bye bye bulky calves

AlsDonkBoxSquat

First off, I want to say I don't care about typos. The OP wants the bulkiness in her calves to go away. I believe that cardio will help her. I don't believe in lifting heavy. A person doesn't have to lift heavy to get results. If the OP wants to lift heavy, she can go for it. I've given her suggestions that I think can help her.

Too bad your answers are ALL the same for every problem. You seem to think that Tae Bo is the answer for every cardio question and sculpt lifting is the answer to every strength question. I've NEVER seen you say anything else otherwise. You're proving your knowledge is limited.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I'll just say

RonSwanson66

This whole thread has me laughing...

"do this, but don't do what that person says" or "this will lean out your calves, but that won't".

Until we know how much bodyfat the OP has, and what her genetics are, how can we give her any advice short of lose more bodyfat?

Um, have you ever seen the posts with AZachary before? Generally they turn into a huge mess... like they are starting too now.

She's climbin in yo forums
She's gettin you threads locked up
Thread derailin so you better
Hide you posts, hide em right, hide yo posts hide em right.

She don't need no facts to defend
Her opinions to you
She gonna ignore you
She gonna ignore you

Just one way to burn fat, way to burn fat, way to burn fat
Tae Bo, Tae Tae Tae Bo!

sassylilmama

This whole thread has me laughing...

"do this, but don't do what that person says" or "this will lean out your calves, but that won't".

Until we know how much bodyfat the OP has, and what her genetics are, how can we give her any advice short of lose more bodyfat?

Um, have you ever seen the posts with AZachary before? Generally they turn into a huge mess... like they are starting too now.

She's climbin in yo forums
She's gettin you threads locked up
Thread derailin so you better
Hide you posts, hide em right, hide yo posts hide em right.

She don't need no facts to defend
Her opinions to you
She gonna ignore you
She gonna ignore you

Just one way to burn fat, way to burn fat, way to burn fat
Tae Bo, Tae Tae Tae Bo!

Bwahahaha coffee on my computer screen again. Gotta stop drinking while reading the forums.

poisongirl6485

This whole thread has me laughing...

"do this, but don't do what that person says" or "this will lean out your calves, but that won't".

Until we know how much bodyfat the OP has, and what her genetics are, how can we give her any advice short of lose more bodyfat?

Um, have you ever seen the posts with AZachary before? Generally they turn into a huge mess... like they are starting too now.

She's climbin in yo forums
She's gettin you threads locked up
Thread derailin so you better
Hide you posts, hide em right, hide yo posts hide em right.

She don't need no facts to defend
Her opinions to you
She gonna ignore you
She gonna ignore you

Just one way to burn fat, way to burn fat, way to burn fat
Tae Bo, Tae Tae Tae Bo!

rougette66

okayyyyyyyyy WOW! LOL thanks for the advice guys, ill just break it down with random points

1) my body fat % is 27.14
2)nope no family history of bulky calves, everyone has very thin normal calves
3)how should i weight lift to target my calves as well? I dont do heavy lifting bc it leads to spotting, and various other issues down there (sorry guys)

dad106

okayyyyyyyyy WOW! LOL thanks for the advice guys, ill just break it down with random points

1) my body fat % is 27.14
2)nope no family history of bulky calves, everyone has very thin normal calves
3)how should i weight lift to target my calves as well? I dont do heavy lifting bc it leads to spotting, and various other issues down there (sorry guys)

Just going out a limb, but I don't think the heavy lifting is causing you to spot and other issues down there... you may want to check with a doc though for that.

Second, to target calves do squats, lunges, calf raises.. all will target them. Do a google search and I'm sure you'll find more.

bry_all01

okayyyyyyyyy WOW! LOL thanks for the advice guys, ill just break it down with random points

1) my body fat % is 27.14
2)nope no family history of bulky calves, everyone has very thin normal calves
3)how should i weight lift to target my calves as well? I dont do heavy lifting bc it leads to spotting, and various other issues down there (sorry guys)

In that regard, you will want to bring your body fat down some more, it WILL help bring the bulk down. And, as dad106 said, squats, lunges, calf raises (bike and treadmill on an incline, too) will all help, too.

psuLemon

I would say define bulky? Do you see them as bulky or do other see them that way? My wife thinks she has fat legs but everyone in my group loves her legs. But either way, overall body fat loss is the best to reduce size and the best way to achieve that is weight training as muscle burns fat.

AZTrailRunner

If she wants to reduce the size of her calves, why would she be advised to "target" them? In my experience, when you target a muscle group, it only serves to increase the size of that muscle group. It seems like avoiding exercises that put strain on the calves would be the temporary way to go while she loses more BF. I ask in sincerity, as I may have missed a point in the conversation about this.

As for calf development, from what I've read, long, lean calves are built through endurance (running and cycling), and short, compact calves are built through explosive moves (sprints, gym work, etc). This, of course depending on genetics as well.

bry_all01

If she wants to reduce the size of her calves, why would she be advised to "target" them? In my experience, when you target a muscle group, it only serves to increase the size of that muscle group. It seems like avoiding exercises that put strain on the calves would be the temporary way to go while she loses more BF. I ask in sincerity, as I may have missed a point in the conversation about this.

As for calf development, from what I've read, long, lean calves are built through endurance (running and cycling), and short, compact calves are built through explosive moves (sprints, gym work, etc). This, of course depending on genetics as well.

I agree, no one can spot reduce and she is at 27.14% BF, so in order to see a change, she is going to want to lower her BF percentage to start.

