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Dear Dr. Dixon,

I've been going to the gym regularly for the past few months in an effort to lose weight.  I've taken up running and currently I'm running about 3-4 times a week for about 45 minutes a time.  I do interval training.  The problem is, I've noticed that my calves have become bulky and muscley.   Should I change my workout to say, endurance and long distance running for a longer period of time?  And is there any kind of stretching or exercise I can do to lessen the bulk of my calves?

Shea-Fee

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Dear Shea-Lee,

First of all, large calves do not come from running, as you know from looking at marathoners.  Calves come from God, and appear small or larger depending on fat, fluid retention, and specific exercise demand or lack of exercise.  This exercise demand is usually from being on your toes a lot.  The commonest way is from a step, with your forefoot on the tread and heel off of it, and then going up and down. If you are doing that it may make your calves muscular.  I have the feeling that you are to be congratulated in shucking your fat and increasing your muscle and as my best helper says "gaining muscle definition."  If you do this all over your body it is called looking buff.  Don't fret anymore.  Keep working.

George Dixon, MD

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