Calf expansion!!

SlidingDown
SlidingDown Posts: 64 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi lovely people, I'd appreciate it if people who've been there, especially joggers, could let me know ....
When you start to jog / run regularly, did you find that your calf muscles expanded rapidly? And also, did the definition come later?

I'm asking because I don't pay much attention to my calves normally, they're not a problem area, and only have a little extra fat on them because I have a little extra all over. So I've been walking, jogging, running, dancing, and also doing calf raises as part of my overall efforts to shed fat and tone up (the mix is within 30 mins a day, I"m not spending all day at it!), and just noticed tonight, my calves are suddenly enormous!!!
I mean they look like they've doubled in size. Measuring shows it's not that bad, they're 1.5 times what they were. OK, well I'm working them, the muscle is growing, cool... BUT they look hideous at the moment, like "cankles"! There is no definition underneath the muscle to give that nice shape, they look like inverted pyramid legs.

So, I'm telling myself that as I drop the extra fat from all over, it will also disappear from the lower legs, and the muscle will be defined and look good...

Is that right? Has this happened to you, and did you get the sculpted shape by persevering? I just need to know I'm on the right track, and not somehow creating a future where my butt looks good but I have to buy wide leg jeans forever.

Replies

  • SlidingDown
    SlidingDown Posts: 64 Member
    Nobody? Really? :S
  • TheFunBun
    TheFunBun Posts: 793 Member
    I bet it's just -swole-.
    Like how after you work out and you look in the mirror and you have a sexy pump going.. except you just don't like your pump.

    check again in the morning? ;)
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    Yes, you're right, they'll initially grow with retained fluid then muscle gained but they'll shrink back as you lose fat. Calves feel like they don't carry much fat, but they will shrink and become defined. I used to have to buy "big calf" boots as I was an overweight runner, but by tracking calories while still running I lost the fat and they shrunk and became nicely defined.

    I'd skip the calf-raises though as they are designed to specifically build muscle. Concentrate on whole lower-body resistance training like squats, lunges, dead lifts and kettlebell swings.
  • mandylooo
    mandylooo Posts: 456 Member
    Over what time period has this happened? If it has happened quickly, then it is retained fluid.
  • SlidingDown
    SlidingDown Posts: 64 Member
    Thank you all for your replies :)
    It happened over a few days, at the same time as I had stepped up my effort, but became really noticeable on about the 4th day. Ok, retained fluid sounds plausible then?

    @BerryH thank you very much for the suggestions. The calf raises I had only been doing to increase my strength in running and dancing, but yes, I might lay off them hehehe. Squats and lunges I am already doing. Thinking I need to invest in a kettleball soon, they sound awesome.
    I really hope to see the same results you did. Down, calf, down!! :)
    Many thanks!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories