People who are working out for the express purpose of slimming their big, bulky calves are often disappointed to learn that common exercises and sports -- such as squats, calf raises and soccer -- actually exacerbate the problem. Fortunately,...
To look sleek and sexy in shorts, skirts and sling-back heels, you do not want big, bulky calves. While calves rarely serve as fat depositories, you can be genetically predisposed to large calf muscles. In addition to getting aerobic exercise and...
Because your calf muscles help flex your ankles and knees, keeping these muscles strong is important. If you tend to gain fat in this area, perform aerobic exercise and lower your caloric intake to shed fat from all areas of your body. Along with...
Squats are a full-leg exercise that you can do at home or the gym. When starting out, and to ensure proper form, start with just your body weight, adding a barbell or dumbbells later to increase the challenge. If you want to slim your calves,...
Jumping rope not only helps you improve muscular endurance and mental focus, it also can increase muscle definition in your lower legs and improve your posture. Although you can't burn fat from specific areas in your body such as your calves,...
With swimming-suit and shorts season approaching, you may be frequenting the gym a little more than usual. One area many people like to target and slim down is the calves. The calf muscles are located below the knees and above the ankles and are...
If your legs have more muscle mass, extra fat or just seem too bulky, you might be searching for a way to slim down your calves and thighs. The first step in achieving your goal is to understand that there is no way to spot reduce your calves or...
The soleus and the gastrocnemius are the two muscles that make up the calf. Without these versatile muscles you would not be able to drive a car, walk or lift your toes. Yet calves can be a source of body image distress: too small, too big or even...
The calves are the muscles found on the lower, back part of the legs below the knees. Anatomically, this two-part muscle group is known as the gastrocnemius, which is the upper portion, and the soleus, which is the lower portion. If your calves...
Calves can be a difficult area on your body to target. Made up of five distinct major muscles, getting slimmer calves means that you'll need to focus on these groups specifically to get stronger calves, and then incorporate cardiovascular activity...
Although the calves are often referred to as one unit, they actually have two parts -- the gastrocnemius and soleus. When you have large calves, it can be due to large muscles, excess fat or a combination of both. This is not a life-threatening...
Large calf muscles can be a result of excess body fat, muscle tissue or genetics. Although there is no such thing as spot reduction, you can use traditional weight-loss methods to remove any excess body fat and fat from your calves. You can also...
There's nothing wrong with having rounded, muscular calves -- they're a sign of a strong, powerful athlete. If you'd rather have slimmer calf muscles, though, you can accomplish this with a bit of work. Sometimes, muscular calves are genetic;...
The calves are an area of the body that often do not receive the same focus during a weight-loss program. Most dieters focus on fat loss in larger areas such as the abdomen, thighs, hips and arms. However, if you have bulky calves you may wish to...
In order to lose muscle in your calves, you need to make diet and lifestyle changes that will encourage muscle loss, or atrophy. Keep in mind, however, that it not possible to spot reduce and if you lose muscle in one area, you will lose muscle in...
Thick calves are often caused by genetics. While you cannot control your genes, and unfortunately, you cannot specifically spot treat the calves to make them smaller, you will have to stick to calorie burning exercises that won't pack on muscle in...
Stretching your calves can help reduce the risk of injury, loosen up taut calves and improve athletic performance. Engaging in frequent stretching sessions won't thin your calves but can help you exercise for longer periods without feeling...
If your calves are large, it may be a result of your diet or your gene pool. However, you can work the muscles of your calves to minimize fat, enhance muscle and work toward slimmer calves. While calf reduction surgery is an option, try exercises...
Your calf muscles are located just below your knee and run down to the backs of your ankles. Your calves have to support most of your weight whenever you're on your feet, whether walking or running. Some people, however, suffer from large calves...
Aerobic exercise such as walking, jogging and squatting and other aerobic exercises that target the calves effectively reduce the size of your calves. Stretching for at least 15 minutes after your workout is also good for slimming the calves...
Big, bulky calf muscles are not everyone's idea of attractive. You may be lifting weights hoping for slim, lean calves and all you get are large muscles, or perhaps you're afraid to start a strength training program because of the possibility of...
Although exercise can increase or decrease the size of your calves, the overall shape and thickness is predetermined by your genetic makeup. Exercises such as sprinting, jump rope, calf raises, squats and resistance strength training will increase...
Big calves can create a bulky look that makes your legs look big, no matter how toned they really are. Overworking your calves can build up the muscles so they look out of proportion to the rest of your legs. However, the most common reason for...
Elliptical trainers offer an effective cardiovascular workout that mimics the movement of running, yet without any impact. This can be beneficial if you have hip or knee issues, or if you are simply looking for an alternative to the treadmill....
Whether exercises slim your calves or make them bigger depends on how much you weight you use and how many times you perform an exercise. Each time you do an exercise one time, it will count as one repetition. Performing one to two sets of 12 to...
Calves, like the rest of your body are influenced in part by your eating habits, physical activity level and the non-alterable genetics. If you are eating a low-fat diet, exercising regularly and still not seeing a reduction in your calves, you...
Slim, toned calves suit any body type and shine in any outfit, but they can be dismayingly hard to achieve. Everyday activities such as walking and climbing stairs strengthen calf muscles with every step, and running on a treadmill develops them...
Bulky calf muscles have a different physical composition than slim calves; they contain a larger proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibers and fewer slow-twitch fibers. The ratio of muscle fiber types in your calves is largely genetic, but a change...
Some people may like big, bulky calves and they can do all the barbell calf raises or weight machine calf raises they want, but if you want to slim your calves stick to light- or no-weight exercises. You should be able to do 12 or more reps if the...
