big calves

i have BIG calves.  ive always had BIG calves.  i mean, like football player BIG.  when i flex them, i can press in about 1/4 inch and then its rock hard.  im 5'6 and currently about 215; my goal, 150-160ish.  i walk just about everywhere and (though still very well insulated) im pretty sure i have muscley thighs aswell.  what im wondering is if they are going to slim down as i do, or if i may just be stuck with my hauss-like build?  if there is anyone here who has delt with the same issue, and especially anyone with pics, let me know.  im just trying to get some idea of what i might be like.  if im stuck with big calves, oh well.  i can deal...

Let me just tell you, there are people out there who would die just to have an inkling of a calf muscle, seriously.

I knew these twins girl, they are very short but have cute little curvy bodies - and they were built very well. Big calves, but lean legs, well defined thighs, stomachs etc. They probably had the best legs of anyone I know.

So seriously, cherish those calves!

fot the most part, i do... it just sucks when i cant buy certain styles of pants or when i have to shop a dragqueen shop for cute kneehigh boots (19" around is hard to find in women's boots)

Wow, you're pretty much just like me!! Currently, I weigh 215, am 5'5"-5'6", and I have big calves and thighs.

For me personally, I love my big calves and musclely(made up word lol) legs. I'm not sure if the muscle will get smaller but if you have any fat around them, losing weight might make them appear smaller I guess.

im gonna post some pics as soon as i get aholdof a camera (oh, yeah - i even type texan =P )  like i said, im not too worried, but its been on my mind for a while.  i know one thing big legs are good for though....kicking ass! hehe...

I think that you can do yoga / pilates / stretching exercises that will streeeeeeetch your muscles and make them appear longer and leaner. A combination of cardio (longer, endurance running for instance - 40 minutes low intensity as opposed to 20 minutes high intensity) and these kinds of stretching routines should tone them and make them look leaner. But if they are inherently big (the muscles, that is), I don't think you can do anything to decrease the size. Just concentrate on toning them and getting ride of any extra fat that might be making them look bulkier.

Here you go:

Q: What exercises will slim down my calves? I'm not a heavy person, but I have a hard time wearing those stylish knee-high boots because my calves are too big!

A: Walking is one of the best things to do to slim down your lower legs, since it lengthens the muscles between the back of the knee and the ankle. I recommend walking three times a week for 30 minutes. Stretching is also vital to lengthening any bulked-up muscles, so be sure to thoroughly stretch after you exercise. The following stretch is great for getting leaner calf muscles: Face a wall with one foot in front of the other. Your front foot should be about one foot from the wall, and your back foot should be about three feet from the wall. Keep both heels on the floor. Rest your hands on the wall in front of you and lean forward, bending your front knee. You should feel the stretch in the back leg. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds, then switch legs and repeat.

Yoga could also help, since it tones the whole body while stretching and thereby lengthening your muscles. Yoga poses such as Warrior I, II and III and Downward Facing Dog are all especially great for your calves ? check out Lifetime's Yoga Experience to get started, or pick up my book "Lose Those Last 10 Pounds," which covers basic yoga moves such as these.

There are some moves you should downplay, since they build up the calf muscles instead of lengthening them. Exercises that keep you on the balls of your feet, such as calf raises, are prime suspects; for the same reason, you should try to avoid wearing high heels. Also keep in mind that you need to burn fat in order to lose weight anywhere on your body, so make sure you fit in a cardio workout four days a week!


- Denise Austin

I'm jealous danie, I torture my legs twice a week in the quest for bigger calves.

Seriously though, I wouldn't worry about it too much if it's muscle.  Muscular legs are hot on girls.

My calves are rather large too, I think (pic in my gallery).  They've always been that way.  I cannot squeeze any real fat on them like I can my arms or thighs.

I'd love them to look long and lean but my inseam is about 31.5 inches (what's average anyway?) and I have a pearshaped body. IT'S AN UPHILL BATTLE!

I tend to call them "powerful legs" and not so much big calves. My legs have always been thick too. I've lost 45 pounds and they are still just as thick... well maybe a tad less but I still can't wear boots. I've never been able to wear normal boots (not those special sizes ones...) and I doubt I will ever. I don't have any before/after photos of my just legs but I do have full body photos in my profile.

Also: I walk or jog and stretch before and after almost every day and my legs are still thick. It's just the way I am and I've come to terms with that.... Although there are some boots out there I'd really like to be able to wear *pouts*

iv always compared myself to other people.. just a bad habbit of mine, and it really sucks! lol iv always hated my calves.. there not even muscly, theyr just BIG.. and i hate them.. :( but then i have slim thighs and i want the slim calves to go with them, but i dont. andd i think theyr just naturally big, and im so self conscious about them.. apart from that i have a small frame so.. i just want pretty legs!! lol.. but i know i have a hell of alot to be greatful for. and i am, i feel like an arse complaining about my legs when so many ppl in the world have real disorders.. but i cant help it! haha.. ohhhh wat to do

 

 

Original Post by dhm1983:

Stretching is also vital to lengthening any bulked-up muscles,

 That is a ridiculous statement. It's like the people who believe that giraffes have long necks because they stretched to reach the fruit on the trees.

Please accept that muscles will never get longer than they currently are, unless you surgically detach them and reattach them to be longer.

