Calves-God givin?

[Tampasteel]

I have always had pretty impressive calves, big heart shaped full calves. Not more than a day or two goes by where a stranger in the gym will come up and ask me what I do for them. Truth is......not much! They have always been there wheather I train them regularly or not.
I found that training them intensely for extended periods of time had little effect on their size and shape. So what gives? Do you have the same problem? Do you have a cant miss calve routine you could share? Or are you in the same boat as the rest of us?
I guess I cant complain since my calves are pretty good but if there is an answer to calve conundrum, I sure would like to here it!

[fraserj32]

Originally Posted by Tampasteel

I have always had pretty impressive calves, big heart shaped full calves. Not more than a day or two goes by where a stranger in the gym will come up and ask me what I do for them. Truth is......not much! They have always been there wheather I train them regularly or not.
I found that training them intensely for extended periods of time had little effect on their size and shape. So what gives? Do you have the same problem? Do you have a cant miss calve routine you could share? Or are you in the same boat as the rest of us?
I guess I cant complain since my calves are pretty good but if there is an answer to calve conundrum, I sure would like to here it!

I'm obviously not anywhere near the shape that you are in, but I am in the same boat. I constantly get people asking my at the the gym if I lift calves a lot. I do one calve lift per week and it is just supersetted in with my leg presses. It obviously has to be genetic. No other way to explain it.

Here is a shot of my fat covered calve

[walkinbazooka]

I think it has to do with two things:
1. Genetics
2. Sports

I've found that soccer players often have highly developed calves even if they don't lift, and if they do they're quite big. I don't know why though...

[DaMustangs56]

I have chicken legs. lmao. My dad did too. Geneitics. Suck.

I guess I'll try doing some calf raises to see what'll happen.

[Kirko017]

Originally Posted by walkinbazooka

I think it has to do with two things:
1. Genetics
2. Sports

I've found that soccer players often have highly developed calves even if they don't lift, and if they do they're quite big. I don't know why though...

I play soccer and don't have a big calf at all. My outside it bigger than my inside for some reason and I hate it. I try to do calf raises and it just makes it more cut not really bigger at all. My brother has a bigger calf than me and his inside is huge compared to mine. He also walks like a duck though and runs more on his toes. I think that has something to do with it. I am also flat footed and he is not.

[buffgrk]

i think its genetics man, my calves arn't too bad in the definition side of things, but they do lack size as compared to my overpowering quads, and i hit them like no tomorrow!!..

[bonvec01]

Same here. I've always kind of walked on my toes, which has given me naturally big calves. I don't train them much. Once a week with usually 2 exercises and 6-8 sets.

[buffgrk]

Originally Posted by bonvec01

Same here. I've always kind of walked on my toes, which has given me naturally big calves. I don't train them much. Once a week with usually 2 exercises and 6-8 sets.

nice calves man, i wish i had them naturally

[Dr.Singh2010]

Damn all of yous.

[cyberpunkwriter]

I think genetics are a big part. I don't work mine that seriously, but they're over 18".

[juiceball44]

I don't even have to work them out to be big its just genetics, I also think the heavier you are the more likely you calves are going to be bigger

[Mr.Runner]

My friend has had massive calves (he brings them up when he works out...which is irritating) since I can remember. Yet I can squat a good 75 pounds more than he can right now and my claves are still skinny...

Eh. Can't help your genetics.

[fraserj32]

Originally Posted by Mr.Runner

My friend has had massive calves (he brings them up when he works out...which is irritating) since I can remember. Yet I can squat a good 75 pounds more than he can right now and my claves are still skinny...

Eh. Can't help your genetics.

I got it all the way up to the part where you said you could squat more than he could.

[Mr.Runner]

I'm just saying that training doesn't have as big effect on the calves as genetics seems to.

[fraserj32]

Originally Posted by Mr.Runner

I'm just saying that training doesn't have as big effect on the calves as genetics seems to.

Right I got the moral of the story, so to speak, but I don't understand what calves have to do with your squat. It's all good though. Keep working hard you look lean and strong.

[Mr.Runner]

Just that they're contracted hard isometrically through the whole movement and blah blah blah why do I always feel the need to clarify everything?

Thanks btw, haha.

[hunternlifter]

Shape has everything to do with genetics. You can definitly get a lot more tone though with work.

[Reps n Sets]

Donkey calf raises on a block, full range of motion with a person on your back.
Like shown here: http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...CalfRaise.html

I did these on Saturday, it's Tuesday and my calves are still demolished.
4 sets of 20 with 220 on your back and you won't be able to walk the next day.


Make sure to stretch them out heavily and do shin raises to compliment it.

[jmonty]

*flogs self for having skinny calfs*

[essential222]

I hit mine twice a week two sets of seated two of standing heavy as ****,

Noticed good growth, I agree shape and insertion is genetic but they are like any other muscle and will hypertrophy under correct conditions,

I hate mine however, being so tall even 17 inchs they just look normal with a bit of definition , Im gonna need 19's before they look decent.

