How NOT to grow certain muscles

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  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    All I'm going to say is that a lot of overweight people (especially women) think their calves are "solid muscle," and nearly all of them are wrong.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    All I'm going to say is that a lot of overweight people (especially women) think their calves are "solid muscle," and nearly all of them are wrong.

    I have a friend who tried to tell me her large calves were all muscle. I flexed mine and as her to do the same so I could see the giant muscle. Lo and behold even with flexing there was no muscle to be seen. Some people do carry more weight in their calves but it isn't all must giant muscle waiting to grow with exercise. None of my runner friends have huge calves. There's some well defined, ripping looking muscle there but not much difference in size based on body size.
  • da_bears10089
    da_bears10089 Posts: 1,791 Member
    All I'm going to say is that a lot of overweight people (especially women) think their calves are "solid muscle," and nearly all of them are wrong.

    truth! My calves are solid, but i know there is plenty of fat around them, it just doesn't deposit the same way thigh fat does.
  • CoachDreesTraining
    CoachDreesTraining Posts: 223 Member
    All I'm going to say is that a lot of overweight people (especially women) think their calves are "solid muscle," and nearly all of them are wrong.

    ^^^

    I didn't want to be the bearing of bad news, but thanks for pointing this out.

    If you can't see a clear distinction between your gastroc and soleus, you're probably not nearly as lean as you think you are in your calf.
  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
    All I'm going to say is that a lot of overweight people (especially women) think their calves are "solid muscle," and nearly all of them are wrong.

    ^^^

    I didn't want to be the bearing of bad news, but thanks for pointing this out.

    If you can't see a clear distinction between your gastroc and soleus, you're probably not nearly as lean as you think you are in your calf.

    ^^^ This.

    Here is a thread with some pictures of women with lean (solid muscle) calves.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1079419-slimming-my-calves?hl=hard+calves&page=3

    If your calves do not have that clearly defined upside down heart shape then you have some body fat over them. Most likely your calves will get smaller, with weight loss and exercise, not bigger.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    OP, you won't get much help here. The word muscles brings a whole group of people who actually believe that every single person in the world develops muscle at the same rate and in the same manner.

    But, I know what you are saying. I come from a line of women with big calves. Boots never fit, skinny jeans get stuck on them and I have to pull them down when I stand up, etc. Running (not marathon, just 5k at a time) made mine bigger.

    I don't really have an answer for you, as mine are still big. Just wanted to say that I know where you are coming from.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    Is the real problem huge calves? Maybe it is the proportion of her calf muscles in relationship to the rest of her lower body?
    I think she mentioned that her problem stems from getting into her jeans?

    Bell bottoms may be the most simple solution. Maybe if she worked her other leg muscles and made them bigger to be more in proportion to her calves then that may be the longer solution. Offcourse that means you may have to buy bigger jeans.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,988 Member
    "since I know dance lengthens instead of thickens the muscle... "

    I'm going to risk having a go at this one. Dancers, yoga folk, some gymnasts etc. have a wider range of flexibility than other folks so - when the limbs are at their most extreme range of movement - the muscle appears to be longer and more drawn out between the two anchor points than a fully contracted or relaxed muscle would look where the range of mobility was less.

    I think that's what the OP was meaning; not that the muscle is actually longer - obviously that would be silly.
    It's not that. It's that most amatuer pro dancers, gymnasts and yoga people are pretty lean to begin with. Less muscle and low fat make people look "longer".

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    I see your point, but still maintain that a fully opened muscle looks longer - because of a lower peak - than a contracted muscle or one at rest but in a lesser range of flexibility. It's a visual thing.

    I'm looking forward to getting to the stage where I am, "pretty lean to begin with" - still got a way to go yet!
    Well a contracted muscle will always "look" bigger. Muscles are always contracting and relaxing with voluntary movement. Climb stairs and the muscle will contract. If on is just standing or sitting with no movement, the the "relaxed" muscle will look smaller.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • chickiepea
    chickiepea Posts: 7 Member
    I think I have enough information now. Thanks so much to those who gave heartfelt advice. My calves are pretty cut, so I'm *doubting* there is much fat to lose there, but it definitely is possible that there's a little. I looked at the link you provided, and mine are just as defined as theirs, and run more toward the photo of the woman in toe shoes and the photo directly above it where she is in the black shorts/bra outfit.

    Thanks again so much. And for those of you who are dancers who sent pm's-- they really made my day!

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