How can I develop thighs and not calves?

justinejacksonm

This may seem like an odd question but I'm trying to build muscle in my thighs and I seem to be over developing or building more muscle in my calves then I would like. I want to continue building muscle in my thighs but I don't want any more muscle in my calves and actually I would rather some of the muscle in my calves go away. Is this even possible?

What I have to work with is a pair of power blocks and body weight so all my lower body workouts come from the elliptical and strength training generally through following Fitness blender videos which target the lower body, holding weights.

I'm not having the same results that I did a few years back I'm not sure what I'm doing differently... At one point in the past I had a gym membership so I would use the machines to isolate my thigh muscles or us now I'm mainly working my upper legs while I'm standing. I stand all day at work which doesn't help.

I'm toying with getting a leg machine for home so I can isolate my thigh muscles without using my calves as much with this help?

when I broke my foot 2 years ago I lost a lot of muscle in my right leg my calf muscle look really good, very slim like I've wanted but lost all the muscle in my thigh still trying to rebuild the muscles there.

While we're at it my whole back side is flat now we're used to be pretty round do I need to develop the back of my thighs more? I do lots of butt lift toning videos for my butt and it's lifting off but it's just not around anymore??

ca_josh

Squats, squats and more squats.

sardelsa

I would imagine you don't do any isolated calf work, obviously I would stop doing that if you do. Unfortunately I have the same issue and it is very difficult to not engage my calves in my lower body work, but if I do anything and feel my calves I will cut that exercise out or modify it. But good news is they haven't increased in size despite running multiple bulk cycles, they haven't gone down though. However building up the rest of my legs helped overshadow them. That will probably be your best bet.

MikePfirrman

Calves are more genetics (and I think) what you did as a kid. I have gigantic calves. Always have since I was a kid. I remember being mortified when a B-Ball coach looked at my calves years ago and said something to the extent of "those look like Popeyes' arms!". You may not be old enough to remember Popeye but he had gigantic forearms and not huge upper arms. I road an old bike as a kid that I swear had wooden (or at least solid rubber) tires. I was the youngest of six and my brothers and sisters couldn't even peddle the thing and I rode this thing all afternoon for miles and miles. I think that's where they came from.

I kind of crack up now when those that want bigger calves look at mine still (now) envious. You can't build them up too much. Ask people that don't have them!

Cahgetsfit

Hm.. you might need to look into quad and hamstring specific exercises and not stuff that has you jumping around on your tippy toes (that would help calves to grow). I'm afraid I don't really have suggestions for at home workout for quads and hamstrings apart from lunges and stuff like that but just try a Google of some sort.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

My legs have gotten much leaner from jogging. Elliptical actually under-works your calves relative to running and cycling. Maybe you need to burn them a bit more.

justinejacksonm

Thank you for your responses!!! Do you think just standing, alone, all day at work can be contributing factor to all the muscle my calves have developed???? I don't like it 😞

ca_josh

Unfortunately, a lot of it is just genetics 🧬! No matter how much I work on my chest, my shoulders grow and my chest stays the same. lol.

sardelsa

justinejacksonm wrote: »

Thank you for your responses!!! Do you think just standing, alone, all day at work can be contributing factor to all the muscle my calves have developed???? I don't like it 😞

Are you wearing heels? That could be a factor. At the end of the day your genetics will have a lot to do with it and you may just have to accept them.

tirowow12385

Nice toned calf is nice to look at.

Keto_Vampire

So many aspiring members...only the truly genetic elite of **** calve genetics allowed in though. Lead by Omar Isuf

LaDivaNicotina

MikePfirrman wrote: »

Calves are more genetics (and I think) what you did as a kid. I have gigantic calves. Always have since I was a kid. I remember being mortified when a B-Ball coach looked at my calves years ago and said something to the extent of "those look like Popeyes' arms!". You may not be old enough to remember Popeye but he had gigantic forearms and not huge upper arms. I road an old bike as a kid that I swear had wooden (or at least solid rubber) tires. I was the youngest of six and my brothers and sisters couldn't even peddle the thing and I rode this thing all afternoon for miles and miles. I think that's where they came from.

I kind of crack up now when those that want bigger calves look at mine still (now) envious. You can't build them up too much. Ask people that don't have them!

Same! I have 'tree-trunk' calves, which is what my brother told me when I was kid and I've never forgotten. I don't wear shorts, I only wear black pants to try to slim the look of 'em, etc. They are super muscular from genetics and carrying around so much extra weight - it sucks.

Commander_Keen

Squats, squats and more squats

jaymijones

I like my toned, larger calves. I don’t have a dainty ankle, so working my calves have made my ankles look smaller proportionally. Although other than running and the occasional weighted calf lift I haven’t really focused on them.

Before I started losing weight after my last baby, and a good year before I started running. I bought a pair of calf high boots. They were tight at the top, but I assumed they would loosen up with weight loss. Nope, at this point my calves are very toned, and I don’t have much fat left there. Those boots are still tight. The biggest difference in before and after is shape. My calves are large, but my ankles have narrowed up a lot. That and I carry most of my weight in my hips and thighs, so my calves look proportional.

