Slimming down bulky calves??

eduffy6

Hey there! I have pretty big calves, 14 1/2" the last time I measured. I am looking for ways in which I can possibly streamline them a bit, I don't expect to lose 2" or anything but would love if they could less bulky. I have just started up running on the treadmill at a moderate pace for about 45 minutes, as I have read this can help to slim them and make the muscle slimmer/longer as opposed to bulky. I have been looking into yoga or pilates too 1 or 2 times a week, is one more beneficial than the other in lengthening the leg muscles?

TIA

Edited to add that I am 5'4 and 8 1/2 stone (120lb) so my calves are out of proportion to the rest of my body IMO

ninerbuff

You CANNOT change the shape of your calves. Genetics determine this. So you can't "elongate" them with any exercise since insertion points were set when you were conceived. The fitness industry (especially Yoga and Pilates) have touted so long that you "lengthen" muscle and that's just not true. The reality is that if you have big calves, you have big calves. The ONLY way to reduce actual muscle is to discontinue using it AT ALL so it atrophies (think of someone being bedridden for a long long period of time). That would mean NOT WALKING at all too.
So your choice is to despise them, or learn to love them.

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

Chef_Barbell

Embrace them and stop calling them bulky.

Melionfire

Mine are 15 inches. Started at 17 but I have never had them smaller than 15. They are mostly muscle and I have learned to embrace them. Thankfully the boot industry has finally learned the value in makING wider calf boots!

lorrpb

What do you think the proper proportion would be? 14 1/2 is too big but you don't think 12 1/2 is right either?? So you want 13 1/2? Confused!

californiagirl2012

eduffy6 wrote: »

Hey there! I have pretty big calves, 14 1/2" the last time I measured. I am looking for ways in which I can possibly streamline them a bit, I don't expect to lose 2" or anything but would love if they could less bulky. I have just started up running on the treadmill at a moderate pace for about 45 minutes, as I have read this can help to slim them and make the muscle slimmer/longer as opposed to bulky. I have been looking into yoga or pilates too 1 or 2 times a week, is one more beneficial than the other in lengthening the leg muscles?

TIA

Edited to add that I am 5'4 and 8 1/2 stone (120lb) so my calves are out of proportion to the rest of my body IMO

I used to have this problem. The calorie deficit for fat loss slowly over time will fix it. When we have muscles under the fat it's the fat that makes it "bulky" but it's hard to actually see that until it's gone. Keep going, you will see.

jemhh

Oh calves, forever the Grass Is Always Greener On The Other Side muscles.

not_a_runner

Build your quads and hamstrings so your calves don't look so large?
Worked for me, I guess.

canadianlbs

i was going to say that nothing surprised me more than the slenderization of my lower calves that came out of doing back squats, but a look at your avatar suggests that that's no the factor you're thinking about.

i'm going here more from the functionality viewpoint that the upper parts of my own calf muscles are far far too 'tight' for healthy rom, but with that said i'm wondering if targeted art and other forms of soft-tissue release might help you as well. it does seem like some of the more direct physical interventions have helped to free up more of the real estate in my own calf muscles.

canadianlbs

canadianlbs wrote: »

a look at your avatar suggests that that's no the factor you're thinking about.

sorry, i somehow thought someone else was the op i guess what i said can still stand though.

terrie_k

I broke my tibial plateau and had to be none weight bearing for 6 weeks. My calf shrunk.. they looked like boxes with skin fat hanging from. Took we a week of walking and it was back.
14.5 is not bulky anyway. At 130 I had 15 inch, try shopping g for winter boots with those!

bbell1985

I'm 5'4" and mine are 15 inches too. Maybe 14.5....They're big from genetics and carrying around my big old *kitten* my whole life.

The bros are jealous of them.

terrie_k

OT: I must be old.. what is up with the *kitten* that keeps showing up in posts?

bbell1985

terrie_k wrote: »

OT: I must be old.. what is up with the *kitten* that keeps showing up in posts?

You'll figure it out

spiriteagle99

I have always had big calves. Before I started exercising many years ago, they were large. When I began hiking they got stronger and bigger. When I started running they got stronger still, and didn't shrink at all. My thighs got smaller, but my calves are still large. I have never been able to buy boots. After talking about the amount of hiking I did, I was once told, "No wonder you have the legs of a powerlifter." I laughed. My legs do what I want them to do - propel me up mountains and over the finish line at races. I'm not going to stop exercising so I can shrink their size.