Looks can be deceiving!

[desert goggles]

I know a lot of us have seen those guys in the gym with awesome upper bodies but have bird legs. Well, I must admit, I'm one of them, LOL. My upper body isn't huge, but I do look very disproportioned. I love to wear the extra baggy Jordan style shorts to the gym, and I always notice the crazy looks I get when people look at my legs, as compared to my upper body.

Now my quads have good size to them. I have come to realize that I have very high calves and just very crappy genetics for this area. I work them with just as much intensity as any other body part, but they are growing VERY slowly, compared to the rest of my body.

I know a lot guys would think I don't train legs so I really enjoy leg day. I normally do three light sets of leg ext. to warm up. Then I do a warm up set of squats with 225#, that's when they take notice. They really look crazy when I'm doing a set for 6-8 reps with 365#, full ROM, No 2-3 inches and back up, lol. Hack squats and leg press are also done heavy with good form. It really blows their minds!

This by no means is bragging. Just wanted you all to know while there are those out there that deserve those giggles and snickers, due to not working there legs, there are a few of us who actually train them hard and due to genetics, have to work with what we got.

[Whiskeyjack]

I understand this feeling very much. My own weak bodypart was/has always been pecs - but not for lack of work. I've done just about every combination of sets, reps, and schemas but got minimum results due a genetic imbalance.

[Rhinoclan]

I hear you on this one. I kill my legs on leg day, and growth is very slow, although definition is good. I describe my body shape as that of a corn dog...skinny ass legs, short arms, broad shoulders and chest.

[John Prophet]

we all know that blacks tend to have weaker calf genetics. to show that I am not prejudiced, I also have weak calf genetics, lol

back in the day of course the trends were towards shorter shorts that showed some thigh. Well now of course its all about shorts down past the knees so if u have decent thighs but no calves it just looks u dont train legs at all.

I am tempted myself to just do arms since thats all people care about anyway...but my mother makes me squat so I do

[desert goggles]

Originally Posted by Rhinoclan

I hear you on this one. I kill my legs on leg day, and growth is very slow, although definition is good. I describe my body shape as that of a corn dog...skinny ass legs, short arms, broad shoulders and chest.

LOL! No matter what I do with calves; light weight, high reps or heavy weight, low reps; they don't respond well. But I have seen better results with going heavy for medium reps.

[Jules Verne]

Originally Posted by desert goggles

This by no means is bragging. Just wanted you all to know while there are those out there that deserve those giggles and snickers, due to not working there legs, there are a few of us who actually train them hard and due to genetics, have to work with what we got.

I bet I could spot the difference though.

[Captain Crunch]

Originally Posted by desert goggles

I know a lot of us have seen those guys in the gym with awesome upper bodies but have bird legs. Well, I must admit, I'm one of them, LOL. My upper body isn't huge, but I do look very disproportioned. I love to wear the extra baggy Jordan style shorts to the gym, and I always notice the crazy looks I get when people look at my legs, as compared to my upper body.

Now my quads have good size to them. I have come to realize that I have very high calves and just very crappy genetics for this area. I work them with just as much intensity as any other body part, but they are growing VERY slowly, compared to the rest of my body.

I know a lot guys would think I don't train legs so I really enjoy leg day. I normally do three light sets of leg ext. to warm up. Then I do a warm up set of squats with 225#, that's when they take notice. They really look crazy when I'm doing a set for 6-8 reps with 365#, full ROM, No 2-3 inches and back up, lol. Hack squats and leg press are also done heavy with good form. It really blows their minds!

This by no means is bragging. Just wanted you all to know while there are those out there that deserve those giggles and snickers, due to not working there legs, there are a few of us who actually train them hard and due to genetics, have to work with what we got.

Looks like your doing every thing right buddy and I know what your saying.
Personally I like the old V look not the new X look. Those tree trunks some of those guys have I just don't like at all, I guess little skinny legs are bad too.
I like the look in Arnold's day muscular legs but not tree trunks. I say try to hit a happy medium. I personally don't want tree trunks.

