Calf exercises

I have a similar issue (I'm a guy, and I have trouble training calves due to often having sore feet, so my calves never seem to budge from 13-14 inches).

But to answer your question-

For the muscles at the back, which we call the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) you really have to raise up on the front part of your foot (not necessarily all the way up on your toes though)...whether using extra weight or just bodyweight, seated or standing. There is no other way to build calves, honestly.

I've basically been using other leg exercises and taking advantage of the spillover effect. But it doesn't do much.

Do you mean bulking them up or slimming them down?

I would love advice on slimming down my calves! I've never been able to lose anything off my calves!

Do you mean bulking them up or slimming them down?

I would love advice on slimming down my calves! I've never been able to lose anything off my calves!

Doubt you will either unless you stop walking. I wrote a thread about this last week.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Jump rope and, to a lesser extent, stair running.

Seated and standing calve raises are mainstays. But I will be the first to say that putting on any size on calves is VERY tough. Genetics make the biggest difference when it comes to calves.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

My calves are defined and big for my 5ft 8 frame at 17 1/2 inch and were built quickly on the seated leg press machine...

press it out, balls of feet on edge, off you go and you can burn calves until you cant do no more (4 setts) and running never mind walking without pain is off the cards for a couple of days.

Another great one

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Toe taps will help strengthen the front of your lower legs and stretch out the calf muscles some. They will help you balance the muscles.

Toe Taps. Lie on back with knees bent feet on floor. Raise toes - keeping heels on floor. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Front of your calves will feel like they are burning! But really good exercise.

I'm looking for low impact calf strengthening exercises. Other than calf raises. I mean, I'll do those but they do not seem to do anything. I'm trying to run on my stubby hobbit legs without the support of an elliptical machine and my calves really seem to be the weakest link. Ignoring the pain in my calve muscles seems to lead fairly quickly to shin splints. I do heavy squats and deadlifts which are great for my upper legs but they don't seem to do much for my calves.

Never thought I would actually want to strengthen my calves since they have always been massive, but I'm thinking that if they were stronger I could run with less pain before taking off another 40 pounds. (Which would be easier to do if I could run with less pain.)

Does that make any sense? Any advice?

Definitely jump rope, even if you don't use a rope. Just the jumping up and down motion is really effective. My calves were aching when I did it during 30DS.