As far as me agreeing that squats, lunges, etc. will help is only because they will help tighten the calves, especially the calf raises as her BF percentage decreases. I am not saying ONLY focus on that, but I am saying make sure to also focus on that when doing cardio and strength. In other words, I do not think the "problem" area should be left alone because it is a bulky area, but instead, work it along with everything else.

maidentl

What about the advice in this article? Calves are an issue for me as well but I am far from an expert so I when I read this, I wondered about the validity of the advice:

http://www.superskinnyme.com/how-to-slim-calves.html

AZTrailRunner

If she wants to reduce the size of her calves, why would she be advised to "target" them? In my experience, when you target a muscle group, it only serves to increase the size of that muscle group. It seems like avoiding exercises that put strain on the calves would be the temporary way to go while she loses more BF. I ask in sincerity, as I may have missed a point in the conversation about this.

As for calf development, from what I've read, long, lean calves are built through endurance (running and cycling), and short, compact calves are built through explosive moves (sprints, gym work, etc). This, of course depending on genetics as well.

I agree, no one can spot reduce and she is at 27.14% BF, so in order to see a change, she is going to want to lower her BF percentage to start.

As far as me agreeing that squats, lunges, etc. will help is only because they will help tighten the calves, especially the calf raises as her BF percentage decreases. I am not saying ONLY focus on that, but I am saying make sure to also focus on that when doing cardio and strength. In other words, I do not think the "problem" area should be left alone because it is a bulky area, but instead, work it along with everything else.

Thanks for clarifying Bry.

sweetyJ

Oh I love posts asking about how to solve this problem. Cause I have it. :sad:

I am like Meg and firedragon, I believe my bulky muscular calves are due to genetics, even when I was slim at 125lbs and 5'4, I had bulky calves. Although I am sure it is bulkier (with fat intermittently intertwined with muscle now) since I have gained weight. Unfortunately, I think genetics plays a major part. My mom is 5'3, skinny, but bulky calves, same with my brother, uncles etc (although, on men, it is sexy, not so much on me or my mom :grumble: )

I am obsess with this because I love boots, and hate having to order those custom boots from England (remain nameless, cause I am not advertising, but it has 3 letters in its brand). Those boots are expensive to ship (and return if it doesn't fit) if one is not located in England. So I would love it if I can reduce my 15.75" calves to like a 13" or 14". Boots Boots Boots :bigsmile:

emilyjhopkins

i am very similar to you, the lightest i have been is 125lbs and my calves were about 15-15.5". at the moment i am 140 lbs and they are nearly 16". i am hoping this time to go a little lighter and see what happens. my calves are the same shape as my dads. recently he has lost nearly 5 stone and is now very slim, and his calves look a normal size! this has given me hope that i can get there too. i have always been told that they would never slim... but i won't know until i try! there is definately a layer of fat on them, it must just be the last place it shifts from!

emilyjhopkins

Oh I love posts asking about how to solve this problem. Cause I have it. :sad:

I am like Meg and firedragon, I believe my bulky muscular calves are due to genetics, even when I was slim at 125lbs and 5'4, I had bulky calves. Although I am sure it is bulkier (with fat intermittently intertwined with muscle now) since I have gained weight. Unfortunately, I think genetics plays a major part. My mom is 5'3, skinny, but bulky calves, same with my brother, uncles etc (although, on men, it is sexy, not so much on me or my mom :grumble: )

I am obsess with this because I love boots, and hate having to order those custom boots from England (remain nameless, cause I am not advertising, but it has 3 letters in its brand). Those boots are expensive to ship (and return if it doesn't fit) if one is not located in England. So I would love it if I can reduce my 15.75" calves to like a 13" or 14". Boots Boots Boots :bigsmile:

i am very similar to you, the lightest i have been is 125lbs and my calves were about 15-15.5". at the moment i am 140 lbs and they are nearly 16". i am hoping this time to go a little lighter and see what happens. my calves are the same shape as my dads. recently he has lost nearly 5 stone and is now very slim, and his calves look a normal size! this has given me hope that i can get there too. i have always been told that they would never slim... but i won't know until i try! there is definately a layer of fat on them, it must just be the last place it shifts from!

psuLemon

Oh I love posts asking about how to solve this problem. Cause I have it. :sad:

I am like Meg and firedragon, I believe my bulky muscular calves are due to genetics, even when I was slim at 125lbs and 5'4, I had bulky calves. Although I am sure it is bulkier (with fat intermittently intertwined with muscle now) since I have gained weight. Unfortunately, I think genetics plays a major part. My mom is 5'3, skinny, but bulky calves, same with my brother, uncles etc (although, on men, it is sexy, not so much on me or my mom :grumble: )

I am obsess with this because I love boots, and hate having to order those custom boots from England (remain nameless, cause I am not advertising, but it has 3 letters in its brand). Those boots are expensive to ship (and return if it doesn't fit) if one is not located in England. So I would love it if I can reduce my 15.75" calves to like a 13" or 14". Boots Boots Boots :bigsmile:

i am very similar to you, the lightest i have been is 125lbs and my calves were about 15-15.5". at the moment i am 140 lbs and they are nearly 16". i am hoping this time to go a little lighter and see what happens. my calves are the same shape as my dads. recently he has lost nearly 5 stone and is now very slim, and his calves look a normal size! this has given me hope that i can get there too. i have always been told that they would never slim... but i won't know until i try! there is definately a layer of fat on them, it must just be the last place it shifts from!

A lot of the "look" is more in your head. I would ask what others honestly think of your calves. My biceps are .5" bigger than your calves and that isn't that big. A lot of muscle definition is genetics though.

emilyjhopkins

A lot of the "look" is more in your head. I would ask what others honestly think of your calves. My biceps are .5" bigger than your calves and that isn't that big. A lot of muscle definition is genetics though.
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thanks that is nice to know :-)