As you lose weight, some of it will come from your calves and they will slim down, but unfortunately, spot burning doesn't exist, so you'll just have to wait for your body to decide to give it up.

i think it is mostly genetics. i got weird things from both my parents. i'm only 5'0", and i have a super tiny body frame, both of which i got from my mom, but i got these huge calves from my dad (if it gives you any idea, my ankle is barely 8" around, and my calves are 14"). oh, and i am in the normal weight range for my height.

so unfortunately, i'm guessing your calves won't get much smaller. but, i definitely feel your pain, most "skinny jeans" either look REALLY dumb on me because they're so tight in the calves, or they just don't even go on in the first place. and i can forget about wearing cute boots.

Original Post by daniexanie:

i have BIG calves. ive always had BIG calves. i mean, like football player BIG. when i flex them, i can press in about 1/4 inch and then its rock hard. im 5'6 and currently about 215; my goal, 150-160ish. i walk just about everywhere and (though still very well insulated) im pretty sure i have muscley thighs aswell. what im wondering is if they are going to slim down as i do, or if i may just be stuck with my hauss-like build? if there is anyone here who has delt with the same issue, and especially anyone with pics, let me know. im just trying to get some idea of what i might be like. if im stuck with big calves, oh well. i can deal...

i got some real HUGE calves, and i'm not exaggerating, i never wear shorts or would show them ever, i'm 5'5'' 163 lbs, thick and i just hate being ashamed of showing my huge calves, i hear that walking or running can help but i don't know i dont want them to get any bigger, i was thinking about doin surgery to if i got no options. lol i need help

Eek... I have calves that are just "thick" I cant get them defined, and thats because I have fat around them I know, hopefully by lowering my body fat some of the fat will get out of my calves and ankles! They are 14.5 Around at its thickest point.. so annoying, I wish they were tiny and dainty...

I feel your pain. I too, have HUGE calves. I can't wear cute boots either and I really want to. I have to settle for the boots that come barely above my ankle. I mostly wear pants, and thank god the "bootie" thing is in right now. I asked my trainer if there was anything we could do to make my calves thinner and he told me that calf muscle is basically a genetic thing. Mine are all muscle, there's no fat to speak of. (Wish I could say the same for the rest of my body, LOL)

I did find, though, that when I was doing a lot of pilates, my calf muscles appeared a little slimmer. Maybe I should start that again. I do walk a lot, and in my opinion, that has just made them bigger!! Everyone is different I guess. I wish I could offer more advise, but there seems to be none that actually works. I just wanted to let you know I feel ya. :)

I had to post to this one because I SO feel your pain...it all started in 5th grade for me in 1986/7 with the Guess jeans with the tapered legs and ankle zippers...some of you remember those!!!  Well I wasn't a cool kid because I couldn't fit my freakin calves into them!  At 10 years old!

Anyway, I have had a love/hate relationships with my calves my whole life.  I've had lots of comments from the pencil legged people about how they'd long for calves like mine.  Men have commented to me that muscular legs are s-xy.  But you know the grass is always greener- and I have always dreaded the winter season of the gorgeous knee-high boots that I was always dying to wear but couldn't.

I am 5'8" and currently 145 lbs, I've lost 40lbs, not looking to lose more.  I agree with amethystgirl, the "lengthening muscles" thing is utterly absurd.  At my higher weight I was very dedicated to an advanced yoga practice, and NO BOOTS FOR ME!  However at this weight, I am actually able to wear some knee-high boots.  Like other women, some fit, and some don't, and I am SO OKAY with that!!!  I believe that people are genetically predetermined to certain builds, and you have to be the best that YOU can be, not always want what someone else has.  My calves have never been small and never will be, but they are smaller after my weight loss, and that's enough for me!

Good luck to you and all the other big calf girls!!!

I have friend with monster calves. She's 5'5" and about 145 with biggest calf muscles i have ever seen. Those are 21,25" and that's 1/2 inch more than her thighs!!!

I'm not sure about other guys, but I love big shapely calves on a girl.

If your keen on slimming them down however, try 18-22 reps of standing calf raise for 3 sets.

But if they're big and strong leave them as is, cause the chances are someone will find them attractive.

 

(for the record my calves are exactly 15 inchs) What do you think: big or small?

That won't work; you can't spot reduce.  There are only two ways to shrink your calves.  One is to lose fat all over your body; eventually, it comes off the calves too and you come out with killer legs.  The other is to stop exercising your calf muscles as much while eating less calories than you burn.  The body will decide it doesn't need so much muscle there and will let them shrink.  Your legs will be slimmer as long as your body doesn't put fat there instead.  (I favour the first approach, but the second might be necessary for the odd extreme case.  Be aware that losing that muscle will slow your metabolism a little though.)

The boot industry is evil.

I have, what I consider, totally normal calves. They look great in skirts and I never think twice about them....until boot season. 

I have the hardest time finding boots that fit around them. I lucked out recently and found a pair of Steve Maddens (which are generally crap and fall apart asap) that fit well so I bought them becuase its a rareity that I can find cute boots that fit.  I wear a size 7 so maybe my smaller feet have something to do with it?

I'm 5'7 and wear a clothing size 8 or 10 (i abhor scales), walk at least 3 miles a day, bike everywhere I go (gotta love city living) and generally don't worry about how clothing fits. I recently measured my calves and they were 14", not skinny, but not huge....and muscular and well defined. When will the shoe industry wake up and realize they need to make different calf widths for EVERY boot? Grrrr.