Oh well give me a few years

[cyberpunkwriter]

Originally Posted by Reps n Sets

Donkey calf raises on a block, full range of motion with a person on your back.
Like shown here: http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...CalfRaise.html

I did these on Saturday, it's Tuesday and my calves are still demolished.
4 sets of 20 with 220 on your back and you won't be able to walk the next day.


Make sure to stretch them out heavily and do shin raises to compliment it.

220 lbs isn't nearly enough weight if you have strong calves to begin with. I use a machine that maxes at 400 lbs, and don't feel it hardly does anything. I remember reading that Arnold used 1,000+ lbs on the standing calf raise.

[TheStreetKing]

The majority of my Calves came from Bmx/Motocross Racing i've done growing up but their very stubborn and Require Heavy Weights with High Reps and Full ROM to get them to grow.

[bonvec01]

Originally Posted by Mr.Runner

I'm just saying that training doesn't have as big effect on the calves as genetics seems to.

I disagree. Sorry to do this to you in another thread, but I have to give my opinion.

I think a lot of people just train calves ineffectively. Of course genetics play a role, but in my experience, from what I've seen, people don't train calves anywhere close to heavy enough. We walk around all day on our calves. They're pretty strong to be able to support us. You have to crush em with heavy weight. While I have pretty big calves to begin with, I've improved them by using way more weight on Smith and Leg Press calf raises than I do on squats or leg press.

[velocityrob]

Originally Posted by bonvec01

I think a lot of people just train calves ineffectively. Of course genetics play a role, but in my experience, from what I've seen, people don't train calves anywhere close to heavy enough. We walk around all day on our calves. They're pretty strong to be able to support us. You have to crush em with heavy weight.

True. This is how to train calves- HEAVY. And. probably frequently.

IMO? Everyone's body does a few things great. The poor hargainer that can't gain weight? I wish I could get as lean as he is naturally.

Some guys have huge calves. Some have no problem bulking. Once you figure out yourself, training and diet gets easier.

I don't mean to hijack the thread. I jumped in here because I'm one of the ones blessed with big calves. I still train them, but its nice to have ONE thing I can half-ass.

[Reps n Sets]

Originally Posted by cyberpunkwriter

220 lbs isn't nearly enough weight if you have strong calves to begin with. I use a machine that maxes at 400 lbs, and don't feel it hardly does anything. I remember reading that Arnold used 1,000+ lbs on the standing calf raise.

e-stats.

and a person on your back is different than machine. it's unstable.. thats like comparing a smith machine press to a freeweight bench press, lol.


edit:

READ.. Straight from the book Arnold itself.

Originally Posted by Arnold Schwarzenegger

In my opinion, Reg Park had the greatest calves in the world and has trained for years with a lot of weight. As I said earlier, when I was
in South Africa training with Reg I put my usual puny 150 pounds on the calf machine, and he changed it to 1000 pounds for his sets.
He was doing ten sets of 10 repetitions. I realized then what it takes to get big calves. I trained with Reg and worked my way up to
500 pounds on the calf machine. My calves grew a half inch in one month.

http://books.google.com/books?id=sq0...sult#PPA203,M1

[JoeyDaFool]

Originally Posted by Reps n Sets

e-stats.

and a person on your back is different than machine. it's unstable.. thats like comparing a smith machine press to a freeweight bench press, lol.


edit:

READ.. Straight from the book Arnold itself.



http://books.google.com/books?id=sq0...sult#PPA203,M1

this. you can add a bunch of weight every workout. only way to make them grow at least a little. my calves are 16.5" now. when i started training them they were 15.5". my goal is to get 18" calves

[Mr.Runner]

Originally Posted by bonvec01

I disagree. Sorry to do this to you in another thread, but I have to give my opinion.

I think a lot of people just train calves ineffectively. Of course genetics play a role, but in my experience, from what I've seen, people don't train calves anywhere close to heavy enough. We walk around all day on our calves. They're pretty strong to be able to support us. You have to crush em with heavy weight. While I have pretty big calves to begin with, I've improved them by using way more weight on Smith and Leg Press calf raises than I do on squats or leg press.

"Do this to me"? Uh, I think I'll be alright.

And I always welcome anyone to disagree with me, it keeps me honest.

And I wasn't so much saying that training the calves is ineffective for their growth, just that the calves have the odd disposition of being more determined by genetics that other body parts, and require the MOST amount of stress to change. Like, punishing, brutalizing stress.

But I'm fine with it either way, so long as it doesn't hinder my lifts.

[BEhave]

Yes, but also people who run a lot often have big calves. I used to play soccer as a child and had HUGE legs in proportion to the rest of my body. Calves and quads. Don't play anymore and they are smaller now. Just look at most pro soccer players. Their calves are big.

[OmniscientCause]

my calves used to be bigger during soccer but they are decent right now

i do 2 exercises one with alot of weight first with fast movements throughout and the second with slow controlled less weight adding 25 lbs every set then doing a drop set and going till failure.....burns like no other

[EJ8tunerman]

I am in the same boat as you it seems. I am 5'7 170 and have naturally pretty large calves at 16.5 but they just don't seem like they grow much no matter how I work them, and it sucks because my ankles are like 10 inches(bone structure is large I guess) so it seems as if they aren't as big as they are.