Reduce calves?

ise311
ise311 Posts: 107 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all. My calves are very big for a petite-sized woman like me. How do I reduce the size? Are long distance run the only way?

I walk a LOT everyday (due to not having any car) to work, to malls. Pls help :(
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Replies

  • Scamd83
    Scamd83 Posts: 808 Member
    edited March 2016
    Strong, big calves are great. I can't believe anyone would want to sacrifice such a beneficial thing for some false notion of aesthetics. You'd find all of that walking more difficult if you reduced them, you should be thankful for such a useful gift from the bro-gods. You get more power and energy than most other people. I have the same thing and I can walk up steep hills like they aren't even there.
  • Kullerva
    Kullerva Posts: 1,114 Member
    If the calves are big due to muscle, Scamd83 is right--enjoy your calves! If the muscles are lost in a fat sheath, losing weight may help (I'm not sure what your goals are). You'd want to eat plenty of protein to protect against muscle loss, though.

    Could you be experiencing some form of body dysmorphia? I'm down about 40 lbs from my top weight and I still "see" my stomach as being the same size as it was then, even thought that's obviously untrue! It's possible that you're not seeing/judging your body accurately. Most people you meet don't think your calves are huge, do they? :)
  • BruinsGal_91
    BruinsGal_91 Posts: 1,400 Member
    There is a difference of 30lbs between my highest weight and my lowest weight. At my lowest, my boobs shrank, my stomach, butt and thighs got smaller, but my calves remained the same size. And I was running half-marathons. In the end I decided that genetics was obviously playing its part, and decided to learn to love my big ol' calves.
  • yusaku02
    yusaku02 Posts: 3,472 Member
    If you don't want them then I'll take them. Calves never want to grow :(
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    A few weeks in a wheelchair will help. And a massive calorie deficit
  • eeejer
    eeejer Posts: 339 Member
    calves are sexy, don't worry about them.
  • Jams009
    Jams009 Posts: 345 Member
    Rock those big calves, most people would be jealous.

    Only way to reduce muscle mass is to use the muscle as little as possible and be in a calorie deficit. But that's not normally a thing that most people want to do.
  • ise311
    ise311 Posts: 107 Member
    Thanks for the replies. Not sure it's fat or muscle, maybe both? It's hard to look sexy with big calves, hard to wear fitting pants/jeans as well.

    I've tried running, tried long brisk-walk on treadmill too. Doesn't work. Probably gets bigger
  • eeejer
    eeejer Posts: 339 Member
    working them out will not make them smaller. You may have a harder time finding them, but there are pants that will suit you out there.
  • PandoraGreen721
    PandoraGreen721 Posts: 450 Member
    Embrace them! Calves are sexy! Yes..squeezing them into jeans suck..but I like filling them out.
  • sarahlifts
    sarahlifts Posts: 610 Member
    nothing you can do about it but put both you legs in casts use a wheel chair and let the muscle atrophy for 6 months. I think by the time you got around to being mobile again, they would grow back.

    Short of surgery to remove muscle or amputation there is nothing you can do.

    I've seen women with huge calves they always complain. I wont knock you for it. Though my calves wont grow, I get it. you want a more feminine ideal when it comes to calves. Try to love the calves you have as they will not be changing.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    :cry:
  • farmerpam1
    farmerpam1 Posts: 402 Member
    I'm also a small person with very big calves. I love 'em, I worked hard for them. And because of them I can power up any hill, on foot or bike. Embrace the power of the calves, I say! (Out of curiosity I just measured and they're 14 inches, is that big?)
  • CrabNebula
    CrabNebula Posts: 1,119 Member
    They are what they are. I have ridiculous calves because that's what hauling around 140 unnecessary pounds for years does for them. I was on that 20 year bulk, LMAO.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    farmerpam1 wrote: »
    I'm also a small person with very big calves. I love 'em, I worked hard for them. And because of them I can power up any hill, on foot or bike. Embrace the power of the calves, I say! (Out of curiosity I just measured and they're 14 inches, is that big?)

    Mine are 15.25" which is embarrassingly tiny...

    STOP LAUGHING AT ME!!!

