Hmmm... less fat loss, more muscle gain?

Ok, so I have been CCing for a couple of months now. I have lost about 30 pounds, 12 from CC. I have been happy with the results so far, but lately I have been stalling on weight loss every once in a while. But I am still losing inches. However, I have been noticing that my legs and arms are getting bulky. This is my typical day:

1650 cals per day
1 hour jogging or recumbent bike
15 min strength training
5 min stretching

I don't want to seem like I'm whining because I'm still losing inches (lost about 5 in the last 20 days), but I don't want to get bulky. Each of my calves are at about 15 inches around and they are SOLID muscle.

Is there anything that I can mess with (upping or lowering cals, less strength training, more streching, etc) that will help me get rid of bulky muscle? I have a feeling that this is why my weight loss is flatlining sometimes - gaining bulky muscle (which I don't want) and losing a smaller amount of fat.

HELP PLEASE!

lol, i wouldn't worry too much about the muscle thing. muscle is good - you're strong, and more muscle means higher metabolism. higher metabolism means faster weight loss.

however, i guess if they're really big and you want to make them smaller, just cut down on the strenght training. if you have workouts that focus on specific muscles that'll help. however, jogging/biking is definitely going to make your calves big because it puts strain on them, especially jogging. but it won't make them freakishly big unless you're excersising to no end.

so just try to relax about them, and if you want the muscles to go away you'll just have to cut down on your workouts.. i can't really think of another way. and trust me, the fat will come off! it's just muscle's turn right now!

:)

How about yoga or a dance class.  Something to do with stretching. 

I can't afford to take classes at a gym. But I could invest in a video or two maybe. Any suggestions for stretching?

As said before, muscle is a good thing when it comes to fat loss.  The more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn, even while at rest.  Of course, there is a point, where you don't want to be bulky as heck, so maybe just increase the reps you're doing per set in your strength training and lighten up on the weight a bit to allow you to do higher repped sets. 

Doing so will do two things:

1) You won't stimulate as much muscle for further growth

2) You will burn more calories, which will shift the emphasis even more towards fat loss and less on muscle building.

You can also incorporate more intense cardio sessions, which will only help to increase your metabolism, and thus burn more fat.

If you don't have access to a gym's cardio machines, then try power walking (around your neighborhood, etc.) A great way to burn a ton of extra calories off and give your metabolism that extra jolt!

-Todd

I have had great results in leaner longer muscles with the old Calenetic tapes.  Now the people on it are old and the pace is kinda slow, but once you learn the moves you can do it at your own pace or with more reps.  I realy find this one a good way to burn & shapen up the flab.  Try it, you'll laugh at first, but I guarantee you not only feel it, but see it.

Thanks everyone! I'll keep your advice in mind when I exercise.

Could it be that your impression of your calves' size is shaped in part by some notion that women should have skinny stick legs?

15 inches isn't that big, honestly. A nice, well-rounded calf is better looking than a twig, IMHO. This is why many women who do not have muscular calves go around teetering on a ridiculous pair of spiked heels.

You won't have to. :-)

Don't sweat it.

For toning without bulking you need to lift light weights with many repetitions(15-20 based on your level)  or use an exercise band--BUT--building muscle is not a bad thing!  Remember--you will burn more calories the more muscle you build!

Gotta be honest... I used to be 135 lbs at 5'9" and my biceps were 15 inches when I flexed.  And it was freakin' awesome.  Enjoy it!  Toned, shapely calves look amazing, especially when you get some heels on. ;)

That being said, it's understandable if you want to slim them down (I guess...).  As everyone else has been saying, do more reps and less weight to get smaller, leaner muscles rather than bulky muscles.  Also, STRETCH!  Stretch like crazy!  It lengthens and defines the muscle so you get tone instead of bulk.

I forget what my calves measurement is, ill check later,  but im pretty sure its larger than yours.   I love my calves though.  they look awesome.    initially when you start strength training, you can appear to bulk up a bit,  your musles are absorbing more water to help with healing and recovery, and thus appear bigger.  but they will lean out in time with further weightloss.

ditto to the stretching comments, make sure you stretch.

For the love of God please don't let those calves go!  The only time 15" calves would look weird is if they were connected to tiny quads, but I've yet to meet anyone with that kind of imbalance.  If you're worried about other peoples perceptions, I for one think, like tina, that toned calves are an awesome thing (on men and women).  Mine are at 16" right now, and once I finish losing weight they'll be the first thing I bulk up :D

Now, if you personally just really don't want calves that big, then just tone down your workout as other people have suggested; aim for more around the 15+ rep range and focus on maintaining current strength while letting some of the size go.

As a side note, anyone have any reliable references for this "stretching makes your muscles look less bulky" idea?  If it's true then it's advice I'd like to give, but if it's fiction then I'd like to join the fight against it :)

i wouldn't worry about having big calves. I can totally relate. I have big calves to and there was a time when i hated them. Now i love them! they look great in heels and i think cankles are the most unattractive part of a girl's body. just be glad you dont have cankles. a lot of my friends would kill for nice calves.