Naturally bulky calves can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on the point of view. Male bodybuilders usually have a trouble stimulating their calves to grow, while most of the ladies don’t really enjoy having large calves that barely fit in their favorite pair of skinny jeans. And let’s not even mention that wearing skirts or dresses that don’t cover your big calves is a sure way to stand out in a crowd.
The terrifying thing is that an increasing number of women who are unsatisfied with the size of their calves are seriously considering calf reduction surgery to help them get the legs they want. Is this really necessary? Not really, because there are others, less invasive and painful methods to slim down your calves which we’re going to uncover in this article. In order to slim down your calves, you need to perform high reps with light weights. Here are the exercises:
#1. Sumo squats
Stand with your feet approximately 24 to 36 inches apart. Position your feet wider than your hips with your toes and knees facing forward. Keep your head up and your spine lengthened so there is no curve in your back. Place your arms at your sides or bring your hands in front of your chest to assist with balance. Inhale, bend your knees and lower your hips behind you to a comfortable depth or until your thighs are parallel with the floor. Prevent your knees from moving forward beyond your toes
Perform 20 reps to warm up your legs.
#2. Sumo squat calf raises
Stand with your feet approximately 24 to 36 inches apart. Position your feet wider than your hips with your toes and knees facing forward. Keep your head up and your spine lengthened so there is no curve in your back. Place your arms at your sides or bring your hands in front of your chest to assist with balance. Inhale, bend your knees and lower your hips behind you to a comfortable depth or until your thighs are parallel with the floor. Prevent your knees from moving forward beyond your toes. Squeeze your calves hard on your way up. Perform 20 reps.
#3. Running
Have you noticed that runners always have really slim legs? This is because endurance running is one of the best ways to get defined, slim calves. For best results, perform it for 30 minutes at a moderate pace, three times per week.
#4. Skater hops
Perform a reverse lunge with your back leg slightly at an angle. Leap to the side and bring the opposite leg behind you, only tapping your toe to the ground. Immediately jump back the other direction and continue alternating until you feel the burn. Repeat the move towards the right Keep hopping like this until you complete 15 reps on each side.
#5. Calf raises
This is another move easily done from the comfort of your own home, but you can also mimic it on the calf-workout machine at the gym. Make sure you start out sitting on a sturdy chair and to keep your knees aligned directly over your feet, which should be flat on the floor. Then push slowly down into the balls of your feet and lift your heels up as high as possible. Lower, then repeat. For added resistance, place your hands on your thighs and push down. Perform 30 reps.
#6. Calf Stretches
Calf stretches will elongate the calf muscles and make them appear slimmer. Choose a wall and support your body weight into the wall with your arms. Put one foot forward and bend the knee at 90 degrees while keeping the other foot back and straight. Push the back leg down by pushing the heels into the ground. Keep the calves of the back leg stretched like this for 30 seconds, then switch legs.