Exercises to slim down calves?!
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SuperheroSadie
Posts: 167 Member
Hey all! I can't be the only one out there with the syndrome known in the medical field as "Really, unusually big calves that don't fit in to any of the cute knee-high boots at the mall"! They're not muscle-y, they're just fat-y and completely un-toned. I'm looking to fix this as I go on this journey (Ten pounds down! Yay! 1/3 of the way there!) But I suppose I'm wondering exactly HOW to do that? I want to exercise without bulking them up, so I need stuff specifically good at slimming calves.
Any suggestions to help a girl out?
Any suggestions to help a girl out?
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Replies
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If it's fat, work on overall fat loss by eating fewer calories than you burn--eat less, move more, or do a combination of the two. There is no spot fat loss.4
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Calves are mostly genetic. While losing overall fat can help to reduce the circumference a bit, if your calves are 16" or more around, don't expect too much of a reduction.
There are no exercises that directly reduce any part of the body (also known as spot reduction training by many fitness sites).
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
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Overall Weight loss. If that does not help, embrace them.1
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Mine are the opposite, unusually skinny, haven't changed size too much and I look completely ridiculous in boots lol...2
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Calves are mostly genetic. While losing overall fat can help to reduce the circumference a bit, if your calves are 16" or more around, don't expect too much of a reduction.
There are no exercises that directly reduce any part of the body (also known as spot reduction training by many fitness sites).
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
Yep yep. Mine started around 16.5. Very large, and I'm only 5'4". I got mine down to 14.5 and considered that to be a wild success.
ETA: with 30 pounds lost1 -
Compression socks? Like for air travel?
Just an idea0 -
Just exercise and eat at a deficit. That's what worked for me anyway. I've got quite muscly calves (I used to cycle a lot when I was younger) and I can fit into knee high boots now.1
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Hey! If your big calves are genetic, you may not be able to slim them down too much, but there's a series of workouts on you tube called "ballet beautiful." The exercises are all designed around ballerina bodies, and there's specifically a workout for long, lean legs. Try it out. It can't hurt!1
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As above, not much you can do with genetics.
That said, you can streamline them. I'm a standard pear shape (no boobs, weirdly big hips/thighs topped off with a great set of cankles).
I found 10 minutes, 4 times a week on the step machine gave them some definition and definitely did not make then bigger.1 -
Exercise and overall weight loss
Get to your target weight and see what you have.
Calves can get very cut looking too.
Sometimes we just don't like aspects of our appearance and it is our own perception in play.
At the end of the day it is genetics and self acceptance after you have done all you can do.
Best wishes on all counts0 -
Overall fat loss, sweetie. Your calves & my double chin: stank eye! LOL
just do your program. the body will change as it wants... Also, go to zappos & find the wider calf boots. They're out there, and they're cute as anything at the mall. I promise!0 -
You know, I wish I had big calves ;(1
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Start lifting weights. It won't take much fat off them, but after a while you'll be like "Waaah, my calf muscles won't grow!"
I know this from experience.1 -
Poor calves. When they're big, people want them smaller. When they're small, people want them bigger.5
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As said before: overall weight lost =smaller everywhere. But some people will always have larger than average Boobs or necks or ankles. Pilates Played a huge roll in slimming my legs. Even when I wasn't loosing weight! Get a dvd and try0
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Hey! If your big calves are genetic, you may not be able to slim them down too much, but there's a series of workouts on you tube called "ballet beautiful." The exercises are all designed around ballerina bodies, and there's specifically a workout for long, lean legs. Try it out. It can't hurt!
If someone "looks" longer and leaner, it's usually because they have low body fat and lack muscle mass.
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
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