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Have your calves reduced?

getyourbeans
getyourbeans Posts: 80 Member
edited January 14 in Health and Weight Loss
I suppose this is more a question for those of you who have kept measurements along the way - I'm curious as to whether anyone has experienced a reduction in calf size at all?

From what I've heard, calf size is largely genetic... I feel that I have massive (proportionally) calves and cankles. I hate them. My weight has fluctuated a lot throughout my life, but over the last year I've lost over 25lbs but have had no change in my calves whatsoever! A few years ago, when I was about 20lbs lighter, I recall my calves still being large (although I didn't take measurements so I'm not sure if they were as big as they are now).

I know it's highly individual, but just curious to hear if anyones lower legs have shrunk along with the rest of them :-) I don't know if it's all fat/all muscle or a combination. They're pretty thick and shapeless so either way, it ain't pretty! I'm resigned at the moment to a life without ankle strapped shoes and knee high boots, but maybe somebody out there can be provide some hope...

For reference I'm 5'7, 155lbs, with calves just over 16 inches in circumference. I would still like to lose about 20lbs, but I think it's going to be a fairly slow process.

Replies

  • blues4miles
    blues4miles Posts: 1,481 Member
    I've lost about an inch off each calf in the last six months along with 10 lbs. But then my calves seem (proportionally) small to the rest of me. But then we also have the same calf measurement, so maybe half of it is perception. Yours may seem large to you, but for me mine feel undersized sort of like little chicken legs compared to my torso. So maybe we both just need to look at ourselves differently as well.
  • doneatfour
    doneatfour Posts: 120 Member
    My calves reduced in size when I lost weight last year. Before then my knee high boots were pretty snug even without pants tucked in. Now I can wear them with even straight leg jeans tucked in.
  • getyourbeans
    getyourbeans Posts: 80 Member
    I've lost about an inch off each calf in the last six months along with 10 lbs. But then my calves seem (proportionally) small to the rest of me. But then we also have the same calf measurement, so maybe half of it is perception. Yours may seem large to you, but for me mine feel undersized sort of like little chicken legs compared to my torso. So maybe we both just need to look at ourselves differently as well.

    Maybe you're right. I think my issue has a lot to do with the fact that I don't look like I've got nice, muscular legs - they're totally shapeless - more just a slightly smaller continuation from my thighs! I think I'm super self conscious of them now because I've had a couple of people (one being my former personal trainer) tell me that I'm really unlucky and they are definitely my worst feature! I'm reluctant to really work the muscle though to increase definition as that might make them even bigger...
  • ToughMudderAddict
    ToughMudderAddict Posts: 290 Member
    Okay.. so I don't keep measurements of my legs BUT.. I have been doing more running lately and yesterday I had my legs up on the coffee table because that's how I roll.. and I thought to myself, "Well hello there sexy calves!" haha I feel like the running has made them leaner and more shapely if that makes sense? I run using Vibram 5 Finger shoes and I was kind of worried that they would cause me to have the opposite effect because you do use your calves so much more but.. And maybe I only think that way because running makes me feel better about myself, maybe nothing but my perception has changed?

    Either way, it's really rude of your personal trainer to say that to you!
  • 1KiwiChick
    1KiwiChick Posts: 479 Member
    Hi :) , my calfs were 17 .5 inches when i started and are now 14.5 inches . im sure its the running !!!
  • ToughMudderAddict
    ToughMudderAddict Posts: 290 Member
    Okay so I was going through all my magazines (I have a hard time throwing my fitness magazines away because I might want to try something in them.. so I decided instead of keeping the whole magazine I'd start ripping out the pages I may want to reference.. anyway..) and I ran across this article:

    "Can cankles be cured?

    The region between our calves and ankles is not defined by muscle but rather by the Achilles tendon, which connects the two. For some women, this area cinches in dramatically from a well-toned calf muscle, while for others it slopes down gradually. And then there are those whose lower leges appear to drop in a straight line, with no indentation at all, inspiring the unflattering label cankles.

    "Cankles are essentially a visual effect," orthopedic surgeon Vonda Wright, M.D., says. "Models often look as if they have cankles because their legs are tubes from the knee to the ankle. It's all relative."

    For the calf to taper, there has to be a shapely muscle to begin with. Yet, again, many women are reluctant to strengthen their calf muscles for fear that they will thicken and produce a cankle effect. "That's a myth," Dr. Wright says. "Cankles don't come from muscle, because by the time you get to the ankle, it's all tendons. Cankles come from fat accumulation."

    It's partly a matter of genetic roulette. Obese women can have skinny ankles, for example, while for other women the lower leg may be the last place where they lose fat.

    Your strategy to rid yourself of cankles should be to slim down all over through diet and exercise like cardio and to firm up your calf muscles with the proven toners in the Love Your Legs workout (which is on page 86 of Fitness Magazine from March 2012 lol)."

    Thought I would share as you mentioned "shapeless legs" and "cankles"
  • getyourbeans
    getyourbeans Posts: 80 Member
    Okay so I was going through all my magazines (I have a hard time throwing my fitness magazines away because I might want to try something in them.. so I decided instead of keeping the whole magazine I'd start ripping out the pages I may want to reference.. anyway..) and I ran across this article:

    "Can cankles be cured?

    The region between our calves and ankles is not defined by muscle but rather by the Achilles tendon, which connects the two. For some women, this area cinches in dramatically from a well-toned calf muscle, while for others it slopes down gradually. And then there are those whose lower leges appear to drop in a straight line, with no indentation at all, inspiring the unflattering label cankles.

    "Cankles are essentially a visual effect," orthopedic surgeon Vonda Wright, M.D., says. "Models often look as if they have cankles because their legs are tubes from the knee to the ankle. It's all relative."

    For the calf to taper, there has to be a shapely muscle to begin with. Yet, again, many women are reluctant to strengthen their calf muscles for fear that they will thicken and produce a cankle effect. "That's a myth," Dr. Wright says. "Cankles don't come from muscle, because by the time you get to the ankle, it's all tendons. Cankles come from fat accumulation."

    It's partly a matter of genetic roulette. Obese women can have skinny ankles, for example, while for other women the lower leg may be the last place where they lose fat.

    Your strategy to rid yourself of cankles should be to slim down all over through diet and exercise like cardio and to firm up your calf muscles with the proven toners in the Love Your Legs workout (which is on page 86 of Fitness Magazine from March 2012 lol)."

    Thought I would share as you mentioned "shapeless legs" and "cankles"

    Thanks for going to the trouble of including all that detail :-) Shapeless is certainly right... maybe I should start with the calf raises. Even if it does mean cute winter boots won't ever be an option for me!
  • idream2bgwen
    idream2bgwen Posts: 424 Member
    I hate my ankles and calves. I think I have cankles! I don't see much of a change but have not really measured (maybe I should). Thanks for the article. I will just keep trucking along and hope for some definition soon! I am not into running but I lift and am trying to jog more.
  • moustache_flavored_lube
    moustache_flavored_lube Posts: 849 Member
    Nope I have popeye calves, and they have gotten bigger. I am not complaining though
  • Xhell_on_heelsX
    Xhell_on_heelsX Posts: 299
    I'm the same way girl...I hate my calves..I can never wear knee high boots and it's so sad. I started running, but had to stop because of shin splints..I'm hoping to god they reduce in size because I hate them..I'm only 5'3 and my legs are super short sooo big calves don't work for me haha. If I measure and see that they are shrinking I will be sure to post something on the forum! haha Good luck with your journey
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