Calves every day?

[Cuz]

Considering doing this. I have nothing to lose. My calves are shit especially compared to the rest of me. Has anyone done anything similar? Maybe eod? Something has got to make them respond seated and standing raises are all I have access too right now and im not getting anywhere.

[bass]

twice a week is the most you want to go, they are muscles like any other, so they need to recover, overworking them will not make them bigger. Calves are one of the hardest muscle to make them grow, so patience, slow and heavy will do the trick. what exercises do you do for calves?

[kelkel]

Explain how you work yours currently. Reps, sets, etc...

[marcus300]

If you trained them properly every day they wouldn't repair and you wouldn't be able to train them everyday with the same intensity. Train them with the same principles as the rest of your body, when that pain starts driving through your calves telling you to stop[ - carry on and train with immense intensity and motivation. If you have a stubborn muscle group you need to step up the intensity not how often you train them. Train them correctly and once repaired train them again just make sure you hit them hard, heavy and with great intensity.

[Mp859]

Here is what I did when my calves were lagging. Switch up between heavy/low reps and light/high reps. Put a lot of emphasis on the negative part of the lift getting a full stretch at the bottom and squeeze at the top. In between sets I do standing raises with just my body weight. That alone will give you a painful pump if done in between sets.Go a couple weeks without looking at them in the mirror and follow this. I promise you they will grow.

[Cuz]

Thanks guys for some reason I cant get the squeeze and contraction out of my calf as I do the rest. Ill be more specific when I get off work im on phone right now but basically what im doing is seated calve raises usually four sets of 12-20 or more reps in and outward pointed toes and by then they are tired usually get under the smith and grind out 2 sets. I put a step underneath to get a better stretch and hit them hard. Ive tried slow reps fast reps everything I can think of. But it does seem to work better with high fast reps going to almost failure. If I reach failure on the seated machine I usually take my hands and help hoist the weight to get a few more reps. Thanks guys.

[largerthannormal]

Mine have always sucks. only in the last year have i actaully made great changes. The squeese at the top and hold has made a great change, and I do them more than i should 3-4 days a week , Also keep in mind for those stubborn parts. Stop doing those at the end of your workout, most people come in and hit the big movements first because they want to be able to have energy for the big lifts. Start using you calves as your concern or first lifts and go to faliure. I do at least 100 reps total of various angles and i also use other machines, Even a barbell on your shoulders and put a plate on the floor and put your toes on it and raise up and down till you cant. I found the trick is the hold at the top.

[bass]

Thanks guys for some reason I cant get the squeeze and contraction out of my calf as I do the rest. Ill be more specific when I get off work im on phone right now but basically what im doing is seated calve raises usually four sets of 12-20 or more reps in and outward pointed toes and by then they are tired usually get under the smith and grind out 2 sets. I put a step underneath to get a better stretch and hit them hard. Ive tried slow reps fast reps everything I can think of. But it does seem to work better with high fast reps going to almost failure. If I reach failure on the seated machine I usually take my hands and help hoist the weight to get a few more reps. Thanks guys.

then decrease the weights, keep lowering the weights until your able to do full motion, then increase as you get stronger.

[Cuz]

then decrease the weights, keep lowering the weights until your able to do full motion, then increase as you get stronger.

Thanks bass I will drop the weight some

[zempey]

I have decent calves genetically, but I have switched from lighter weight high rep to heavy weight slow controlled squeeze moderate reps. I found I wasn't making any progress with the lighter weights, now around 8-10 they burn and I push and squeeze the hell out of them to 12, I am limited by the stack on our standing machine, but it's a good weight for now, I will move to the leg press once I need more weight. It is all about the mind muscle connection, being able to flex and squeeze is important for calves, I see guys all the time using their Achillies tendon and quads to do calf raises. Slow and steady, deep stretch at the bottom and full contraction at the top with a squeeze, as soon as you use momentum the rep is a waste, IMO.

[RaginCajun]

Explain how you work yours currently. Reps, sets, etc...

We know how you got yours, walking in heels to your basement

[kelkel]

We know how you got yours, walking in heels to your basement

That's between us.....

[kelkel]

If you trained them properly every day they wouldn't repair and you wouldn't be able to train them everyday with the same intensity. Train them with the same principles as the rest of your body, when that pain starts driving through your calves telling you to stop[ - carry on and train with immense intensity and motivation. If you have a stubborn muscle group you need to step up the intensity not how often you train them. Train them correctly and once repaired train them again just make sure you hit them hard, heavy and with great intensity.

