Sculpted calves are a necessary characteristic of sexy legs…
Whether you’re wearing a pair of shorts that show off your simmering legs in the summer sun, out in your little black dress with the man of your dreams, or strapping on that new pair of heels for a girls night, sexy and strong calves are always essential to complete your look.
Even if I were to put appearances aside, strong calves can boost your success in day-to-day life.
Strong calves boost your athletic performance, give you a firm foundation to stand on, pump circulation throughout your legs and also protect your Achilles tendon.
I want you to feel confident, strong and energetic so that you can enjoy your life to the fullest…
Cosmetically and constructively, sexy and strong calves are a must have, which is why I’ve created this list of the 5 best bodyweight exercises for sexy and strong calves!
You can perform these exercises anytime, anywhere, making them simple solutions to shape and strengthen your calves.
1) Ankle Hops
Ankle hops are great for your calves.
Have you ever felt the burn in your calves after jumping rope for a period of time?
Well, ankle hops make for a great alternative to jump roping.
Not only is this a great movement for strengthening your calves, but it also strengthens your heart and overall fitness level.
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How-to: To perform ankle hops, stand with your feet hip-width apart, with your feet flat on the floor, placing your hands at your sides. Then, bounce lightly off the floor in a quick, repetitive movement. Keep you knees slightly bent, your back straight and your face forward throughout the exercise. Repeat the movement for 20-reps.
2) Calf Raises
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Calf raises are a calf-focused exercise that targets your calves in isolation. And it’ll improve the tone and definition of your calf muscles all while building strength as well.
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This is easily one of the best, if not the best calf exercise you can perform to target your calves and get them looking and performing at their best.
How-To: To perform calf raises, begin with your feel close together and flat on the floor and your hands at your sides. Then, slowly lift up to the balls of your feet and flex your calf muscle when you get to the top of the movement. Lower yourself back down to the starting position. Repeat the movement for 20-reps.
3) Ply Squat Calf Raise
This one is similar to the standard calf raise, except that it involves more muscle groups in your legs, making it a fat burning and leg defining exercise.
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When you perform Ply Squat Calf Raises your glutes and thighs are largely involved in the movement (you’re going to feel the burn).
It’ll shape your calves and the rest of your lower half, all of which contribute to great looking legs.
How-To: To perform Ply Squat Calf Raises, begin with your legs spread about shoulder length apart with your arms curled in front of you. Then, squat down until your thighs are parallel with the floor. Hold that position for a moment. Now, this is where the movement begins. Lift up onto the balls of your feet and flex your calves when you get to the top of the movement (just like you did for the standard calf raises). Then lower your feet flat on the floor. Repeat this movement for 20-reps.
4) Inverted V-Plank
This one will really give your calves a good stretch, which is important when you consider their look and their health. But the inverted V-plank won’t only target your calves…
It works your abs, glutes, shoulders, thighs, and calves…
Sounds like all of the muscles you’d usually think about when putting on your little black dress.
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This workout not only delivers on your calves, but because it’s a full body workout, it also improves stability, flexibility, and boosts your metabolism.
How-To: To perform the inverted V-plank, begin in plank position, resting horizontally on your forearms and the balls of your feet. Then, simply press up onto your tiptoes, flexing your calves and inverting your body at your abdomen into a v-shape. After inverting, lower your body back to the horizontal position in which you began. Repeat the movement for 20-reps.
5) Mountain Climbers
This is a great exercise to finish off your calf workout because it involves a lot of fat-burning movements that will strengthen your calves and make them look great.
Mountain climbers are a dynamic, metabolism boosting, fat-burning exercise.
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They engage your core, abs, thighs, calves and even your shoulders and chest.
I’m convinced from experience that this is one of the best bodyweight exercises you can do.
How-To: To perform Mountain Climbers, begin on all fours with your hands planted on the ground and resting on the balls of your feet. Then, kick your right knee towards your right shoulder. Then return it to the starting position. Successively move onto your left leg. You’ll repeat this movement just as if you were running on your hands and feet, but without moving your arms. Try to do 20-reps per leg.
It’s not difficult to get strong and sexy legs.
Calves just aren’t typically given as much thought when you exercise as some other muscles...
But by doing these simple, bodyweight exercises you’ll strengthen and shape your calves as well as other muscles in your body, not to mention, you’ll burn fat and kick-start your metabolism while you’re at it!
Can you see it now?
When you implement these exercises into your workout routine you can rest assured that your calves will be looking gorgeous the next time you decide to show them off!