Question for BIG CALVED women...

Interesting. My calves have never really been noticeable. They are at 14 inches now. I have been exercising them to try to increase them a little.

The struggle is real when you have BIG calves! Mine were somewhere over 20 inches. Now, with 75 pounds gone - they are about 17.25. I bought my first pair of REAL leather boots (not the Faux ones from Lane Bryant or Torrid) this past fall. Seriously, it was one of the happiest days of my life!

I grew up on a mountain and walked to and from school every day...I will probably never have thin calves or a flat butt... When I was a very thin 105# size 2, I had a terrible time finding pants that were small enough for my waist but would fit over my calves and butt. Back then I hated my butt with a passion, but it never ever occurred to me that big curvy calves were anything but all the to-die-for sexay. Boot cut jeans FTW.

Calves are mostly genetic, but it's not uncommon for very overweight/obese people to have large calves due to carry around all the extra weight for years. The calves just grew due to progressive resistance.
Many can "lean" them out with fat loss, but the muscle won't really reduce much. Learn to love them if you have them.

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Do you ladies who have larger calves tend to wear heals a lot by any chance?

Being a larger gal I do like to wear heels and have wondered if that is not part of the issue with the calf muscles.... but I do also come from large legged women so I think genetics play a big part.

I've always had muscular calves, with the weight gain they just lost definition and looked "big"...Running has slimmed them down and improved their appearance, that coupled with strength training.

I am at a normal weight but my calves are 15 (L) and 15.5 (R). I never had "thin" legs as I seem to carry most of my fat in my hips and legs first. However, I loved the improved look they got with running and strength training and I am starting to accept them they way they are. Hard to fight genetics anyway

I have big calves also and haven't been able to wear tall boots. I have had success with slimming them down, and I know that you don't want to hear this, but I did it with running. I signed up for a half marathon and spent 6 months training with a beginners running group. It was a great experience and at the end I found I could totally fit into tall boots. Good luck!

I don't have photos, sorry, but when I was fat obviously my calves were fat too. After losing and getting out of the "obese" range, my calves were down enough to fit into regular boots I found out in stores. I don't know the measurement, but I'm just happy I fit into regular stuff now.

Yeah, sadly, losing weight doesn't help me too much. For me, even when I was 155lbs (5'5"), and a size 8/10 in pants, I don't know my exact calf measurement at that point but I couldn't even buy "wide calf" boots off the shelf :sad: . At that point I didn't even bother, but right now at 50lbs heavier than that and a size 14/16 my calves are 19.5in each and I finally gave in and special ordered a pair of boots :grumble: . Some of it is just genetic and how you carry weight; I just happen to carry weight EVERYWHERE (I have super huge upper arms, too, and let's not even talk about my booty :laugh: ). Other people will lose a ton of inches in their calves. No way to know other than by getting there :flowerforyou: .

I'm a big calved guy fwiw. I had big calves when I was in good shape, slightly bigger but less defined ones when I gained 100 pounds, and now they're more defined again. Still really big though. Every body is different and I've never been concerned with it. I can out calf-lift anybody!

I've always had big calves! Even when I was a skinny teenager I had trouble finding any kind of boots to fit. I've always had to buy ankle boots. My daughter and son are the same. My son's calves are amazing to behold (if I do say so myself)! It's our genetic make up to be muscular! The good thing about being muscular was even at my highest weight people thought I weighed less than I did.

I have huge calves, too. They started at 21.5 inches and after losing 60 pounds they're at 20 inches. I've lost more inches off my arms than my calves. They're fairly firm, but I know there's still a lot of fat on there that I wish I could lose! Maybe in another 60 pounds.

Yep, I'm part of the BCC (Big Calves Crew). I got them from my dad but I don't even think he's is as big as mine. Mine measure around 16.5"(R) and 17"(L) or vice versa :ohwell:

Learning to live with them as I can't do anything about it - I notice that when I have lost weight they lean out a little but not enough to not be noticeable if I wear something above the knee.

I've lost 50 lbs overall from my highest weight and I can now wear some knee-high boots available in stores :laugh: While this isn't a great accomplishment, I can say that they DO go down as you lose weight, but if you have very shapely legs to begin with you'll probably always have shapely calves!