Exercises to slim down calves?!

SuperheroSadie
SuperheroSadie Posts: 167 Member
edited November 27 in Fitness and Exercise
Hey all! I can't be the only one out there with the syndrome known in the medical field as "Really, unusually big calves that don't fit in to any of the cute knee-high boots at the mall"! They're not muscle-y, they're just fat-y and completely un-toned. I'm looking to fix this as I go on this journey (Ten pounds down! Yay! 1/3 of the way there!) But I suppose I'm wondering exactly HOW to do that? I want to exercise without bulking them up, so I need stuff specifically good at slimming calves.

Any suggestions to help a girl out?

Replies

  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    If it's fat, work on overall fat loss by eating fewer calories than you burn--eat less, move more, or do a combination of the two. There is no spot fat loss.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,022 Member
    Calves are mostly genetic. While losing overall fat can help to reduce the circumference a bit, if your calves are 16" or more around, don't expect too much of a reduction.
    There are no exercises that directly reduce any part of the body (also known as spot reduction training by many fitness sites).

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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  • darlin1131
    darlin1131 Posts: 18 Member
    Overall Weight loss. If that does not help, embrace them.
  • hekla90
    hekla90 Posts: 595 Member
    Mine are the opposite, unusually skinny, haven't changed size too much and I look completely ridiculous in boots lol...
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    edited December 2015
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    Calves are mostly genetic. While losing overall fat can help to reduce the circumference a bit, if your calves are 16" or more around, don't expect too much of a reduction.
    There are no exercises that directly reduce any part of the body (also known as spot reduction training by many fitness sites).

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png

    Yep yep. Mine started around 16.5. Very large, and I'm only 5'4". I got mine down to 14.5 and considered that to be a wild success.

    ETA: with 30 pounds lost
  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    Compression socks? Like for air travel?

    Just an idea
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    Just exercise and eat at a deficit. That's what worked for me anyway. I've got quite muscly calves (I used to cycle a lot when I was younger) and I can fit into knee high boots now.
  • GingerPwr
    GingerPwr Posts: 1,984 Member
    Hey! If your big calves are genetic, you may not be able to slim them down too much, but there's a series of workouts on you tube called "ballet beautiful." The exercises are all designed around ballerina bodies, and there's specifically a workout for long, lean legs. Try it out. It can't hurt! :)
  • Hell_Flower
    Hell_Flower Posts: 348 Member
    As above, not much you can do with genetics.

    That said, you can streamline them. I'm a standard pear shape (no boobs, weirdly big hips/thighs topped off with a great set of cankles).

    I found 10 minutes, 4 times a week on the step machine gave them some definition and definitely did not make then bigger.
  • Working2BLean
    Working2BLean Posts: 386 Member
    Exercise and overall weight loss

    Get to your target weight and see what you have.

    Calves can get very cut looking too.

    Sometimes we just don't like aspects of our appearance and it is our own perception in play.

    At the end of the day it is genetics and self acceptance after you have done all you can do.

    Best wishes on all counts
  • scolaris
    scolaris Posts: 2,145 Member
    Overall fat loss, sweetie. Your calves & my double chin: stank eye! LOL
    just do your program. the body will change as it wants... Also, go to zappos & find the wider calf boots. They're out there, and they're cute as anything at the mall. I promise!
  • yungbrah
    yungbrah Posts: 33 Member
    You know, I wish I had big calves ;(
  • Larissa_NY
    Larissa_NY Posts: 495 Member
    Start lifting weights. It won't take much fat off them, but after a while you'll be like "Waaah, my calf muscles won't grow!"

    I know this from experience.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    Poor calves. When they're big, people want them smaller. When they're small, people want them bigger.

    The grass is always greener!
  • carlajackcoultas
    carlajackcoultas Posts: 1 Member
    As said before: overall weight lost =smaller everywhere. But some people will always have larger than average Boobs or necks or ankles. Pilates Played a huge roll in slimming my legs. Even when I wasn't loosing weight! Get a dvd and try :)
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    Poor calves. When they're big, people want them smaller. When they're small, people want them bigger.

