5 Essential Tips for Getting Rid of Huge Calves

Many women strive for toned calf muscles. While some find it difficult for their calf muscles to grow and become toned, others complain their calf muscles are too large, and they search for ways to reduce the muscle bulk. By taking the appropriate steps, you can reduce the size of bulky calf muscles without losing their toned appearance. Change your lifestyle habits to reduce the enhance size of your calf muscles. Women with muscular calves should avoid walking in high heels or in unsupported shoes, which can strengthen your calf muscles and encourage hypertrophy, or muscle growth. Do not stand for long periods of time, which can reduce blood circulation in your legs and cause swelling. If you like these activities more than you worry about "big" calves, consider reframing your thoughts to an appreciation of what your calves can do for you. If your calves are bigger than you like because of excess body fat, doing cardio exercises can help you to burn enough calories to reduce that excess fat.

However, be warned that powerful jumping exercises are more likely to promote calf growth, so aim for lower-impact workouts that don't require as much powerful activation of your calf muscles. Keep in mind that spot reduction, or the idea you can lose fat from just one part of your body, is a myth. To slim extra fat off your calves, you'll need to tweak both diet and exercise so that you burn more calories than you take in. Then the excess body fat will come off everywhere - including your calves. You should be facing the wall. Lift one leg and place it next to the wall so your toes are about 5 to 8 inches up the wall with the ball of your foot flat against the wall. Your heel should still be on the floor. Lean forward until you feel a pull in the back of your leg. Hold the position, making sure the leg you're stretching is straight, for at least 15 to 30 seconds before switching legs.

The described stretch targets your gastrocnemius, enhance size or the largest calf muscle that is readily apparent. The other muscle is your soleus, which is smaller and essentially hidden deep to the gastrocnemius muscle. Although you can't see the soleus on most people, stretching it can still feel good. A soleus stretch works exactly like the gastrocnemius stretch, but, instead of keeping the leg you're stretching straight, give it a slight bend at the knee to shift the focus from gastrocnemius to soleus. Knead the muscles with your thumbs, knuckles or fingers. You can also use a foam roller or other massage tools for self-myofascial release. This is another recognized technique that will help loosen many of your leg muscles, including your calf muscles. This means that if you're doing calf exercises with heavy weight, shift back to a lighter weight instead, increasing the number of repetitions to 15 or even 20 so it's still a challenge.

If you’re serious about weightlifting, you’ve probably heard the term "progressive overload" before. But what exactly is it? Progressive overload is the steady increase of stress placed on your muscles during exercise over time. You can achieve this through various methods, including increasing weight, reps, or sets. Mind you; this method is not for the faint of heart. As the name suggests, it demands more and more from your muscles. The line that sits between what is within the limit and beyond the limit is extended. Curious? Keep reading to find out more about it. What is Progressive Overload? Progressive overload is a fundamental principle in weightlifting that involves increasing the demands on your muscles over time. This means you need to lift heavier weights, perform more reps, or do more sets to continue progressing. The concept of progressive overload is based on the idea that you need to challenge your body continually to see continued progress and improvements in strength and muscle growth.