How NOT to grow certain muscles

All I'm going to say is that a lot of overweight people (especially women) think their calves are "solid muscle," and nearly all of them are wrong.

I have a friend who tried to tell me her large calves were all muscle. I flexed mine and as her to do the same so I could see the giant muscle. Lo and behold even with flexing there was no muscle to be seen. Some people do carry more weight in their calves but it isn't all must giant muscle waiting to grow with exercise. None of my runner friends have huge calves. There's some well defined, ripping looking muscle there but not much difference in size based on body size.

All I'm going to say is that a lot of overweight people (especially women) think their calves are "solid muscle," and nearly all of them are wrong.

^^^

I didn't want to be the bearing of bad news, but thanks for pointing this out.

If you can't see a clear distinction between your gastroc and soleus, you're probably not nearly as lean as you think you are in your calf.

OP, you won't get much help here. The word muscles brings a whole group of people who actually believe that every single person in the world develops muscle at the same rate and in the same manner.

But, I know what you are saying. I come from a line of women with big calves. Boots never fit, skinny jeans get stuck on them and I have to pull them down when I stand up, etc. Running (not marathon, just 5k at a time) made mine bigger.

I don't really have an answer for you, as mine are still big. Just wanted to say that I know where you are coming from.

"since I know dance lengthens instead of thickens the muscle... "

I'm going to risk having a go at this one. Dancers, yoga folk, some gymnasts etc. have a wider range of flexibility than other folks so - when the limbs are at their most extreme range of movement - the muscle appears to be longer and more drawn out between the two anchor points than a fully contracted or relaxed muscle would look where the range of mobility was less.

I think that's what the OP was meaning; not that the muscle is actually longer - obviously that would be silly.

It's not that. It's that most amatuer pro dancers, gymnasts and yoga people are pretty lean to begin with. Less muscle and low fat make people look "longer".

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

I see your point, but still maintain that a fully opened muscle looks longer - because of a lower peak - than a contracted muscle or one at rest but in a lesser range of flexibility. It's a visual thing.

I'm looking forward to getting to the stage where I am, "pretty lean to begin with" - still got a way to go yet!

Well a contracted muscle will always "look" bigger. Muscles are always contracting and relaxing with voluntary movement. Climb stairs and the muscle will contract. If on is just standing or sitting with no movement, the the "relaxed" muscle will look smaller.

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