Basically this ^^^.

I'll add one thing that I've done since I began training, and I don't know why I do it but it just feels better this way. Whenever I get to the top of the movement I kind of bounce it up there a second time. A second push at the top so to speak to just jam that peak in there. I train them heavy with moderate reps. I've never agreed with high reps for calves as that's what they get all day every day just walking around, imho.

[crazy_rocks]

Here is what I did when my calves were lagging. Switch up between heavy/low reps and light/high reps. Put a lot of emphasis on the negative part of the lift getting a full stretch at the bottom and squeeze at the top. In between sets I do standing raises with just my body weight. That alone will give you a painful pump if done in between sets.Go a couple weeks without looking at them in the mirror and follow this. I promise you they will grow.

What rep range did you use with the lighter days?

[Mr.BB]

Also try streching the hell out of them. Static strechs for over 1 minute, straigth leg and with knee bend.

Calves have very strong fascia, look up "compartment syndrome", some people need surgery for it.

I train my calves with up to 50 reps (ok, maybe 20 are half-reps), basically till the pain is so great that i cannot continue, I try to challenge the pain boundary.

[Times Roman]

it is natural for calves to lag. unlike any other muscle group in your body, they are constantly working. if they were to fatigue easily, you wouldn't be able to walk non stop like you do. This is due to their fiber composition. Predominantly, more so than any other muscle group in your body, they are type 1. Which means they are capable of doing extreme reps for very long periods of time at low weights. This describes pretty much everybody's calves.

To get them to respond and grow, you need to treat them "as if" they were type 2 fiber. Like any other muscle group. Heavy weights to failure at reps of 5/10/15 twice a week. There are some, self included, that fudge these numbers, and conitinue well into the pain, past the limits. Even after a few years, calves still lag. But sometimes, instead of comparing to the rest of the body, it is better to compare to how they were. Calves grow so slow. It can take a year to see anything noticeable. For me at least. So instead of lamenting that they are not growing as quickly as a tricep, a muscle group rarely used in a day's normal course, a calf doesn't get much of a chance to rest, which is yet another reason it doesn't seem to grow. So instead of comparing calf gains with say, tricep gains, maybe better to measure the calf stats over time and compare it that way. Even the pros have problems with the calves....

....welcome to the club!

[Khazima]

Team nocalves checkin in

[SEOINAGE]

5 reps of 5-7 second hill sprints for 5 sets. And eat a lot, and you can do this as often as you feel able. might be eod might be twice a week, don't know for you. Calf raises are the most worthless exercise, this is coming from someone who did them for years, heavy and light etc etc, yes it is an opinion and I have nothing to back it up.

[calfmuscle555]

what rep range?

[tarmyg]

Going to try the suggestions in this thread right away.

[lovbyts]

I have been lucky to have decent calves genetics but one thing I also found to help besides the heavy weights is when I stretch/flex I do it until they cramp and hold it as long as possible. Yeah it's painful but you get one hell of a pump.

[crazy_rocks]

This thread has the best calf advice I have ever seen.

[Cuz]

Agreed. Id like to think everyone that has contributed to this thread. Calves are a different beast that's for sure. Gonna try going as heavy as I can and still get the top squeeze. Maybe six months or so I can see something. An inch would be nice.

[crazy_rocks]

Agreed. Id like to think everyone that has contributed to this thread. Calves are a different beast that's for sure. Gonna try going as heavy as I can and still get the top squeeze. Maybe six months or so I can see something. An inch would be nice.

Hell yeah dude. This is gonna be awesome.

[bass]

I have been lucky to have decent calves genetics but one thing I also found to help besides the heavy weights is when I stretch/flex I do it until they cramp and hold it as long as possible. Yeah it's painful but you get one hell of a pump.

always nice to have good genes, I think I do too! just be careful with those stretches as they could damage your tendons, and they are a bitch to heal. I do that but with much lighter weights.

[MikeNXG]

Seems like I've tried everything and the width of my calves hasn't changed in 4 years. I get discouraged but figure I must be missing something wrong so I keep trying new things. Onward and upward!

[MikeNXG]

Agreed. Id like to think everyone that has contributed to this thread. Calves are a different beast that's for sure. Gonna try going as heavy as I can and still get the top squeeze. Maybe six months or so I can see something. An inch would be nice.

I'd settle for 1/2

[BG]

Every day with 2 of the days being a "true" hard full work out. The other days get in a good pump.

