Exercises to slim down calves?!
SuperheroSadie
Posts: 167 Member
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?
Any suggestions to help a girl out?
0
Replies
-
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.4
-
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
3 -
Overall Weight loss. If that does not help, embrace them.1
-
Mine are the opposite, unusually skinny, haven't changed size too much and I look completely ridiculous in boots lol...2
-
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
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 lost1 -
Compression socks? Like for air travel?
Just an idea0 -
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.1
-
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!1
-
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.1 -
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 counts0 -
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!0 -
You know, I wish I had big calves ;(1
-
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.1 -
Poor calves. When they're big, people want them smaller. When they're small, people want them bigger.5
-
-
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 try0
-
-
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!
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
2 -
-
-
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.0
-
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 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.
0 -
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.0
-
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.1
-
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.1
-
Get on YouTube and look for Rebecca Louise0
-
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 legs1
-
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.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions