CALVES *evil face* [plz read]

I have big calves.

They are muscly and fat.

I know you can't spot lose weight

thats not what this is about

 

I am wondering if, while I'm losing weight, my calves will get any smaller.

 

I want to be able to zip boots up all the way!

Will my calves get smaller as everything else does?

Haha I totally know what you mean about zipping up boots!! I once found the perfect boots for a halloween costume... only to find my calves were TOO HUGE to zip them up. The ones I got were pretty tight on my calves and WAY big on my foot. What a pain!

 

I haven't noticed my calves getting any smaller, but I haven't lost that much. And I'm not measuring or anything. Hopefully they should shrink a bit though!

um my calves did get smaller overall.  They're still huge though, in comparison to my body.  I'm a normal weight, very fit, etc., and boots still don't fit me.  They are super ripped though.

Well, I got these hot Italian boots when I was fat and out of shape, they fit then.  Now that I'm thinner and wanting to wear those boots again, they don't zip past my calfs.    My thighs are A LOT thinner but my calves are bigger. 

I feel your pain with the calves.  But yes, I think that as you lose weight they may shrink.  I used to weigh 117 pounds and ran every day on the treadmill.  I stopped the running but am now down to 113 and have lost an inch and a half on the calves.  I've learned never to run on an incline.  Ever. 

Original Post by happyjoyjoy:

I feel your pain with the calves. But yes, I think that as you lose weight they may shrink. I used to weigh 117 pounds and ran every day on the treadmill. I stopped the running but am now down to 113 and have lost an inch and a half on the calves. I've learned never to run on an incline. Ever.

I don't get it, why not?

Oh, and I wondered if I should stay away from stuff like walking and running so that the muscle goes down a little bit and that may make them thinner too?

Not sure what I'd do instead of being on my feet so thats kinda a dumb question lol

especially cuz i am the suck at push-ups and slow on curl ups

but i do kinda lack in upper body strength (obviously)

my calves are like these giant muscles and fat and everywhere else is mostly fat

*shrug*

 

Original Post by mrsdagle:

Well, I got these hot Italian boots when I was fat and out of shape, they fit then. Now that I'm thinner and wanting to wear those boots again, they don't zip past my calfs. My thighs are A LOT thinner but my calves are bigger.

Oh man! I'm sorry! I hope that doesn't happen to me!! :S

well i mean i'd love smaller thighs

but i dont want bigger calves! :

I hope I lose some calf!!

Maybe I should go get one of those fabric tape measures so I know if they are getting bigger or smaller.

It is 4:13 this morning...LOL and I am typing an answer for you...now that is concern isn't it? LOL. Oh well, I have been sick-(on my butt sick, and this was my first movement toward life in several days), so we are even. I have lost alot of weight- gastric bypass and it is funny how our brain perceives things, and our bodies have memories as well as our brain. Yes, it does. Take my word, and humor my sick, decrepted old body. Your body will not appear to be changing, you will think same lumps, curves, etc. but the inches increments may be changing ever so slightly. As I lost the weight certain issues like the sagging breast and skin and the elephant butt syndrome were a given. I have literally exercised my butt off. LOL. At any rate you change ever so slowly but the outline, body shape stays about the same looking to you. I look at my legs and still see big. Yet someonelse says "birdlegs" like your daddy? LOL. I wanted to build some muscle in my legs to make them have more definition rather than a shin bone with a pone of fat below the knee. Really worked at it, and they felt and looked huge to me. I lost 3 or more inches from this. So, change is slowly happening, It can get larger than you want real quick if you are doing more weights/reps...and so be careful, methodical, and back off where you need too! It will happen, and the smaller you get, the harder and slower your efforts become. It will happen, so know you can get the shape you want a little closer to what you want and not what your brain is t elling you you have. Exercise, tape measure, and changing exercise, your best bet.

If your calves are naturally very muscular, they will probably always be naturally very muscular.

Mine are also very thick. I lost a small amount in my calves (as I went down from 200 to 130 lbs) but they will always be bigger than the average bear's.

I've learned never to run on an incline. Ever.

I don't get it, why not?

