What Kind of Exercises Can You Do to Make Your Calves Thinner?
Spot reducing any one area of the body by diet or exercise is impossible since you cannot dictate where your body stores or loses fat. If the size of your calves is bothersome to you, however, there are some exercises you can try to make them thinner. Depending on whether you need to reduce fat deposits in the lower legs or reduce bulky calf muscles, your approach may differ.
If you are overweight, chances are your calves are larger because your body stores excess fat cells in that area. People store fat differently depending on their body type, and you may simply be someone who stores more fat in the lower body and legs. Reduce body fat by limiting portion size in addition to choosing vegetables and lean protein like chicken and fish. Eliminate sugar, fatty foods and prepackaged meals and snacks. Use a calorie counter like the one at freedieting.com to ensure you are meeting your body's caloric needs, and make time for cardiovascular exercise at least three times a week to help burn stored body fat.
To slim the calves, it's effective to practice low-impact exercise like walking, which calls more heavily on the thigh muscles than the calves. Walking will help tone and tighten all the muscles of your lower body without causing significant muscle growth to the calf area. Swimming is a good option to tone the entire body and burn calories without beefing up the lower leg muscles. Yoga or Pilates can help lengthen and stretch all the muscles throughout the leg area, making them appear leaner and longer.
Exercises to Avoid
While a healthy diet and exercise regimen is crucial for overall fitness, you may want to avoid certain types of exercise that could hinder your calf-slimming efforts. This is especially true if your calves are larger due to muscle bulk. Avoid movements like jumping and climbing, as these motions can strengthen your calf muscles and make them appear larger. Weight training this area should also be avoided if you do not wish to encourage further muscle development.
Think about the shoes you wear and how they may affect the appearance of your calf muscles. If you wear high heels on a regular basis, you may be inadvertently beefing up your calves without even trying. High heels not only shift the position of the legs and rear, but by raising the ankles, heels can actually cause the calf muscles to contract. This flexing of the muscle can make the calves appear larger than if you were to wear a low-heeled or flat shoe.
Sara Melone is a mother of three and a graduate of UNH. With prior careers in insurance and finance, photography, as well as certifications in fitness and nutrition, Melone draws directly from past experience and varying interests. She contributes with equal passion to birth journals, investment blogs, and self-help websites.