OT exercise question: calves - YouLookFab Forum

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OT exercise question: calves

Mochi

Veteran

I want to reduce them. Does stair-climbing do anything beneficial in that regard? I don't want to make the problem worse! I've been doing "laps" of going up and down from our third-floor apt. numerous times. (At least it's cardio.)

Any other recommended exercises? Mine are "robust" and muscular, heh, so there's not a huge amount they will probably reduce, but I think they can get a bit smaller--and I'm doing overall exercise and nutrition, but this area definitely budges when it comes to reducing. I really want more boot options! I used to do calf raises with weights as part of an overall workout, and never noticed a difference.

Thanks, all!

General

18 replies

Latest reply was from krishnidoux

catgirl

Veteran

Mochi, I'm the opposite - always trying to bulk up my calves so I can have more boot options!

I have a friend who can pack on muscle by the simplest exercising and she hated how bulky her calves were. Biking and stair-like exercises all added muscle for her and annoyed her to no end, while I was jealous of her amazing legs.

I also think a variety of exercise, and low weight, high reps are the key to definition rather than bulk. Most climbers I know have long lean muscle, from pulling just their own weight up a wall, rather than that big buked up muscle that comes from lifting incrementally heavier weights.

And I believe it depends on your body type. I am never going to have the calves I dream of (I want the legs of a soccer player!). It's like hair - if you have straight, you want curly and vice versa!

kellygirl

Veteran

The only time I noticed my calves got smaller is when I lost a bunch of weight (I never measured them but boots were easier to zip--didn't have to tuck in any skin.) I'm back at my *happy* weight and my calves are back to their 13.5". Calf raises, running/walking make them stronger but I never noticed a difference in size.

Sylvie

Veteran

You know, I think it's genetic to some extent, which means if you naturally have shapely, muscular calves, you'd need to drop a lot of weight to get them to thin out.

Your best bet for reducing them is to minimize weight bearing exercise that uses your calves. Stair climbing will build muscles. So will running. Swimming doesn't work your calves much (as far as I can tell).

catgirl

Veteran

I want these legs:

http://athleta.gap.com/browse/.....=905942042

Running and stairs (those calf lifts) definitely build up my calves a little. But then I get those Kenyan runner dude legs - like a stick with a ball attached.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

Honestly, Mochi, I'm not sure it's possible to reduce the size of your calves without losing a lot of muscle mass all over, which I assume you don't want to do. Because it's not an area of the body where people carry much body fat, and because it's not a muscle group you can just stop using, calf size doesn't change much.

Mochi

Veteran

Oof, an online search in my current nutrition program is telling me jumping rope did it for him (it's mostly the guys who want bigger calves). And it's basically genetics (I figured that).

I like that image, Una.

Oh thanks for nipping those bad results in the bud, Sylvie. I will still need to get from the street into my apartment but no need to add unnecessary bulk otherwise!

No, I will never do lipo, but I hear that that's one rather popular area where women request it.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

In my experience, calf muscles stay pretty much the same size. My BF biked from FL to KY years back and still had the skinniest little chicken legs. Mine only seem to change when I'm running quite a bit, and they increase by about 1/4" or maybe 1/2" at most.
I'd say hunt for those boots by calf size on places with that search feature.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

When I was plus sized I bought wide calf boots. Not that I'm not longer plus size I can buy regular boots. BTW there is an off-topic section of the forum.

Parsley

Veteran

I think this is another case of "the grass is always greener..."
Remembering some of your WIWs, I always thought you had great legs! I've spent my whole life wishing I had bigger, more muscular calves, and no amount of exercise seemed to make a difference.

As others have said, probably overall weight loss is about the only thing that will make a difference. But just remember that some of us are envying your shapely calves!

shiny

Veteran

The best way to reduce them is to stop exercising completely. Try getting into bed for a few months and staying there. They are pretty much pure muscle. They will wither away.

But you do not want to do that, and I'll tell you why: because your calves are the most powerful muscles in your entire body. Those babies are amazing calorie burners!! And the bigger your calves, the more food you can eat without gaining weight! I am not making this up! Ask yourself why guys can eat three times as much as we can, and do not gain weight. It's because they have more muscle mass.

