Are there any other women out there with extra huge calf muscles?

KATHYB · 04-07-2009, 07:31 AM

All of my life i have felt like a freak due to my having such large calf muscles. The only women i have seen that come close to having calf muscles as large as mine are gymnasts. But even theirs seem to go back to normal once they quit competing. Is there any way to reduce the size of my calves? I am nearly fifty years old and still hoping that one day i might be able to shorts or a swim suit without being stared at. In fact, i only wear jeans so i can hide my hideous calf muscles. Any advice would be welcomed.

LT9Tonya · 04-07-2009, 09:05 PM

I have, what I feel, are huge calf muscles as well. My hubby says it is just my perception, but I can never wear boots because they don't fit my claves. I even had to wear male work boots when I was in law enforcement because the females ones were too small.
Are your claves always a little bigger, or is it due to swelling? Are they muscular or are a little overweight?
I guess what I mean is, could you define huge? Why do they seem huge? I don't mean to be nosy just trying to narrow down a culprit.

KATHYB · 04-07-2009, 11:26 PM

My calf muscles are muscular. I'm about 5'4" and weigh 160lbs, a bit overweight, but nothing that would cause this kind of size difference. I too could never wear the sexy knee high boots. My ex-husband thought that I looked fine and my current partner says that I am perfect the way I am. But I don't see myself that way at all. I have never yet seen a fashion magazine where there was anyone pictured with what I have in the calf muscle department. Maybe in a body builder magazine - but those women work hard to achieve that look. I have found for example, that when I do something where I bend down from the waist and like touch my toes, my calf muscles stretch and although my leg still looks larger than normal, I don't have the over-defined looking calf muscle. I wish I could walk around like that, I feel I look at least half normal. I don't think I did anything that would have caused them to develop like this, in fact the only athletic thing I ever did was run track in high school for a year. They came in handy then as I have very powerful legs. Do you feel uncomfortable in shorts too or do you feel that people look at you differently? I have often wondered if if were due to some kind of hormone imbalance, for instance, too much male hormone, but I don't have any other features that would indicate this. Thanks for replying.

MyFitnessForumName · 04-08-2009, 01:52 PM

On the contrary, I have been playing sports (soccer, tennis, hockey) all my life and I barely have a noticeable calf muscle. I dont want anything HUGE, but some definition would be nice!

5kgLifter · 04-08-2009, 03:03 PM

My calf muscles are a reasonbale size, but when I look in the mirror the legs really don't look that big, even though there is a defeinite calf muscle presence. I'm not really the sort of person to wear shorts anyway, but I think I should just get over it and enjoy the fact that I don't have the 'streamlined' skinny leg, but that I do have a healthy looking muscular leg.

LT9Tonya · 04-09-2009, 02:57 PM

I use to feel weird in shorts because of my calves, but in recent years I have become a little more comfortable with my body in general. I am 34 now so I guess with age comes the knowledge that I am the way I am and there are only certain things I can fix. I think mine are large because my heritage is German. I have broad shoulders and just and overall larger frame than women in magazines. I don't think people look at me differantly because when I have mentioned it people will say they didn't even notice. Of course I have huge breasts so my hubby says they see those first! LOL! I totally understand your feelings though. I think for me once I realized that I had to accept myself for the way I am and acknowledge that I will not look like a magazine girl I have been much happier. It has taken me several years to get there, and some therapy but I feel very secure with myself now.
I don't know of any exercises that would shrink your calf size, but I am know there are many on here that would be able to direct you to an exercise that might. I have been running alot lately and mine are getting more defined but not shrinking.

almostfit · 04-12-2009, 02:45 AM

Whilst I completely understand the desire for smaller calves, I don't think you sound abnormal, just strong!
I'm very similar to LT9Tonya, broad shoulders, large chest and strong toned legs. I think a positive outlook has a lot to do with muscly toned legs, I used to hate mine, I wanted anorexic looking legs like my friends but I came to the conclusion a while a go that I should be proud of what I've got

I focus on the fact that they serve me well, I can do everything I want with them. Having said that I'm pretty sure mine came from a combination of my background and all the ballet/ gymnastics/ swimming and cycling and walking I did as a child, and now they seem to maintain themselves even if I am not focusing on them.
Are you doing any leg specific exercises? might they be making it worse?Maybe you could have a chat to a doctor if they bother you this much?
If you're worried about hormones are you having other symptoms? are all your muscles over-developed or is it just your calves? Do you have increased hair growth? they might point to an increase in male hormones...
all in all mine just look shocking when I wear stilettos! maybe steer clear of them and you'll feel better

Sorry this is so long, just trying to help!

big muscle bunny · 04-12-2009, 08:11 AM

Revel in your sturdy legs! Big calves are beautiful, never be ashamed of muscles, be glad that you have a good shape to your legs. Wear shorts! So there are a few boot styles you can't wear, well, you're not defined by your style of shoe I hope. You'd be amazed, if you knew, how many guys out there think that really pumped, big, muscular legs, and that includes big, sturdy, round calves, are beautiful on a woman.

It's the magazines, TV, the wrinkle free 100 pound actresses with spaghetti legs that we are tortured by that make us hate our differences. All my life I've had muscles, without much effort, lately I've been training them, and my shoulders are bigger than most of the guys I work with now. But I love the way I can walk tall, my head pulls up naturally, my back doesn't hurt, and I feel more female, not less. Still have a bit of weight to lose, but the muscles stay, I'd like to have a 17" bicep someday...they don't detract from my being a woman, and males too insecure to enjoy my robust qualities wouldn't like me if I was puny either!

roversbabe · 04-12-2009, 08:25 AM

I''m sooo relieved that it's not just me - I have never been able to wear certain boots or skinny jeans due to the size of my calf muscles (and it is muscle too - that's one part of my body that has very little fat). My hubby describes them as footballers legs!

Lazylifter · 04-12-2009, 10:42 AM

Hey you guys, spare a thought for those of us who have huge thighs!
Few years ago, when I was cycling to work my carves stayed the same but my thighs just got bigger and bigger. Its put me off cycling.

If you are self concious about calves you could use fake tan or different levels of sunprotection to make the fronts darker than the sides that would give the illusion of thinner calves.