Question about Calves

soldiergrl_101

When I started 3 months ago my calves were 17", 30lbs lighter and my calves are 16" around. My workouts consists of mainly running, swimming, dead lifts, and squats. I know you cant spot reduce but I am curious what I can do to help shrink and have more muscular looking calves. Makes it hard to wear nice boots with calves my size haha

WhoHa42

A lot of people say that having good calves are mostly genetic, which I kind of agree with, but you can do some calf exercises to bring them up. Weight calf raises help a lot.

DR2501

I have naturally big calves, and the only thing that's ever helped to lean them out was Insanity - all the plyometrics really helped!

shabaity

Nothing really, I did marching band for years and my calves stayed the same whether I had excess fat or mostly muscle. On that note tho you may be able to find something to stretch the boots themselves.

AddyB80

skipping.. especially interval skips, fast for a minute, rest for 30 secs, repeat 8 sets.

Mrsallypants

Did you do a skin caliper reading on your calves to determine how much fat you have on them? It sounds like you might distribute more fat around your calves which some people do. Or your calves could be genetically big and hyper-responsive to minor stimulation like running due to the plantar flexion. Then again, it could be a combination of both.

My goal was to increase the size of my calves which I did with leg press calf raises and seated calf raises, yet your goal isn't to develop your calves with hypertrophy exercises but shrink them.

Answer could be to diet more since you lost an inch on your calves already to diminish the fat on the calves, and perhaps reduce plantar flexion from running by opting for another form of cardio.

DavPul

"I know you can't spot reduce....so my question is 'how can I spot reduce?'"

mamma_nee

"I know you can't spot reduce....so my question is 'how can I spot reduce?'"

This

DopeItUp

"I know you can't spot reduce....so my question is 'how can I spot reduce?'"

/thread

ndj1979

"I know you can't spot reduce....so my question is 'how can I spot reduce?'"

so your saying I can't spot reduce?

PikaKnight

I know you cant spot reduce but I am curious what I can do to help shrink and have more muscular looking calves.

You do understand that spot reducing would be shrinking a specific body part...so if you know that's not possible, then why are you still asking how to do it?

MB_Positif

Learn to embrace them.

Literally. Sometimes I sit and hold my flexed calf muscles in my hand because I love them so much.

Docmahi

invariably your genetics - you probably just have a shorter tibia length/longer femur length so your calf is gonna look bigger - not a whole lot you can do about it unfortunately

but rock that **** out - calves are sexy

LishieFruit89

Learn to embrace them.

Literally. Sometimes I sit and hold my flexed calf muscles in my hand because I love them so much.

I'm jealous of MBs calves

ninerbuff

Lipo and using a wheelchair for a year will work. Other than that, you're probably SOL.

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

firstsip

Learn to embrace them.

Literally. Sometimes I sit and hold my flexed calf muscles in my hand because I love them so much.

I'm jealous of MBs calves

This.

OP, perhaps keep eating at a deficit? You DID reduce the size of your calves doing so earlier--perhaps you just hold weight there last?

Granted, as others have said, calves are the famous "up to genetics" deal. "Good" calves are strong and help you do things. Don't nitpick your body--just buy "wide leg" boots!

PikaKnight

Lipo and using a wheelchair for a year will work. Other than that, you're probably SOL.

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

Or amputation. That could work too.

MiloBloom83

You're in Vegas. How many custom boot shops are there?

Matt24442

You're in Vegas. How many custom boot shops are there?

what happens in vegas, stays in vegas

Annie_01

When I started 3 months ago my calves were 17", 30lbs lighter and my calves are 16" around. My workouts consists of mainly running, swimming, dead lifts, and squats. I know you cant spot reduce but I am curious what I can do to help shrink and have more muscular looking calves. Makes it hard to wear nice boots with calves my size haha

Mine are also 16"...and I am proud of them. While they might not be "slender" they are muscular with no flabby stuff. As I lose weight they will get smaller though probably never "skinny".

I walk a lot and take the stairs...I also do my calf raises. Just keep working them and look for boots designed for women that have larger calves.

Just think...they are a whole inch smaller than when you started!

HealthWoke0ish

As I transitioned from being a power-lifter to being a runner, my calf (and quad, etc.) size has shrunk significantly. Since it sounds like you're already doing a lot of running and very little lifting dealing directly with calf building, my approach may not work for you. Are you trying to lose more weight overall? It seems to me that that might be a solution to your "problem."

HealthWoke0ish

BTW: Tearing your Achilles is one way to get smaller calves...

Me--well...my calves--a few years back:

ETA: 1) First pic taken a month or so after surgery; 2) Second (series of) pic(s) taken a few years after surgery.