TurboKitty

Short of starving yourself, is it possible to lose muscle.

If a particular area is too muscular, what can be done to reduce it's size?

super_si

Good question, ive seen alot of people who used to swim and now have quite big shoulders.

I dont think you can tbh, take arnie. Hes just turned to fat.

Si

TelBoy

whoa tiger. No he hasn't. He hasn't got the muscle tone he did when he was younger, so it might *look* as if it's turned to fat, but physiologically that's an impossibility. And anyway, if i look loke that when i'm 50 whatever, i won't be complaining!

TK, the short answer is no. Muscles only atrophy due to lack of use or natural ageing. There's nothing you can do to actively reduce their size, as by definition this would involve exercising them.

super_si

He's all saggy like my gran

TurboKitty

Somehow I knew that was going to be the answer...

TurboKitty

Your gran looks like Arnie? Well that tells us a lot.

steve G MAN

telboy if your ticker packs in as many times as his by the time your 50 you will be dead as your not as rich lol

super_si

lol

TelBoy

Steve, true, but (touch wood or whatver you do) i wasn't born with heart problems like he was. I feel very sorry for him that one of his daughters inherited it too, that must be awful.

bros2

Ask yourself why the muscle is there in the first place - it's because you're doing a particular exercise (walking, lifting things etc) and your body has naturally grown to enable you to do this efficiently.

Even if you WERE to starve yourself and lose the muscle that way, unless you gave up walking/lifting/whatever it is you're doing it would grow back when you started eating properly again.

Alternatively, try the Bobby Sands diet on a semi-permanent and you'll find you can't do half the things you go at present - you'll be far too weak.

I know about it. I had an amazingly overactive hyroid (running at something like 13 times the normal rate) and as a result lost 4 stone in 8 weeks, probably 2 stone of it muscle. Went on a skiing holiday and kept crashing as my legs were exhaused after 20 minutes. Very much not recommended, and neither was the subsequent thyroidectomy, nor the constant need to take replacement thyroxin in perpetuity.

bros

GaryK

si,

whoa there, biggest single misconception about BB Fat and muscle are NOT the same, fat does not turn into muscle or vice-versa!!!

Si, my once perfect physique is now covered with layers of fat and my (smaller) muscles are somewhere underneath!!!!


Gary

TurboKitty

The problem is my calves. I think the muscle is there because I used to do a lot of martial arts, horse riding and walking. I just seem to have a tendancy to build muscle on my lower body, (not my upper body though, for some reason, sadly). Of course, wearing heels a lot doesn't help much either.

It's getting to be a pain because my calves are now just over 42cm, (and they're solid - there's very little fat there). This means I can't generally buy boots, including riding boots, because the largest calf sizes are usually 35cm or thereabouts.

Unfortunately, I am doing a lot of cv work at the moment and much of it trains the calves to some extent, so they're bladdy growing again. I am *really* **** about stretching, so as to at least try to ensure they muscle is long, rather than short and bulky, but it's starting to be a major concern.

Any sensible suggestions are welcomed.

(Oh, and I can't swim instead because my fingernails will dissolve )

[Edited by TurboKitty - 3/7/2003 12:44:17 PM]

yoza

Muscle can be removed by surgery,you wont see the scar because your boots will cover them.

It has been mentioned that muscle can not turn into fat,and fat cant be turned into muscle,this is true.But an unused(untrained)muscle can look and feel like fat,it loses its form and texture.

PS if you go the surgery route let me know and Ill have it,my calve could do with a bit of a boost

londonpaul

erm, just dont train them - starving does nothing. since I stopped weight training I've lost significant muscle mass cunningly converted into lard with a long term beer and pie diet

GaryK

tel,

sorry mate didnt see your post, si the boy was off on one again so was just gonna put him right!

Gary

TurboKitty

I'm not desperate enough to starve myself or get bits hacked out of me!

It's a bit difficult not to train my calves. I have to use them for walking, and nearly every form of cv I do at the gym also works my calves. They're pretty fundamental muscles and I can't think of much in the way of exercise that doesn't use them. My weights programme is designed to minimise any work on my calves, but I can't see how to avoid it with cv stuff.

TurboKitty

Not strictly true. If you starve yourself, your body has to run on something and will break down muscle as well as fat for fuel.

super_si

shut it gary

paulr

As far as i can see thats your only option,but you're doing that already.When you've reached your required weight are you planning to cut back on your gym work,there may be a reduction in their size then?...

TurboKitty

I'm intending to continue going to the gym.

Even if I wasn't, I haven't done martial arts in years and I don't ride much anymore and there's been no significant decrease in the muscle size, so I am not hopeful that they'll get smaller.

south-star

TK....lots of people find calves attractive..

...

TurboKitty

They're just a fecking nuisance when I am trying to buy boots.

It looks like I am going to have a pair of thigh high boots specially made, because nowhere make them big enough to fit my calves.

image doctor

I have just measured my calfs.....45 cm!

But I am 6"2' and over 15 stone, yours must look huge!

ID - Sensitive

paulr

5'11 and mine are 37cm......

TurboKitty

Last time I trained with a professional personal trainer he wanted to swap calves. Mine were bigger and more solid than his.

The RingMaster

Kitty,

I think you should come down the gym with me and let me build
you upper body to compensate for your huge calves !


Justin
20 stone bodybuilder
South East Bench Press Champion BWT 125ks+

TurboKitty

Cheers, but I am already doing the gym thing, although I am training with the aim of toning rather than building a lot of muscle.

TBH, I don't like the look of excessively muscular bodies, especially on women.

Besides, I don't have the self-discipline required to do it that seriously.

Jodster

Slightly off topic, sorry TK, but in responce to Si...

At the recent 2003 Arnold Classic Bodybuiding Finals, the man himself spoke of his new 2.5 hour daily training schedule to get ready for King Conan, the movie he's making this summer. I wouldn't be surprised if he could win competitions once he's finished. He definately knows how to perk his body up. He also made some controversial remarks about modern weightlifters having big bellies which he said showed a lack of abdominal control. More at http://www.thearnoldfans.com

The only drugs I was aware he took was canabis during the 70s to help his exercised muscles relax after training.

TelBoy

Justin, what's your bench-press record? It's unusual for a bodybuilder to hold a powerlifting record, no? Do/did you know Mr White?

The RingMaster

My bench press pb is currently 205kg (451pounds) which
is nothing too special; to stand a chance of winning the nationals
in May id need to press 240kg+ (528pounds).

Although this doesnt sound much, it is in super strict powerlifting style ie take the weight, pause, drop to chest,
puase, then lift.

I am currently training with Ian Douglas, world masters powerlifting champion.