Do This if You Have Big Thighs and Small Calves (The Fix!)

Big thighs small calves image

Does it seem like no matter what you do, your calves will never be up to speed with your massive thighs? Then you’ve either lost the genetic lottery or you don’t know much about building impressive wheels.

And, since altering DNA is expensive, let’s review what your other options are!

Let’s Talk About Big Thighs and Small Calves

The dreaded combo: Big thighs and small calves.

You wonder how you managed to build up your lower body enough to squat 300 pounds while also looking like you’ve never worked out a day in your life.

But, building up your lower body is about a lot more than filling out your sweatpants.

Stronger lower body muscles can also:

  • Boost your squat and deadlift PRs
  • Improve your metabolism and burn some body fat
  • Reduce your risk of hip, knee, and ankle injuries
  • Improve your athletic performance as a whole

Most importantly, you can look bulky all-around, not just on your upper body. The guys at the gym will know you mean business.

5 Quick Tips to Balance Out Your Legs

1. Keep Hitting the Squat Rack

You might be thinking to yourself, “Maybe if I just let my quads and hamstrings detrain a little, my calves will naturally look a little bigger.”

That’s good logic, but a poor solution.

Squats are actually an integral part of any lower body workout routine where muscle mass is your goal. There’s no better way to build massive thighs and glutes than with squat variations.

But, squats also have the potential to hit your calves, specifically the gastrocnemius muscle. Building up this muscle can help you to add some noticeable lower leg mass and bulk.

So, work on squats several times per week to continue building thigh mass while also hitting those pesky calf muscles.

2. Go For a Run….On the Beach?

You’re going to hate us for this….but cardio might be in your future.

Now, we’re not telling you to lace up for a 3-mile run through the suburbs or a 5-mile hike up in the mountains. Leave the running shoes at home and head to the closest beach (or shoreline).

The sandier, the better.

The more your thighs, lower legs, and feet have to work to push up off the sand, the more your calves are directly targeted during your jog.

It’s like doing 100 or more calf raises every minute without stepping foot into the gym.

Good luck walking the few days following this run….your legs will thank you later.

3. Bring Your Journeys Uphill

Let’s be honest: Walking on the flat ground has never done a single good thing for your calves past the age of 12. So, it’s time to add a little elevation to your normal routine.

We’re talking about hiking.

When you’re hiking on trails that bring you up and down steep hills, your leg muscles are pushed into overdrive. It takes a lot more strength and effort from your lower legs to handle elevation.

Take the hills quickly to really push your leg muscles to their limits.

Even better is that you have a little scenery to enjoy. Can you really hate leg day with the view of a mountain or river in the distance?

4. Work Your Calves Constantly

Since you’re on your feet literally all day, both your thighs and your lower legs can handle quite a bit. So, don’t feel like you can only work your calves once or twice a week.

In some cases, 3 to 4 calf workouts per week with 2 days of rest in between is solid.

But, perhaps what’s even more important is how many reps you’re doing.

The calves seem to respond best to higher rep ranges. So, shoot for 10 to 20 reps per set instead of the usual 8 to 12 reps for hypertrophy.

Add a little variety here and there to work on power (5 to 8 reps) and endurance (25+ reps) and you’ll be good to go.

5. Do Seated & Standing Calf Raises Right

There are two key muscles in the calves: The soleus and the gastrocnemius.

And, targeting both individually is a great way to really maximize calf growth from top to bottom so that your calves match your thighs.

That means doing both seated and standing calf raises.

To get the most out of them, you need to increase your range of motion.

Instead of just doing standing calf raises starting with your feet flat on the floor, you could begin with your toes on a raised plank of wood (or a step) and your heels hanging off.

This forces your calf muscles to work harder and makes more mass a reality.

Eat to Grow

It doesn’t matter how hard you hit the gym if you’re not fueling your body for gains.

When your goal is mass, protein is most important in your diet. This is the macronutrient that’ll help your muscles to recover and rebuild post-workout.

So, just how much protein do you need?

Aim for up to 1.7 grams per kilogram of body weight for optimal muscle mass.

At first, it’ll feel like you’re eating protein literally all day every day.

Supplementing with whey protein shakes throughout the day can keep your protein levels high without revolving your entire day around your eating schedule.

Be Willing to Commit

Your thighs and calves will never grow if your workout routine is inconsistent.

You need to be willing to commit time in the gym to see gains before deciding that, genetically, you’re just not capable of bulking up.

So, what’s the recommendation?

If you really want to center in on leg mass, then you’ll want to work directly on your leg muscles at least 2 or 3 times per week. Also, give your muscles 2 to 3 days of rest in-between.

Don’t expect to see inches added to your thighs or calves in just a few short weeks.

It might take 6 weeks to 6 months to see any noticeable results in the mirror. You’re still building up strength if your 1RM is improving, so give your muscles some time to catch up!

What Should You Do If You Have Big Thighs and Small Calves?

Your goal should be to keep your thighs big and give your calves the time to match them.

To do that, you’ll want to continue hitting those thigh muscles through exercises like squats. You’ll also want to add hiking or beach running to your routine to really put your thighs and calves to the test.

Make sure you’re eating more than enough protein, spending enough time in the gym (2 to 3 days for legs), and committing to a routine.

The post Do This if You Have Big Thighs and Small Calves (The Fix!) appeared first on NOOB GAINS.



from NOOB GAINS https://noobgains.com/big-thighs-small-calves/

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