I DONT want to gain muscle

AlwaysWanderer

Is there any way to exercise and NOT gain muscle? I do a lot of walking and running, and my calves are massive! Its just muscle, there's no fat. I want to get rid of if if possible or at least not gain any more... Any advise?

DaniiDean

I want to know this

McKayMachina

Lower weights/resistance, more reps.

rfcollins33

Lower weights/resistance, more reps.

BINGO, I agree with this post good luck

AlwaysWanderer

Lower weights/resistance, more reps.

But I dont do any weights... its just walking and running, and just started insanity, but it cant be that cz its only second day...

Macacadopai

Bump. i love my legs but my calves are getting pretty big and i find it's getting harder to find skinny jeans that fit.

littlemili

I have the same problem and the only thing I have found even half useful is to switch your exercise around loads to use muscle groups for not very long at a time. A big problem people in our situation often have seems to be that when doing really low resistance cardio, it can take forever to feel like a worthwhile workout.
The advice I have got is to do stuff like yoga which keeps your muscles in good condition but is obviously not the same kind of conditioning as running/gym work. Now I am trying to find upper body cardio-style exercises but without much luck.

sauza

when I don't stretch enough my calves bulge

rfcollins33

Lower weights/resistance, more reps.

But I dont do any weights... its just walking and running, and just started insanity, but it cant be that cz its only second day...

i think McCay is saying that is a good way to work out without bulking them up anymore. I don't think they meant that is why your calves are bulky. It's almost necessary to do some weight training as muscle will burn much more calories even at rest mode. So, to prevent them from getting bigger do more time/reps and less weight/resistance. Like if you are on elliptical, put your resistance down and stay on longer. As far as why they are already like that, I'd say it's probably in your genes. i have had bouts of utter laziness (couch sitting and tv watching lol) and my calves were hard and big then as well. I have the same problem and don't think there's much you can do about it. The only way to really lose that muscle now would probably be unhealthy. If you diet to the extreme you are losing any muscle, I can't imagine it's very good for your body.

zenzoes

when I don't stretch enough my calves bulge

/Agree

ablykins

Some of it may just be your body type but I would suggest adding in some yoga and stretching. If you do power yoga or pilates, you can still get quality cardio and get some nice stretching in without focus on building calf muscles.

AlwaysWanderer

Some of it may just be your body type but I would suggest adding in some yoga and stretching. If you do power yoga or pilates, you can still get quality cardio and get some nice stretching in without focus on building calf muscles.

I think I'll start doing yoga... I heard there are some pretty good cardio-yoga workouts out there... Gotta check it out... I stretch before my insanity workout, but never before walking/running... I'll start doing that as well... thanks for the advice

Macacadopai

same here, I already started incorporating yoga into my routine (the p90x one) but this just gives me more reason to not give in. Thanks!

BerryH

When I started running I used to get huge calves, but then I adjusted my running style. If you land on your heel, try landing on your mid- or fore-foot. Google POSE Running or Chi Running. It'll help prevent injury too.

darrenham

There's no hard and fast rule unfortunately, it could just be your genetics.

The advice in here is good though,
- stick to low intensity, long duration exercise in that area if you're going to do any at all.
- stretch, lots (remember, hold a stretch for at least 35s and repeat 3 times, any less and it won't work)

As I say though, you may not see much improvement, if it's in your genes to have tanky calves then you're going to have them forever. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Give me a girl with muscular legs over stick thin ones any day of the week.

robin52077

yoga, pilates, and UPPER BODY weight lifting. If you balance out the upper with the lower a bit, you'll look more proportioned, leaner, stronger, and have a higher metabolism because muscle burns more calories at rest than fat.