Reducing muscle size

Running builds calf muscles. However, there's likely a lot of fat there too (whether you see it or not!). Muscle is pretty compact, but fat isn't. As you shrink, so too will your fat stores, and you'll see your legs slim down somewhat. Generally, you don't want to lose your muscle, since muscle burns fat (a good thing!).

No, your muscles won't shrink if your main forms of exercise are ones that use primarily your calf muscles. I can tell you from experience [my calf muscles are probably the size of a normal adult's thighs].

I would say you have a couple of options:

First, make sure you are using full range of motion and work on improving your flexibility. I used to be a runner, even as I got heavier. I found that as I got heavier I began to "cheat" when running, relying more on my calf muscles to propel me rather than fully bending my knees. I also failed to maintain hamstring and quadricep flexibility which meant that as I ran, my legs would be straight at impact, resulting in knee cartilage damage. So I don't run anymore.

Second, make sure you are strengthening your quadriceps and biceps femoris. In other words, squats and lunges. This will help stabilize your knees and also allow you more knee bend when walking or running or cycling, resulting in full range of motion.

Third, you could do other forms of exercise. You may want to try the elliptical trainer and swimming. Both of those seem to me to be less demanding on the calves.

Hope that helps!

I also have big calves, and have had them since I was a child. I've recently had a look online for the answer to your question, and gleaned the following advice. If you want to exercise (running, cycling, walking) but not build up your calf muscles, then you should aim for long and gentle, rather than short & fast. In other words, long gentle runs on the flat, rather than short sprints, and avoid hills. You can see if the evidence of this if you look at the legs of marathon runners vs those of the sprinters. Don't try and push yourself, but aim for endurance and long distances. I also agree that losing weight generally will cause your legs to slim down overall, although you will probably always be bigger there because of your intrinsic body shape (google the Trinny & Susannah 12 body types to help you determine which you are). I'm also very careful of those "shape up" workouts, as they can include exercises to tone you legs, which in effect can mean building up your calf muscles. Always look at what muscle groups are involved in each exercise, just to be sure.

I feel your pain! I have large calves that won't fit into some jeans or hardly any boots. I can tell you that since losing weight, they have gotten smaller. I started with calves that were 18.5" in November, and they are now down to 16.75". There is still more fat to loss, and I will be buying cute cowboy boots once my calves finally fit! :happy:

I can definitely sympathize; My calves are very muscular and always have been. I agree with what other people stated in that once you lose fat, you will see your calves shrink. You may think it's all muscle, but it's likely not. Think about how defined they look when you're not flexing them in a certain way: they probably don't look super cut, as they would on somebody with no weight to lose (I don't know what your body fat percentage is or what your complete goals are, of course, so when I'm saying "you" it's really just a general statement). That's because there's still fat there. When I went from 145 to 130, my calves shrank, but they were still in the same proportions as the rest of my legs.
Odds are, when you reach your goal, you will still have calves that are similarly proportioned to the way they were prior to weight loss.
I used to want the little stick legs with no calves that I saw on so many girls, but I realized that I'm just not built that way and it's okay! Focus on keeping your body healthy and once you get it there and keep it there, accept what you have, and love your strong, awesome calves!

I feel your pain! I have large calves that won't fit into some jeans or hardly any boots.

This winter, I came across some brands (in common stores!) that actually make "extended width" boots! Basically, the calf part is just a little bigger. I had NO idea this even existed. Thought I'd pass the info along! :bigsmile: