternets.net/forums/fashion-bloggers/youre-wearing-flats/
Wearing flats? Still need to tiptoe.
0 -
Running shouldn't be making your calves bigger. More sculpted yes, but not bigger. Probably water retention if you are running every day.0
-
Are you eating at a deficit? If so, your calves are not going to grow much, if at all.
Also, muscular calves are awesome and a heck of a lot more attractive than skinny unmuscled legs.
Embrace them. Buy different pants.0 -
shrinkingletters wrote: »My calves are monsters, and I love them. When I wear heels, I always get compliments about how sculpted they look.
Learn to love them!
Or wear shorts and relaxed fit jeans like I do. My calves would work on Godzilla.
I should be back up to 40 - 50 mpw by the end of this month. Honestly it doesn't really change the size of my calves that I notice. Then again I don't wear skinny jeans. :laugh:0 -
Stop running? The reality is that the muscles are reacting to the stress put on them. So if you want to keep running.............................buy some new jeans and boots.Well I really don't want to buy new jeans and boots, if I can just get them to go back to their normal size I'd be happy!
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
0 -
It used to be that I'd hate how muscular my calves and legs would look, but these days I actively work to build them up. It's the first place that shows muscle tone on me, and then I see so many women complaining about wanting JLo defined legs, so I figure why not go with the flow?0
-
If they haven't been exercised with that intensity for awhile, they can get bigger initially. It's like an athlete laying off for a long time then returning to resistance training.Running shouldn't be making your calves bigger. More sculpted yes, but not bigger. Probably water retention if you are running every day.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
0 -
There's no way one month of running added that much measurable size to your calves, unless you're part Hulk. It's just your perception.0
-
Snap your fibula and get stuck in a boot for a month, that'll help them go down.Well I really don't want to buy new jeans and boots, if I can just get them to go back to their normal size I'd be happy!
I've lost noticeable size in my left calf for that very reason.
Embrace the calves or stop running.
0 -
Not necessarily. An half inch gain isn't unlikely and can mean the different in fitting into already tight clothing or boots.There's no way one month of running added that much measurable size to your calves, unless you're part Hulk. It's just your perception.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
0 -
If they haven't been exercised with that intensity for awhile, they can get bigger initially. It's like an athlete laying off for a long time then returning to resistance training.Running shouldn't be making your calves bigger. More sculpted yes, but not bigger. Probably water retention if you are running every day.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Well this explains why my legs have blown up since I started working out again after a few years between long distance running/weight training. I like it, though.0 -
I'll rephrase...while possible, it's much more likely that you know you've been running and you're already a little bit self-conscious about your calves, so your perception is that your calves have grown much more than they actually have.
Not necessarily. An half inch gain isn't unlikely and can mean the different in fitting into already tight clothing or boots.There's no way one month of running added that much measurable size to your calves, unless you're part Hulk. It's just your perception.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
0 -
Agree.
I'll rephrase...while possible, it's much more likely that you know you've been running and you're already a little bit self-conscious about your calves, so your perception is that your calves have grown much more than they actually have.
Not necessarily. An half inch gain isn't unlikely and can mean the different in fitting into already tight clothing or boots.There's no way one month of running added that much measurable size to your calves, unless you're part Hulk. It's just your perception.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
0 -
Yay for big muscley calves! Looking forward to mine.0
-
I came back in from a run the other day and my youngest child said "I can tell you've been running. Your calves look like they could cut a steak." I love little kids! Embrace your calves. They're marvelous, I'm sure.0
-
One year of riding bike level 15 of 20 My legs have probably lost three inches in quads and another inch in the calves since I started riding my bike. I do about 18 miles in 50 minutes 9 times a week. Maybe I should start running I do squats and lunges two days a week with weights and nothing is getting them back to where I want them.0
-
Sorry, 19 inch calves, and I don't remember them being much smaller when I was kid. Good thing I wear size 11 shoes, so they aren't too disportionate. It really is mostly about genetics.0
-
Not necessarily. An half inch gain isn't unlikely and can mean the different in fitting into already tight clothing or boots.There's no way one month of running added that much measurable size to your calves, unless you're part Hulk. It's just your perception.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
I wouldn't rush out and buy new clothes yet though. I've had the same thing happen when coming back to running. It seems like there is a point initally where my pants get tighter, then after a couple of weeks, it goes away.
0 -
Sorry, 19 inch calves, and I don't remember them being much smaller when I was kid. Good thing I wear size 11 shoes, so they aren't too disportionate. It really is mostly about genetics.
mine too but i cant blame muscle LOLOLOL
My calves are getting smaller - i started at 21" back in jan and was 18 as of this morning. but i lose weight from my legs super crazy slow, even with all the exercise i do (about an hour a day of mostly cardio). Considering I've dropped 4 shirt sizes in the same amount of time, its really not fair LOL!
0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.2K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 421 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions