I've been on CC since June '07 and have been happy with my weight loss. But when the fall clothes come out, a true test will be my boots. I have suede boots that zip up the calves and they have always been SNUG. Is there some way to shape your calves...why do they make these boots so skinny? Who can wear these things in real life? I'm not extemely overweight and I could hardly zip them up! Bad for the circulation but I like them. Any ideas?
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Oh my gosh...me too!!! I've never weighed over 160(well, when I was pregnant I did), but currently I'm 5'6" and weigh 147...I haven't tried boots on in a while because the last time I did it made me depressed! Why don't they fit my calves??!! Im hoping to find a really cute pair for the fall and hopefully they will fit now that I've lost some weight.
I think a lot of it is genetics too...my brother and I were in the gym one day (it can't gain a pound to save his life...not an ounce of fat on him) but he was commenting on how big his calves were compaired to the rest of his leg...I think I may actually have a large calf muslce under the pudge!
10 more pounds to go!! :) Oh and I would say cardio...maybe jump roping...my calves are always burning after that.
I think a lot of it is genetics too...my brother and I were in the gym one day (it can't gain a pound to save his life...not an ounce of fat on him) but he was commenting on how big his calves were compaired to the rest of his leg...I think I may actually have a large calf muslce under the pudge!
10 more pounds to go!! :) Oh and I would say cardio...maybe jump roping...my calves are always burning after that.
How funny -
I used to be in the 120s 5 years ago, and I bought these super cute chocolate brown Guess boots. A few months ago, there was no way I could zip them up. I was in the high 150s, and my calves were much larger than they were when I bought those boots.
I started changing my eating habits, and jogging in late June, and I have tried those boots on a few times to see if my calves are getting any smaller. I've lost about 18 pounds and I'm definitely smaller according to my clothes, but those boots are still just a little too snug. I know I've made progress though because at least I can zip them up!
If you still have excess fat around the muscle, it will be hard to reduce it because we all know how it's nearly impossible to spot train.
On the other hand, if your calves muscles are big, I have heard that you can overtrain them to reduce them in size. Essentially what you'd be doing is distroying some of the muscle by over working them. Read bodyscience's post #5 here.
I have a hard time advocating such a method because we need all the muscle we can get to help burn fat, but can losing half an inch to an inch off your calves really be all that bad?
I used to be in the 120s 5 years ago, and I bought these super cute chocolate brown Guess boots. A few months ago, there was no way I could zip them up. I was in the high 150s, and my calves were much larger than they were when I bought those boots.
I started changing my eating habits, and jogging in late June, and I have tried those boots on a few times to see if my calves are getting any smaller. I've lost about 18 pounds and I'm definitely smaller according to my clothes, but those boots are still just a little too snug. I know I've made progress though because at least I can zip them up!
If you still have excess fat around the muscle, it will be hard to reduce it because we all know how it's nearly impossible to spot train.
On the other hand, if your calves muscles are big, I have heard that you can overtrain them to reduce them in size. Essentially what you'd be doing is distroying some of the muscle by over working them. Read bodyscience's post #5 here.
I have a hard time advocating such a method because we need all the muscle we can get to help burn fat, but can losing half an inch to an inch off your calves really be all that bad?
The shape of your calf is genetic. You can shrink it some what by losing weight but those of with naturally bigger legs will always have bigger legs.
On the flip side who wants legs like a scrawny three year old?
Your legs carry you around all day long. Can you imagine what it'll take to over train something that hauls your whole body weight around day in and day out without complaining?
Don't these boot companies know we aren't all a size 3? Make boots to fit the real population! Most of us could use a little extra room, right? How about a little elastic around the zipper so there's some give?
They do make boots with a little elastic slit near the top. In fact, my Guess boots have that, but they're still a little too snug at the moment.
Check out these boots: Zappos
If you click on the image of them on the website, a zoomed in image of them will pop up with different views you can hover over with your mouse along the bottom. If you look carefully at the "right" view, you'll see a little slit. That slit has elastic behind it that stretches.
Here's another example with a much larger elastic section that's hardly noticable: Bluefly
Of course that example is super expensive, but you'll find other non-name brand boots that are affordable. Search around bluefly.com and overstock.com. You might find a deal!
Check out these boots: Zappos
If you click on the image of them on the website, a zoomed in image of them will pop up with different views you can hover over with your mouse along the bottom. If you look carefully at the "right" view, you'll see a little slit. That slit has elastic behind it that stretches.
Here's another example with a much larger elastic section that's hardly noticable: Bluefly
Of course that example is super expensive, but you'll find other non-name brand boots that are affordable. Search around bluefly.com and overstock.com. You might find a deal!
Same here!!!!!! I have Naturalizer boots, which I think more mature women buy, not skinny teens, and I can't zip them all the way. Thankfully my long skirts covered the part unzipped. Hope this yr I can zip them.
Hooray! I met my goal AND my boots fit! Woo Hoo!
Congrats, mrsj!
I just want to add a fashion note here: when shopping for boots, the key is to look for the words "extended calf." Those will be wider at the calf.
I just want to add a fashion note here: when shopping for boots, the key is to look for the words "extended calf." Those will be wider at the calf.
I always have had trouble fitting into boots, even when I was a size 0! I am an avid runner/cyclist. Since starting weight training two months ago, my calves are smaller than ever and my weight is actually UP by 5-7 pounds.
I really think the weights are helping me with this - specifically the calf raises. I'm doing about 60-70% of my bodyweight on the machine. I also do a variety of other leg exercises, which I am sure is contributing as well. I LOVE my calves right now! My legs are still too short for most of the boots, but at least I can get most of them zipped up.
I really think the weights are helping me with this - specifically the calf raises. I'm doing about 60-70% of my bodyweight on the machine. I also do a variety of other leg exercises, which I am sure is contributing as well. I LOVE my calves right now! My legs are still too short for most of the boots, but at least I can get most of them zipped up.
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