I have BIG calves, help! 17 inches around muscle

[jennifer BFL chick]

Sure, my legs are strong, but I can't fit into normal clothes, even though I have a 26 inch waist, and I'm around 21% bodyfat.....

I wanted to buy some knee high boots the other day, and I must have tried on around 15 pairs, but my calves are so big that I couldn't zip them up all the way.

I've stopped training my legs with heavy weight, but still, the stay the same size-----


The only thing I can think of is that I need to lose muscle in my legs to get them smaller-----thus, starving myself, which sucks....

is this the only way it can happen? I'm starting a cutting diet soon, and sure, I have more fat to lose so that will help, but I know they will still be big----my quads are big too... 22 1/2 inches

any advice? or did I already answer my question----starving to lose the muscle

 

[wilson6]

"I've stopped training my legs with heavy weight, but still, the stay the same size----- "


Ahhhhh.....Are you sure too much muscle is the problem?


Didn't we just have a thread about this? What's the skinfold on your mid-thigh and mid-calf?

W6

 

[k1401]

not sure how to make them smaller, but lets see pics of them

 

[Sassy69]

Calves - have you always had big calves? I know I have so I don't worry too much about the bodyfat there. Basically if you aren't born with big calves it takes *serious* work to get the "big".

Legs -- different story - I've always had big legs, but I also know that my body "likes" to store fat on my hips & thighs. And to give you an idea of just how much -- I did my first show, measuring 8.6% bf (on calipers) but I still didn't have much cut on my legs & my ass felt "jiggly". If you keep workign on the body fat levels I'm sure you'll get down.

BTW -- I bought a pair of boots last year but I looked for 3 months and tried on well over 30 diff types.

 

[fitbitch]

If you took your bodyfat down to 12-15% I assure you wouldn't have the same problem you do now...its extra bodyfat on your legs...I WOULD NOT stop training your legs..that will not solve your problem...only make things worse. My legs are a lot bigger in the off season, but now i can fit in my size 4's etc...but my bf is 9%....big difference....the problem isnt BIG muscle..its extra fat you carry there...I would hit your legs heavy and hard and fine tune the diet and see how it goes.

 

[NY Muscle]

Jen
for the most part, your calves will remain big/muscular even if u stop training them and lose more fat....i was heavy when i was younger and always had big calves....and u do also for maybe the same reason....i cant wear regular dress socks or any socks that come up th the calve, i wear the heal socks, cause they wont go over my calves...and i STOPPED training calves 10 yrs ago! LITERALLY....i guess they just stick with ya.

also....do u have a tendency to be a "tip toer" do u walk on your toes sometimes? i used to do that too...another reason...my ex GF is a top toer..her calves are massive and shes in great shape..no fat...

 

[smoknjilly]

you are right...most higher boots, especially leather ones, are made for people with calves like an arm.

last year i bought nice ones made of a stretchy material like vinyl with a nice platform heel. You should try ones like that!

 

[nikkita]

do you have naturally big calves or did you trained them in a special form? if so... how?

 

[makedah]

I have naturally big calves. Even when I was a skinny kid they were bigger than normal. Got them from my father, who got them from his mother -- even in her 60s, Grandma's calves were ripped! I like them, but it was definitely discouraging last year when I finally decided to plunk down the money for some boots. Never found a pair that was just right.

I think mine are about 16 1/2. The mesh stretchy boots are better than the slip ons. When you try them on, have your leg extended upward instead of planted on the floor. Also, some companies sell them in bigger calf-sizes. Look in catalogs online. Sometimes, catalogs aimed at overweight women have boots that can accomodate bigger calves.

 

[Robert Jan]

big calves are beautiful on women dont lose em damnit.

that goes for all of you


*points finger*