 

I think running on an incline actually built my calf muscles.  That's why I won't do it anymore.  Regular walking has helped me keep the muscle tone.  But every body is different and their calves may react differently to certain exercises.  I just tend to build bigger calves with running. 

I have a tape measure and I use it to measure my calves now and then.  With water weight it goes up half an inch.  With regular weight gain, a full inch up.  I truly envy girls with nice slim calves.

Dudes, just to shed a different light on things... I've always thought my calves were pretty big and have kind of wondered about them (I run a lot too + genetics). 

Now I get annoyed that boots don't zip up too BUT I have had not just one, but TWO guys I've dated/am dating COMPLIMENT me on my calve "definition" haha.  My current boyfriend is ENVIOUS of how "easily" I've gotten musclular calves while he really has to work for them. 

Maybe people are looking at your guys's calves and thinking, Geez I wish I could look like that!   

The size of my calves does change when I lose or gain weight. When I lost 40 lbs a couple of years ago they were noticably smaller. Same thing with gaining weight. But watch what types of exercise you do if you're trying to get smaller calves... some can make your calves bigger (I'm sure you know that).

I have huuuge calves! I'm only 5"1 so my legs are pretty short, I'm sure this is why my legs are naturally muscular, I never used to be able to buy boots at all because they just wouldn't zip up past my ankle, once I tried a pair on then stood up and the zip burst! That was back when I was about 150, I remember when I was around 135ish I managed to buy a pair of up to the knee boots that fitted, go for suede or something similar, it'll usually stretch a bit. Now I'm about 115 and I have no trouble buying boots that fit me on the calf, I still have really large muscular calves in my opinion (and cankles to go with them) but having lost most of the fat from them has really made a difference. You can't change the way your body is, your calves will always be larger in proportion to other parts of you but they will shrink in proportion with the rest of you too.

i noticed my calves were getting smaller when my favorite pair of boots, which used to be on the tight end of perfect, began to slide down after about 4 steps. i kind of have mixed feelings about this :(

ACTUALLY!

I've lost 33 pounds and my calves have gotten bigger.

Working out using ellepticall really helps to shape up calves and butt. You can start with less resistance and can increase in with time.

Step Aerobics is another way to shape up legs and butt.

Hope this helps :)

 

Generally, if you lose weight, you're calves will eventually show it...to an extent.  I'm larger framed, and have always been muscular.  At my smallest, size 11, my calves were still 15".  They are now 17".  I already know mine won't ever be small enough to zip into boots.  However, some places, like Eddie Bauer online, have boots with wider calves.  Yay!  They tend to be seasonal, but that probably means they are on clearance now!

BTW, though larger than many, my calves still look rad in heels and I have been told so repeatedly.  Embrace it!

You'll definately lose inches off your calves as you lose weight.

My calves were thick too (like 1800s european legs) when I was pounds heavier. Now that I've lost weight I see them smaller but when I lift them up, I notice their wobbly. I'll push a calve and it'll move like jello.. and it pisses me off. :]

I've done all types of leg exercizes and I don't understand how I can tighten them up while keeping them feminen and not manish or over muscular?

What a dilemma.

Yes you will, but if you have naturally muscular calves, like me, they will always be that way!

I've lost 22 lbs and I'm just now noticing a small difference in my calves! (I went from 173 to 151)

My muscles have gotten more noticable, and I've lost some of the fat, so they look leaner! I'm just trying to accept what I've got, and so should you! I haven't tried zip-up boots since I've been dieting, I have an aversion to them! Maybe after a few more pounds I'll give them a try!

Pilates is good for stretching and toning without building mass. I also hear that stretching your muscles daily and after workouts can help them become leaner, not as bulky. I'm not sure if that part is true though!

You shorter gals aren't the only one with this problem.  I'm 5'8" and I've been a skater, skateboarder and rollerblader most of my life. I will never ever have skinny calves.  I like my calves.  I get compliments on my legs all the time I find that buying men's boots helps a lot.  I know...this is going to sound weird, but it works.   Find a shop that caters to drag queens.  They tend to stock stuff that will fit you because you're more muscular than the average female.