How did losing weight and working out affect your calves?

rgh101
rgh101 Posts: 9 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Kind of a weird question, but I bought some knee high boots that *just* fit my calves and I'm trying to guess whether my calves might get larger or smaller with my weight loss and workout routine. If they get any larger the boots won't work unless they stretch a lot!

I'm a woman, I've lost 24 lbs so far, and I'm just at the top of my normal BMI range. I'd like to lose another 5-10 pounds and firm up. With my current weight loss I've lost 0.5 inches off my calves. My legs are relatively slim compared to the rest of my body, so I'm wondering if they might get larger when I build muscle. I maintain a slight calorie deficit (~200 cals a day) and for workouts I mostly do: Ripped in 30, yoga, and stationary bike.

I know no one can predict what my calves will do :laugh: but I'm curious other peoples' experiences have been. Thanks!

Replies

  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    If you don't train them, they definitely won't grow :smile:

    PLENTY of guys out there actively trying to get some calf muscles that can't. I do believe there is quite a bit of genetics involved with calves actually. I have massive calves and never specifically train them but I do a fair bit of kickboxing (bouncing on toes).
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    if your calves get bigger then you can take them to leather shop and they can add extenders. problem solved.

    i've always had large calves (and teeny ankles ) which means i need to get those extenders put on all my knee high zip up boots
  • Rachelc1992
    Rachelc1992 Posts: 246 Member
    Mine are just ridiculous!! They have grown 2 inches in a month and just solidified! Ill never wear knee high boots.

    But everyone's different!
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    If you don't train them, they definitely won't grow :smile:

    PLENTY of guys out there actively trying to get some calf muscles that can't. I do believe there is quite a bit of genetics involved with calves actually. I have massive calves and never specifically train them but I do a fair bit of kickboxing (bouncing on toes).

    I found this as well - my calves responded best to MA.

    I have friends who have got their best results from cycling.

    Calves respond strangely. It's gonna depend on you and your routine. You'll only know by doing, I'm afraid....
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    from lifting heavy and eating at a deficit, my calves got smaller. In fact in my opinion they got too small. Ever since then I've been trying to bulk them up again. And I have naturally muscular legs, and they're short, which makes the muscles look proportionately bigger. However as much as I love my quads and butt and the overall shape of my calves, my calves are too small :sad:

    As a female it's EXTREMELY difficult to make your calves get bigger, unless you make them bigger by gaining a lot of fat. Even men find it really hard to bulk up their calves. I had to put in a huge amount of work plus eating at a surplus, to get just half an inch extra on my calves. And I'm inclined to think they're at their genetic potential now :grumble: (for size, although I'm sure I can increase their strength some more.

    BTW my calves don't fit into normal boots. But they're still what I would consider to be too small, for me. And my forearms are too.

    BTW#2... all the above is no more than a minor annoyance to me, I'm certainly not losing sleep over it, because I care a lot more about how much I can lift than what I look like, I'm just emphasising the point that a) heavy lifting made my calves smaller (because they lost fat, the muscles either stayed the same size or got marginally bigger) and b) I had to put in a huge amount of effort AND eat at a surplus to get a measly half an inch increase in calf circumference.... which barely even notices in the mirror.
  • cedarblack
    cedarblack Posts: 63 Member
    milhouse-1.jpg
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    My calves are small, which is odd because I have quite big muscles naturally above the knee. My wrists and ankles are little too, lol.

    But mine don't grow. They get more defined, where you can see the parts of the muscle meeting, but never bigger :D They don't gain fat, either. If yours are naturally smaller than would seem to fit, maybe they are like mine. Who knows? ;)

    edit: oh, that big smile is because mine are weird and it's funny. Big calves rock. I just have little measly ones, lol! I don't mind, but they kind of don't fit.
  • alisonlynn1976
    alisonlynn1976 Posts: 929 Member
    Mine have gotten both smaller and more defined.
  • rgh101
    rgh101 Posts: 9 Member
    Thanks guys! I'm going to keep the boots :happy: and if my calves do get bigger I'll take the advice to put extenders in (I had no idea about that). I'm guessing I'm like some of you with naturally small calves where they might get more defined but not larger.

Categories