[Machdiesel]

I feel like biceps and calves need the same type of stimulation. They both seem to react to more volume, lower weight, and really burning the shit out of them. Here's what i do for calves and it's working great. I do only 1 dropset for them twice a week. Once seated and another day standing. Pick a weight you can do 15 to absolute failure and do 15 reps, drop the weight about 30lbs and wait 30 seconds , do another set to absolute failjre(should be about 10-12) then wait another 30 seconds and go to absolute failure,should be about 6-8. Once you hit 15 on your first set add 5lbs. Every workout you should be able to add weight. This gives you progressive overload, fatigue, volume, and a pump. I promise it'll work if you go balls to the wall intensity, go to absolute failure , and keep adding weight

[swolehead]

back in the arnold days I believe they did calves as needed wich kinda sounds like wenever the f*** they felt like it

[RangerDanger830]

You could just do like most of the guys in my gym and just wear pants all year long, I just don't get it.

[MikeNXG]

You could just do like most of the guys in my gym and just wear pants all year long, I just don't get it.

made me lol.

[kelkel]

I'm taking notes too as mine absolutely suck....

[RangerDanger830]

i'm taking notes too as mine absolutely suck....

Lies, I think you have beautiful calves.

[austinite]

Calves and abs can be done daily. Just don't crush them daily.

[davesah1]

I think you are truly "working calves" I don't see how you can train em everyday. Did mine yesterday and they are pretty beat up and no chance they would be ready for another session.
I think too many people have this stigma of low weight, high reps, and super ultra mega perfect form for calves. They carry your bodyweight everyday with each step you take. Even walking on your toes you can get pretty far. I'm willing to bet that you can increase the weight you are currently doing by a significant amount losing just a little form and get better results.
Gained noticeable size on mine since implementing this style of training and not listening to genetically gifted gurus on youtube. Try increasing the weight and using intense training like rest pause (or even to failure and then some cheap reps) and I think you will see better results than slapping a 45 pound plate on the seated calf raise and "squeezing" your way there.

I only do two heavy and intense sets for 8-12 slow reps twice a week and track progress.

My favorite is the standing calf raise machine. Put the pin in 310 and do 10 reps, take 10 breaths go again until failure, repeat, repeat, done. Rest
Then another set same weight but drop set style or rest pause if I still have it in me.

The second training day of the week I do calves and I do one set, but rest pause styles as mentioned above followed immediately by drop setting until I can't stand.
This works better for ME, then light weight and squeezing. Over the years that was all I would do and never saw much at all.

[kelkel]

Lies, I think you have beautiful calves.

They're too small.

[Machdiesel]

I think you are truly "working calves" I don't see how you can train em everyday. Did mine yesterday and they are pretty beat up and no chance they would be ready for another session.
I think too many people have this stigma of low weight, high reps, and super ultra mega perfect form for calves. They carry your bodyweight everyday with each step you take. Even walking on your toes you can get pretty far. I'm willing to bet that you can increase the weight you are currently doing by a significant amount losing just a little form and get better results.
Gained noticeable size on mine since implementing this style of training and not listening to genetically gifted gurus on youtube. Try increasing the weight and using intense training like rest pause (or even to failure and then some cheap reps) and I think you will see better results than slapping a 45 pound plate on the seated calf raise and "squeezing" your way there.

I only do two heavy and intense sets for 8-12 slow reps twice a week and track progress.

My favorite is the standing calf raise machine. Put the pin in 310 and do 10 reps, take 10 breaths go again until failure, repeat, repeat, done. Rest
Then another set same weight but drop set style or rest pause if I still have it in me.

The second training day of the week I do calves and I do one set, but rest pause styles as mentioned above followed immediately by drop setting until I can't stand.
This works better for ME, then light weight and squeezing. Over the years that was all I would do and never saw much at all.

Progressive overload is tne key for people to get bigger , but you can't magically make yourself stronger. You have to have the right volume/ frequency /intensity. This is where most people fail, they're entire plan is wrong

[davesah1]

Progressive overload is tne key for people to get bigger , but you can't magically make yourself stronger. You have to have the right volume/ frequency /intensity. This is where most people fail, they're entire plan is wrong

Yeah my bad, didnt mention that. I never started doing 310, but rather 230. Worked my way up by tracking progress. I also find for overall mass the standing calf raise is superior to seated which (For me at least) leaves my soleus muscle most sore and doesn't adequately target the upper beefy gastrocnemius muscle of my calves no matter how much I use strict form.

[RangerDanger830]

They're too small.

This reminded me of the two gay guys talking on Big Daddy when they are talking about each other's arms.