Crossing your legs and sitting with one leg over the other?... I wondered why my ankles and calves were getting thicker.

Even when I see calves that don't get thinner despite dieting, calling it a 'divine realm,' I can only sigh. Let's explore the habits that unconsciously make our calves thicker in daily life.

Unconsciously crossing legs because it feels comfortable

Some people unconsciously cross their legs when sitting in a chair. However, sitting with legs crossed can hinder blood circulation in the legs and cause pelvic misalignment. In this case, the overall balance of the body can be disrupted, leading to differences in leg length, and the calf muscles may also become thicker. Therefore, even consciously, crossing the legs should be avoided as much as possible.

Strong calves built with quick steps

The calves become more prominent as the muscles are strengthened, and running as well as walking quickly develop the calf muscles. In particular, when walking fast like in a race walk, both the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles develop, resulting in thicker calves.

There are also precautions to take when climbing stairs. It is common to step on the stairs with the front part of the toes, but if you lift the front part of your foot onto the next step and use your ankle strength to climb, it will heavily engage your calf muscles and cause them to thicken. When climbing stairs, it is better to step down with your heels as well, to distribute the effort across your calves.

Standing with legs crossed, sitting with legs apart

When walking along the road, you can see people leaning their bodies against the wall and standing on one leg. However, standing on one leg causes weight to be concentrated on only one side. At this time, the length and shape of both legs become different, ultimately leading to poor blood circulation and uneven load-bearing, resulting in one leg becoming thicker. Additionally, frequently sitting with legs apart can cause the pelvis to become misaligned. If the pelvis is misaligned, it is advisable to avoid behaviors that lead to fat accumulation in the legs.

Are high heels that enhance leg line also a cause?

High heels that highlight women's leg lines are actually not good for calf health. High heels cause the muscles to work harder, putting strain on the calves. So what about shoes without any heels? Unfortunately, flat shoes with almost no heels also require a lot of effort from the gastrocnemius muscle when walking, contributing to thicker calves.

Instead of very high heels or shoes without heels at all, a heel height of about 3 to 5 cm is ideal as it does not put strain on the calf muscles. Additionally, as spring approaches and more people start looking for sandals, there is a concern that shoes might slip off. If you bend your ankles too much towards the shin to prevent slipping, it could lead to the development of the front calf muscles. Therefore, it is recommended to try on sandals and choose ones that do not put excessive pressure on the shins.