So cherish your big beautiful calves. Thank them. Adorn them with gorgeous boots.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You can't spot reduce.

Losing body fat will (very slightly) reduce the width of your calves over time.

Nothing else will.

It is a myth that lifting weights or doing weight bearing exercise makes you bulk up. It has to do with body type. If you have short muscle fibres, your muscles will look more compact/ bulky. If you don't, they won't.

Mochi

Veteran

Yes, I would have to go by what Suz says.

Thanks for the compliments. They're not that out of control, but trying on the Frye Lindsay Plates yesterday made me want to spot reduce quickly (SRQ?). Boots without zippers are not forgiving, and I have fallen (cautiously) in love with that boot, that's probably too tall for me anyway. Sigh.

Shiny, you're also right--my husband is proof. Now that he's (re)injured his Achilles tendon these past months and can't exercise, his lower legs have withered to nothing. I call them Chicken Legs now. It's disturbing...

I still think I can get about an inch off them, which would put me at 14" and probably make a difference in boot opportunity. But it could take a long while.

Thanks, all.

Laurinda

Veteran

It's not you, it's the boots.

shiny

Veteran

Mochi, when my daughter gained freshman 15, we took her leather boots to the cobbler. One pair just needed stretching. The other pair, he added a "V" shape insert with elastic. It was not that expensive. If one extra inch is all you need, it may be worth consideration. Keep the receipts until you consult with a cobbler about what can and cannot be done.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have this problem with boots, too. Sometimes it is because the LENGTH is wrong more than the width, believe it or not. And elastic bits or laces are our best friends! I have virtually given up on any non-stretchy tall boot that doesn't either lace up or have an elasticized portion.

Mochi

Veteran

It's hard to believe, Suz. Your legs are so proportionate and slim and you look so nice in skirts.

I know stretchy boots are a great solution. I just, you know, selfishly and irrationally want to be able to just pick out whatever item I like and have it fit perfectly. Am I so wrong?

ETA: I just saw the link, Una. I've always wanted an "athletic" physique too (as opposed to hourglass, I guess). I'd take her abs as well!

shiny

Veteran

Heh heh... on a whim I tried on $1200 gorgeous boots at Bloomie's this week. They fit like a glove... they were stunning... oh, so.. stunning... but a good inch too high. The SA quipped, "That is the easiest alteration. The cobbler can just chop off an inch. Won't ruin the line of that boot!" And I smiled sweetly and said, "For $1200 the boots should chop themselves to size for me."

krishnidoux

Veteran

One can't spot reduce, but one can change the shape of their legs and I know because I've done it many times.

The best method I found to counteract my natural tendency towards stocky legs have been ballet inspired exercises and stretches. I have tried many methods, but one has worked better than others for me: Callanetics. Their leg workouts really give you a long, lean look.

Then another thing that helps the legs is yoga. So much stretching, maybe. But I was surprised to discover this.

When I find my calves are getting too square, I include these exercises to my routine:

- Ballet relevés http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related (do it until the calf tires). This definitively make the calf strong AND leaner.

- This one move from the Callanetics: sitting on the floor, pelvis slightly tilted in, facing a chair. Place feet on opposite legs of the chair, a few centimetres above the ground, legs straight. Squeeze together as strongly as you can. Maintain for one minute, then relax. Repeat. This gives a very feminine, svelte silhouette to the calves.

- This one other move: sitting on the floor, legs straight, contract the leg to make it as straight as possible, actually straighter than straight, so that your heels raise from the ground (if you can). Maintain. Release. Repeat a few times. This works the whole leg and works the front muscles which are underused, creating imbalance. It makes the whole leg look straighter.

I have found these simple moves, done diligently, have given me a shape that pleased me.
It takes about 2-3 workouts to start to see results. I share them because it's much better to do this and be happy than starve and get sick. Not that that's what you do, of course.

And, I am uncomfortable that we feel we must change the shape of a body part... but I really do feel that our lifestyles makes us all a bit sick, and exercise helps to repair us back into what we should look and feel like.

Swimming is such a great exercise for the whole body! (and the mind).