Genetics play so much into it. I’m never going to have slim legs. I can have large flabby legs, or I can have large muscular legs. (Right now it’s in between) Short of malnutrition combined with inactivity, I’ll never have the legs the Media thinks I should have. And I am okay with that.

justinejacksonm

Keto_Vampire wrote: »

So many aspiring members...only the truly genetic elite of **** calve genetics allowed in though. Lead by Omar Isuf

I didn't used to have any until this most recent get back in shape thing that started within the last year. I had a nice sexy toned calves but they weren't muscular. The only two factors I can consider why it's different this time around is again standing all day at work and no I don't wear heels and all my strength training consisting of dumbbells generally doing standing moves rather than isolating my thighs on leg machines at the gym.

psuLemon

Is this an image thing and fat distribution? It's rather hard and long to build big calves. Also, how big are your calves?

sardelsa

psuLemon wrote: »

Is this an image thing and fat distribution? It's rather hard and long to build big calves. Also, how big are your calves?

Not if you have genetics on your side. I have had large muscular calves since I was a kid ! Ooof.

psuLemon

sardelsa wrote: »

psuLemon wrote: »

Is this an image thing and fat distribution? It's rather hard and long to build big calves. Also, how big are your calves?

Not if you have genetics on your side. I have had large muscular calves since I was a kid ! Ooof.

Fair point.

ETA: Most of the time when I see these threads, most of the women have much smaller calves than they feel they do. Often measuring smaller than my biceps, which aren't huge. But, like with all things, there are exceptions.

sardelsa

psuLemon wrote: »

sardelsa wrote: »

psuLemon wrote: »

Is this an image thing and fat distribution? It's rather hard and long to build big calves. Also, how big are your calves?

Not if you have genetics on your side. I have had large muscular calves since I was a kid ! Ooof.

Fair point.

ETA: Most of the time when I see these threads, most of the women have much smaller calves than they feel they do. Often measuring smaller than my biceps, which aren't huge. But, like with all things, there are exceptions.

Well I mean mine are large relative to the rest of my legs and rest of my body. I am sure my calves compared to many other women are smaller, but it's about the ratio.

justinejacksonm

Here's some pics of my calves for reference. They're definitely more muscular than they used to be.

mmapags

Looking at the pictures, they look good to me. Not thin and not large with nice muscle development but not huge by any means. Possibly you are being harsh on yourself? Honestly, I think they look good.

ca_josh

As mmapags said, your legs are rockin’! They look great! 💪😎

SuperSetsRound2

My 2cents would be to do exercises that isolate quads and work on focusing on the controlling each rep.

if you are using a seated quad/thigh extensions: you can hold the rep(flex) at the top and control the release all the way down and repeat, this should help you grow your quads.

you can use the smith machine squat rack to grow your quads. you can put your feet shoulder width apart, keeping your feet in front of your hips and lean into bar and then squat. It will feel like you are going from a standing to seated position, push with your heels and your quads will get isolated:)

spiriteagle99

Your legs are fine. It's your perception that is off. Really.

I was told once I have the legs of a power lifter. I've never lifted in my life. I have hiked a lot and ridden a bike. I have strong legs that get me where I want to go. I'm happy with my muscles. Yes, they are a lot bigger than any movie star's, but since I don't have to make money on my looks, I'm okay with that.

WandRsmom

I focus on my quads a lot. My calves measure 20.5 inches and my thighs 22. Ppl often say they look larger than my thighs. Ppl at the gym have also been shocked when I say I don't do Anything to isolate them.

I have found leg press and extensions have helped to grow my quads over the last few months so they at least look more porpotioned. The thing is though, the calves are genetic. I can either be embarrassed by the size or proud of it. It's my body. I have to own it not try and change what I probably cant.

whmscll

I have tree trunk legs (genetics), especially my calves. I’ve learned to focus less on what they look like and be grateful that they get me where I want to go, including some magnificent hikes and backpacks. I lust after Kate Middleton’s calves/thighs but then return to reality and take my thick legs out for a walk.

tirowow12385

Your calves are rather ordinary from the pic.

tirowow12385

WandRsmom wrote: »

I focus on my quads a lot. My calves measure 20.5 inches and my thighs 22. Ppl often say they look larger than my thighs. Ppl at the gym have also been shocked when I say I don't do Anything to isolate them.

I have found leg press and extensions have helped to grow my quads over the last few months so they at least look more porpotioned. The thing is though, the calves are genetic. I can either be embarrassed by the size or proud of it. It's my body. I have to own it not try and change what I probably cant.

You have really nice calves.

WandRsmom

tirowow12385 wrote: »

WandRsmom wrote: »

I focus on my quads a lot. My calves measure 20.5 inches and my thighs 22. Ppl often say they look larger than my thighs. Ppl at the gym have also been shocked when I say I don't do Anything to isolate them.

I have found leg press and extensions have helped to grow my quads over the last few months so they at least look more porpotioned. The thing is though, the calves are genetic. I can either be embarrassed by the size or proud of it. It's my body. I have to own it not try and change what I probably cant.

You have really nice calves.

Thank you.

shaykinhand

I think your calves look perfectly fine. I have always been told that I have some killer calves (however I am one too that feels that mine are too big)... I do believe in the genetics here because my dad has some awesome calves as a pretty fit man.
I'll try to get a pic of mine and measurements so you can compare but based on your pics you look a lot smaller than me too. I feel I'm built like a tank lol.
I use the leg press as well as a lot of other leg workouts but I'm looking for some better ways to tighten my inner thighs and not grow the calves too much.