    How does that make calves different from any other body part?

    Well. With one exception where bigger is nearly always considered better.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    stealthq wrote: »
    jemhh wrote: »
    Poor calves. When they're big, people want them smaller. When they're small, people want them bigger.

    How does that make calves different from any other body part?

    Well. With one exception where bigger is nearly always considered better.

    Sigh
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,022 Member
    czvanut wrote: »
    Hey! If your big calves are genetic, you may not be able to slim them down too much, but there's a series of workouts on you tube called "ballet beautiful." The exercises are all designed around ballerina bodies, and there's specifically a workout for long, lean legs. Try it out. It can't hurt! :)
    Exercises don't lengthen muscle (physical permanence). Lots of instructors in yoga and ballet talk about building, long lean muscle, but one's muscle is attached well before birth. That attachment will dictate how muscle length. No amount of exercise will change this.
    If someone "looks" longer and leaner, it's usually because they have low body fat and lack muscle mass.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,022 Member
    edited December 2015
    2 petite girls with "big" calves:

    emily%20bett_zpseaap4x7a.jpgEmily Bett Rickards (Felicity Smoak on "Arrow")
    melissa_zps2az8u5gr.jpgMelissa Benoist (Supergirl)

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png
  • muffinsandcakes
    muffinsandcakes Posts: 333 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    Poor calves. When they're big, people want them smaller. When they're small, people want them bigger.

    the best thing I've heard today!! hahaaaaaaaa XD
  • runlikeagirl1985
    runlikeagirl1985 Posts: 178 Member
    Very much genetics. I don't lose much in my calves when I lose weight, but this is why someone invented "wide calf" boots lol My calves right now are 19" (the same size as some people's thighs!) and I have boots that go almost to my knee that even have a bit of room. Lose the weight you need to in order to be healthy, the fat will be lost randomly from all places since we can't spot reduce. Love yourself.
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    in my case, lifting did change the shape of my calves and slim out my ankles. that was one of my biggest surprises, becasuse i never even thought to keep track of them.

    weight loss isn't the deal, in my case. i've gained back around 15 pounds since i first touched a barbell, and i seriously doubt that it's all muscle. in fact i know for a fact that it's not. as far as actually describing the change . . . well, it's more of a redistribution effect. the muscle bulk moved further up my calf and left a cleaner line from there down to my heels.

    i blame the back squats :D ankle dorsiflexion while maintaining steady tension under a load definitely stretches those muscles. and it's true you can't change the length of your tendons or muscle belly, but if you have muscle, it looks less dumpy and fire-hydrant-shaped if you remember to keep it all stretched out and smooth.
  • treehugnmama
    treehugnmama Posts: 816 Member
    I had large calf over 16 inches. now I don't. I swam every day from may till Sept and lost 50 lbs. I wish the pounds came from my belly but almost all in my legs. I couldn't believe the difference. hope the next 50 comes off my middle.
  • MissusMoon
    MissusMoon Posts: 1,900 Member
    I went shopping for a new pair of boots because since I've lost so much weight, the tops were HUGE on my old ones. Out of the entire section, only one pair fit nicely over my calves and didn't feel like rain boots. Everything was was wide, with options to make them wider. At least at DSW, everything is for a wider calf this year.
  • Ninjaeema
    Ninjaeema Posts: 21 Member
    I have the same problem, but my calves are bigger than average because they're so muscular. I've made my peace with never being able to fit into taller boots.
  • valerialeek
    valerialeek Posts: 65 Member
    Get on YouTube and look for Rebecca Louise
  • jolive7
    jolive7 Posts: 283 Member
    Agree with the others, but hey the positive of this is if you adopt a strength training program you won't have to hit calves as much as most people! I don't ever intentionally hit them but do a lot of compound lifts and mine are very much in proportion with the rest of my legs
  • fattothinmum
    fattothinmum Posts: 218 Member
    I have big calves. They look fine in jeans.... I'll never have long lithe legs in shorts, but I've got used to them finally and appreciate them for what they can do nowadays. My calves can run for 90 minites, so I've learned to be proud of them.
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