I have Man Calves

sallywilson06

Sooo Here goes I have Man Calves and I mean really muscular HUGE Calves.. I want to get rid of them meaning the FAT that is on them so my muscles show through... Trouble is How??

They are very very muscular, there is also some fat like always, but I want to know how to tone your calves and get rid of the chub on them.. I have been using the leg machines at the gym but I don't believe they are working that specific area and I don't know what else to do.. I do cardio, but I don't think that will help?

Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

docktorfokse

What you seem to be asking is how to lose muscle mass. In which case the answer is to not eat and not exercise.

sallywilson06

What you seem to be asking is how to lose muscle mass. In which case the answer is to not eat and not exercise.

No I don't want to lose the muscle mass, I want to lose the fat that is over them.. that's what I meant.

docktorfokse

In that case, keep losing weight. You can't target fat loss.

BrianSharpe

Yup, sadly you can't target fat loss, you'll have ripped calves when your total % of body fat gets low enough or your body arbitrarily decides on its own that it's your calves turn.

acstansell

you could try some weight calf lifts, holding on to weights at your sides, flex your calves so you stand on your toes. After 10 hold it for 20 seconds. Also, try doing them in fast repetition. I don't know if that will help, but it can help with definition.

Also, try running (if you do something else for cardio). I've noticed my calves look slimmer and more toned when I run.

Aperture_Science

you could try some weight calf lifts, holding on to weights at your sides, flex your calves so you stand on your toes. After 10 hold it for 20 seconds. Also, try doing them in fast repetition. I don't know if that will help, but it can help with definition.

Also, try running (if you do something else for cardio). I've noticed my calves look slimmer and more toned when I run.

Are you sure this is good advice? Working on the assumption that the OP is in calorie deficit she's not going to put on muscle, but exercising her calves will not reduce them either.

OP: As others have said, where you lose weight from is primarily due to genetics and trying to beat genetics is very, very hard.

Trail_Addict

you could try some weight calf lifts, holding on to weights at your sides, flex your calves so you stand on your toes. After 10 hold it for 20 seconds. Also, try doing them in fast repetition. I don't know if that will help, but it can help with definition.

Also, try running (if you do something else for cardio). I've noticed my calves look slimmer and more toned when I run.

Are you sure this is good advice? Working on the assumption that the OP is in calorie deficit she's not going to put on muscle, but exercising her calves will not reduce them either.

OP: As others have said, where you lose weight from is primarily due to genetics and trying to beat genetics is very, very hard.

Correct! Putting emphasis on the calves in the gym won't burn the fat off of them. It will make them stronger, and maybe...just maybe, a little bigger (calves are tough to add size to for most people). So just keep working on general fat loss. Eventually, your body will pull the fat from them when it needs to. I'm the opposite. My calves got fairly defined right away, but still am trying to lose those last few pounds from around my waist. :-)

aymetcalf

I have the same issue - and I think the only solution is to reduce overall body fat %. You can't spot reduce - but as you lose fat, it will come off the calves as well.

taso42

let's see 'em

2knoxs

Maybe post a pic of your legs cause we are always harder on ourselves, maybe it will help your outlook on them if you get some feed back?

cathe18

Just don't feel alone.... I have man legs too.... and it couldn't even be a good lookin' man's legs... Such a bummer... I hate them.

GasMasterFlash

Embrace your calves!

Be careful to do some warming up and stretching first though, to avoid injury.

IronmanPanda

I lost my calves in a horrible pencil sharpening accident...

PlunderBunneh

Love your calves! They are not manly, they are STRONG!
I have pretty decent sized calves myself. Better than scrawny chicken legs, in my opinion.

You can't spot reduce. There's no way to shrink one part of the body. If there was a way, we'd all have tiny waists and huge tatas.

NICOLED73

bump

I have large calf muscles too. Always have. I remember trying on jeans when I was @ 13 and bending in the dressing room and the stitch on the calf of the jeans ripping like I was HULK or something. I played soccer, cheerleading etc.... I hated my legs.

I have found that lunges and squats have helped me a lot. I still have muscular legs but would rather have them than fatty legs!!

13519485

Are you a man? No? Then you don't have "man" calves. Problem solved.

sallywilson06

I'll post a pic when I get out of work.. can't really get one up at the moment.

Heaven71

Running and transition to barefoot or zero drop shoes, they REALLY work the calves.

I have very muscular but manlly looking calves as well but the fat around them is gone, they are pretty ripped.

gina1971

Also, try running (if you do something else for cardio). I've noticed my calves look slimmer and more toned when I run.

^This. I have larger calves as well and have found that running has produced a longer, slimmer looking calf.

Trail_Addict

Also, try running (if you do something else for cardio). I've noticed my calves look slimmer and more toned when I run.

^This. I have larger calves as well and have found that running has produced a longer, slimmer looking calf.

Yes. It's because lots of cardio will eventually turn to muscle for fuel. You don't see a lot of distance runners with monster calves. You'll need to be running more than 2-3 miles at a time for that though.

sallywilson06

Yea, I hardly every run except on the elliptical and I don't believe that counts.. I am a walker.. I usually do about 6 miles at a time.. I just quit smoking though so running is something in the works for me.

GasMasterFlash

I just quit smoking though so running is something in the works for me.

Congrats!

monty619

can i see these man calves? lol

2knoxs

@Trail_Addict, now those are some man calves! OP do yours look like that Geez, nice calves! Trail

IronmanPanda

@Trail_Addict, now those are some man calves! OP do yours look like that Geez, nice calves! Trail

This thread makes me cry because I have no legs...

runner2runner

Sooo Here goes I have Man Calves and I mean really muscular HUGE Calves.. I want to get rid of them meaning the FAT that is on them so my muscles show through... Trouble is How??

They are very very muscular, there is also some fat like always, but I want to know how to tone your calves and get rid of the chub on them.. I have been using the leg machines at the gym but I don't believe they are working that specific area and I don't know what else to do.. I do cardio, but I don't think that will help?

Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

I would be great if I could see a picture of your calves so I can see what they look like. I'll just go on how you've described them. If you want to get rid of the fat in your calves and build muscle, you should combine cardio with weight training. Which leg machines are you using? For toning the calves you should use the calf machines. There are two different types. There's the standing calf machines where you do standing calf raises and seated calf machines where you do seated calf raises. Squats also help to tone the calves. Do at least 4 sets with about 15 to 20 repetitions using light to moderate weight on either calf machine. Depending on how long it takes you to build muscle, you should see results after a couple of months or so. Your calves will be firmer and more solid and the muscles will show more, especially if you flex them by standing on tiptoes.

WendyTerry420

If it makes you feel better, my calves are 16 inches and that measurement hasn't changed since August. But yeah, just keep lowering your body fat with diet and eventually the fat will go away.

BOLO4Hagatha

Glad to know I'm not alone in this. My calves are huge! I hope when my body fat % goes further down they will get smaller.

120weeks

I wish I had my man's calves. They are so sexy! He's got awesome legs. For me, I'm mentally prepared for the likelihood that the fat on my calves will be the very LAST place I lose from. Gotta just keep plugging along.