Calves, calves and more calves.

[jerseyboy]

I've tried everything to get my lower legs to grow. I know calves are one of the most stubborn body parts to develop because your using them every day. So with this in mind I've decided to try hitting them every day. Right now my routine looks like this:
Calf extensions on the leg press machine, max 450 pounds
Donkey calf raises, max @ 300 pounds
Standing calf raises, max @ 300 pounds
Seated calf raises, max @ 145 pounds
3 sets each of 12-20 reps or until failure.
I know every day may seem overkill but I am mid cycle on Tren, test E, test Prop., Deca, 6iu's gh and slin. So far I haven't had any problem with recovery. I don't see how they couldn't grow with a regimine like this. Any opinions? More weight less reps? More weight more reps?

[kaberle_15]

My calves are my weakest part and I as well as some other people I know had better results training them every 4 or 5 days. I tried ed and eod and I didn't get the same results as I do now working them every 4 or 5 days.

[skank]

I get the best results if I do calves twice a week. The first day is after quads, I attack the gastrocnemius muscles with either standing raises or by leg press machine extension. I point the toes in or out to hit different areas. The other day is after hams, I bomb the soleus muscle with seated calf raises. This brings out the cuts on the side and builds width. Doing this split works for me and turns my calves into cows as they say. Oh and reps are at 22 to 25.

[jerseyboy]

I've been training them for years and twice a week just doesn't cut it. I'll try going with 20+ reps though.

[Mike Dura]

Doing Calves every day is fine. I'd add volume and and weight. I always modeled my calf training after arnold who did the same and I spent 45 min. to 1.5 hour on them. Once a week come in and do calves for an hour and a half. Also, do super-heavy partials. Do every shocking method available and keep it frequently changing. Also, throw in some super high rep sets with no weight. Doing this, it took me a year and a half to put on one inch. If your willing to pay the price you'll get em kicking

I've tried everything to get my lower legs to grow. I know calves are one of the most stubborn body parts to develop because your using them every day. So with this in mind I've decided to try hitting them every day. Right now my routine looks like this:
Calf extensions on the leg press machine, max 450 pounds
Donkey calf raises, max @ 300 pounds
Standing calf raises, max @ 300 pounds
Seated calf raises, max @ 145 pounds
3 sets each of 12-20 reps or until failure.
I know every day may seem overkill but I am mid cycle on Tren, test E, test Prop., Deca, 6iu's gh and slin. So far I haven't had any problem with recovery. I don't see how they couldn't grow with a regimine like this. Any opinions? More weight less reps? More weight more reps?

[Panzerfaust]

I must be gifted, i hit mine once a week maybe twice if i feel like it and mine are ****ing huge.

[jerseyboy]

What about doing those reverse raises like where your heels are on the step so you can work the muscle on the front of your lower leg?

[xlxBigSexyxlx]

Calves, like biceps, are in the genes.

If you want them bigger, get implants lol.

[jerseyboy]

Actually my bi's started growing again as soon as I started hitting my tri's harder.

[Mike Dura]

That's a half truth. Arnold had naturally small calves and he got them in proportion. I did this as well. On the other hand, some people have naturally huge calves. My grandmother, for example, had huge shredded calves (no kidding). I inhereted her prematurely greying hair and my grandfathers bird legs. Damn!

Calves, like biceps, are in the genes.

If you want them bigger, get implants lol.

[Mike Dura]

I've read that doing reversed makes the calves look bigger from the front because it creates a split which "seperates" the two sides.

What about doing those reverse raises like where your heels are on the step so you can work the muscle on the front of your lower leg?

[jerseyboy]

I've read that doing reversed makes the calves look bigger from the front because it creates a split which "seperates" the two sides.

Well I'm thinking about it like an opposing muscle. Maybe it'll help to work that too. I was doing them for awhile on the seated machine and they can burn pretty good.
I have calves like yours Mike if that's you in the pic, set up high like that. I'm getting some IGF this week and I'll be injecting my calves PWO. I'm on a mission.

[MFT81]

Go ahead and bomb them for two weeks with high volume then do a week where you only do them once or twice a week with lower volume but do high quality training making every rep count, (like we dont do this already but you get the idea) then go back to another one to two weeks of bombing.

the reasoning is that im afraid they might get smaller to compensate for the new higher volume training everyweek with out a break, But hey mine are like 14 inches so dont put to much stock into what I say.

[BigJames]

I've been training them for years and twice a week just doesn't cut it. I'll try going with 20+ reps though.

I would stick with twice a week, but use fewer reps and more weight. I start with a set of 20-25 to warm up and then my 3 working sets are at 10-15 reps HEAVY.

[MFT81]

Go to this link

http://www.thefitshow.tv/

Go to season 3 episode 30 and check out james lewis cool ideas for calf training if you havent seen them already.

[jerseyboy]

Wow he's got some cows huh. And his accent is really annoying. That's some good stuff though thanks for the link.

[catabolic kid]

My calves are my weakest part and I as well as some other people I know had better results training them every 4 or 5 days. I tried ed and eod and I didn't get the same results as I do now working them every 4 or 5 days.