    #forevertinycalves
  • farmerpam1
    farmerpam1 Posts: 402 Member
    LMAO! :D
  • Nicklebee93
    Nicklebee93 Posts: 316 Member
    :D:D I have big calves too... I'm about 20 pounds overweight still, but even so mine are about 15"... I'm not sure how much smaller they'll go down. We'll have to see..
  • BruinsGal_91
    BruinsGal_91 Posts: 1,400 Member
    farmerpam1 wrote: »
    I'm also a small person with very big calves. I love 'em, I worked hard for them. And because of them I can power up any hill, on foot or bike. Embrace the power of the calves, I say! (Out of curiosity I just measured and they're 14 inches, is that big?)

    not compared to my 16" calves. I'm 5' 2", so mine seem huge. But there's not a lot I can do about it. I just keep on running.
  • jessef593
    jessef593 Posts: 2,272 Member
    Chances are it's due to your genetics to which you have no idea how lucky you are. The bro gods have placed favour down unto you. Truly blessed is thee.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    It's always interesting to see what numbers people throw up as proof of their tiny or huge calves, thighs, arms, etc.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    edited March 2016
    jemhh wrote: »
    It's always interesting to see what numbers people throw up as proof of their tiny or huge calves, thighs, arms, etc.

    #forevertinycalves
    pkottym1gn2v.jpeg
    i3jui1zirc6l.jpeg

    :cry:

    (ETA: no, I don't workout in duck boots. Wore these to walk the 25 yards through 8" of snow to get to the gym.)
  • sunflowerhippi
    sunflowerhippi Posts: 1,099 Member
    I lost over 60lbs and only lost 1/2" from my calves... bodys do what they want. As for measurements mine are around 14 1/2, and as a women skinny jeans that fit my waist, or would fit don't get above my ankles.
  • macgurlnet
    macgurlnet Posts: 1,946 Member
    farmerpam1 wrote: »
    I'm also a small person with very big calves. I love 'em, I worked hard for them. And because of them I can power up any hill, on foot or bike. Embrace the power of the calves, I say! (Out of curiosity I just measured and they're 14 inches, is that big?)

    I'm 5 feet tall with ~13 inch calves (though that depends where I measure them....maybe I'm doing it wrong).

    OP, without a picture we really have no idea if yours are "big" or not. Can you see muscle definition in them at all? If not, there might be a little excess fat there that you could lose.

    My calves are pretty lean and I run 2-3 times a week so they're not shrinking anytime soon.

    ~Lyssa

  • oh_happy_day
    oh_happy_day Posts: 1,137 Member
    BruinsGal_91 wrote: »
    farmerpam1 wrote: »
    I'm also a small person with very big calves. I love 'em, I worked hard for them. And because of them I can power up any hill, on foot or bike. Embrace the power of the calves, I say! (Out of curiosity I just measured and they're 14 inches, is that big?)

    not compared to my 16" calves. I'm 5' 2", so mine seem huge. But there's not a lot I can do about it. I just keep on running.

    5'2" and 16" calves here too!
    ise311 wrote: »
    Thanks for the replies. Not sure it's fat or muscle, maybe both? It's hard to look sexy with big calves, hard to wear fitting pants/jeans as well.

    I've tried running, tried long brisk-walk on treadmill too. Doesn't work. Probably gets bigger

    Disagree. I look sexy as hell with my calves, I get compliments on my legs all the time. I wear tight fitting jeans. I get ones with a decent amount of stretch so I can get my glutes and quads into them while still having them fit my waist. My legs don't look skinny, but they have a great shape with obvious muscle definition.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    5'4", smallest I have ever gotten my calves is 15 inches. I think they were 16.5 when I started losing at 165lbs. They are big partly because of genetics and partly because they have been hauling my overweight *kitten* around since I was 13.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Ah!!!! you guys made me measure my calves. 13" #forevertinycalves :'(
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    edited March 2016
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    Ah!!!! you guys made me measure my calves. 13" #forevertinycalves :'(

    akpguv6j17xb.jpeg
  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,192 Member
    jofjltncb6 wrote: »
    jemhh wrote: »
    It's always interesting to see what numbers people throw up as proof of their tiny or huge calves, thighs, arms, etc.

    #forevertinycalves
    pkottym1gn2v.jpeg
    i3jui1zirc6l.jpeg

    :cry:

    (ETA: no, I don't workout in duck boots. Wore these to walk the 25 yards through 8" of snow to get to the gym.)

    I don't see anything wrong with the size of your calves. Maybe because I don't like huge calves in men or women. ;)
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Mine are 14.5", which I think is pretty middle of the road for my height (5'5.5".) My husband has big calves. I asked him if he's ever measured them but he said no.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    Ah!!!! you guys made me measure my calves. 13" #forevertinycalves :'(

    Damn! I think that's actually the size of my forearms. I have a really uhhh...robust grip.
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