That must be the reason for a pic of your thighs and up in your avatar

[kaberle_15]

That must be the reason for a pic of your thighs and up in your avatar

Yes because I am Gunter

[catabolic kid]

Yes because I am Gunter

Gunter, even though your calves may not be developed, you still have a better physique...you could probably be in one of those Mr. America shows.

[kaberle_15]

Gunter, even though your calves may not be developed, you still have a better physique...you could probably be in one of those Mr. America shows.

Thanks bro I actually have done some shows I finished 4th at the Olympia and beat Ronnie Coleman at the 2002 show of strength, I also had a role in the movie Beerfest which I was on the German drinking team!

[catabolic kid]

Thanks bro I actually have done some shows I finished 4th at the Olympia and beat Ronnie Coleman at the 2002 show of strength, I also had a role in the movie Beerfest which I was on the German drinking team!

I will have to go and see that film...keep up that good work at the strength shows!

[IBdmfkr]

I have a calf thread around here somewhere, find it, try it and let me know.

I used to think I was doomed genetically with my calves but after years of hurting them severely.. they grew.

[Prada]

I have a calf thread around here somewhere, find it, try it and let me know.

I used to think I was doomed genetically with my calves but after years of hurting them severely.. they grew.

Yeah I remember seeing them somewhere, Im going to have to try that. Im changing my routine in a couple weeks and I'll incorporate your ideas in it. I've tolerated my calves indifference far to long.

[jerseyboy]

I have a calf thread around here somewhere, find it, try it and let me know.

I used to think I was doomed genetically with my calves but after years of hurting them severely.. they grew.

I tried doing an advanced search using your username but I had no luck. I'd like to read it though if you know where to find it.
I've been using the previously mentioned routine for the past 8 weeks but only recently doing it every other day. I've put a 1/4" on them so far. They look great, cut, vascular...just still too small.

[IBdmfkr]

Calves take a lot of time and a lot of PAIN to grow in most ppl's cases.. Other's are just bastards with crazy genetics and are born with great calves.

Here's the routine, if done correctly it is brutal:
http://forums.steroid.com/showthread...ghlight=Calves - At the bottom of first post...

http://forums.steroid.com/showpost.p...6&postcount=17 - Here it is.. wasn't easy to find.

[Prada]

I think its in his leg threads
http://forums.steroid.com/showthread.php?t=274033

[jerseyboy]

Thanks for taking the time to find that for me. I'll make sure to apply the slow controlled reps. I always do a quick 20 reps on a step with just body weight after every set. From what I've read this helps really get the blood flowing down there. maybe this accounts for them being so vascualr lately. I actually have come to enjoy working them hard. I like the burn and having trouble getting down the stairs at the gym afterward. Sometimes I have to stop halfway down to let the burning subside. I'll post my progress in a few weeks.

[IBdmfkr]

They should feel like they will burst and be extremely painful to some degree, the pump/burn is merely blood in the muscle, it will not result in growth IMO.

[Maverick_J8]

Squats plus leg press raises are the numero uno for calves if you ask me.

[dwaynewade]

Peep this... http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/8%20w...calves%201.php

[IronReload04]

I have used dc to get where I am, and i dont push that on people.........But what we do for calves is imo the best way to bring them up


pick an exercise where you can get a huge range of motion, like where your heals are hanging over the edge and you can really get deep.

starting at the top, lower the weight ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM and do a 10 second negative....when you get to the bottom, maximally stretch your calves as hard as possible and hold for 5 seconds.....Then explode to the top....thats one rep.........use a weight where you can do this with great form and fail around 12-15.....go till TRUE FAILURE........realize with calves, strength is not the limiting factor, pain is the limiting factor here......be sure to push past the pain and hit true muscle failure........do just one set for calces if you do this........any more than one set, and overtraining may occur, this is extremely brutal, on a regular basis, if done right, will leave your calves sore for a couple days......1 set twice a week.....you can push a couple reps past failure if possible if you desire


just my 2 cents

[Big]

Genetics seem to play a huge role in calve development. I'm naturally thin and have had to work very hard just to get some meat on my calves, but a close friend of mine is slightly overweight, doesn't work out at all, yet has huge cut calves. Now that I think about it, it kind of pisses me off...

[jerseyboy]

Genetics seem to play a huge role in calve development. I'm naturally thin and have had to work very hard just to get some meat on my calves, but a close friend of mine is slightly overweight, doesn't work out at all, yet has huge cut calves. Now that I think about it, it kind of pisses me off...

Damn right it pisses me off. Some of these guys don't even have to train calves. I'm doing pretty good though. I put 3/4" on in 3 and a half months. Growth seems to have stalled though. They're ripped too. I have veins running across the front of my shin. I'm hitting them at least 3 times a week using different moves. Donkey calf raises seem to develop my inner calf more. I do leg press, standing and seated also. All til they burn so bad I'm jumping around. I like seated cause I can cheat a little with the handles doing forced sets. Along with squats and straight legged dead lifts and ham days they're coming along. This is the first summer I'm not embarassed to wear shorts. Shaving them def. helped too. They look so much better hairless and tan.