[beatdownincorp]

Originally Posted by John Prophet

we all know that blacks tend to have weaker calf genetics. to show that I am not prejudiced, I also have weak calf genetics, lol

back in the day of course the trends were towards shorter shorts that showed some thigh. Well now of course its all about shorts down past the knees so if u have decent thighs but no calves it just looks u dont train legs at all.

I am tempted myself to just do arms since thats all people care about anyway...but my mother makes me squat so I do

My calves are in great shape, always have been---I could dunk easily in highschool(ronnie fields) "8TH GRADE actually" is the name google it if you like....Look at all the black track stars, and basketball players.....If we do have one body part that is strong it is our LEGS

[chodan9]

Originally Posted by Captain Crunch

Looks like your doing every thing right buddy and I know what your saying.
Personally I like the old V look not the new X look. Those tree trunks some of those guys have I just don't like at all, I guess little skinny legs are bad too.
I like the look in Arnold's day muscular legs but not tree trunks. I say try to hit a happy medium. I personally don't want tree trunks.

I'll have to agree
having thighs that are larger than your waste doesn't hit me as a pleasing aesthetic. to each his own though

[John Prophet]

Originally Posted by beatdownincorp

My calves are in great shape, always have been---I could dunk easily in highschool(ronnie fields) "8TH GRADE actually" is the name google it if you like....Look at all the black track stars, and basketball players.....If we do have one body part that is strong it is our LEGS

calm down bro


weaker calf SIZE genetics. who said anything about strength or dunking a ball??

"high calves" give a longer achilles tendon and that gives a tremendous amount of 'snap' for jumping and dunking etc.

plenty of HS guys can dunk but cant squat 225

[Bando]

I think calves are 75% genetic and 25% the weight you carry every day. I see some heavy people that work on their feet with massive calves. Then there are people like me who are predisposed to have big calves (and I'll never dunk a ball).

Bottom line is - if what you're doing isn't working, switch it up. Long, slow sets on a stepper with lots of resistance or better yet - a slow hike up a steep trail will get them roasted.

[mikieson]

Well my calves seem to be pretty decent. I dont do anything for them. I do know however that jogging on a treadmill and jumping rope will help them. Doing these 2 things is like doing 100000 knee raises."or whatever those are called"

Keep working hard...

EDIT....Calf raises...Thats what those are called..heheee

[chodan9]

I got most of my calf development in about 10 years of tae kwan do
They have grown a bit since I started working out with weights but I already had somewhat of a "shelf" before even starting lifting.

[egoatdoor]

Originally Posted by desert goggles

I know a lot of us have seen those guys in the gym with awesome upper bodies but have bird legs. Well, I must admit, I'm one of them, LOL. My upper body isn't huge, but I do look very disproportioned. I love to wear the extra baggy Jordan style shorts to the gym, and I always notice the crazy looks I get when people look at my legs, as compared to my upper body.

Now my quads have good size to them. I have come to realize that I have very high calves and just very crappy genetics for this area. I work them with just as much intensity as any other body part, but they are growing VERY slowly, compared to the rest of my body.

I know a lot guys would think I don't train legs so I really enjoy leg day. I normally do three light sets of leg ext. to warm up. Then I do a warm up set of squats with 225#, that's when they take notice. They really look crazy when I'm doing a set for 6-8 reps with 365#, full ROM, No 2-3 inches and back up, lol. Hack squats and leg press are also done heavy with good form. It really blows their minds!

This by no means is bragging. Just wanted you all to know while there are those out there that deserve those giggles and snickers, due to not working there legs, there are a few of us who actually train them hard and due to genetics, have to work with what we got.

But are you training to show off how much you can lift or to build an all around proportioned body?

Its results that count. The results are not there and using "genetics" as an excuse is a crutch IMO.

What you are doing is not building your legs in proportion to the upper body, so why do you keep doing something that is not working to that end?

Various ideas:

Deemphasize work on your strong suit( upper body) and spend ( months or years if necessary) time working those wheels.

Work at a higher rep range on legs. There are many theories out there that higher reps( 12 to sometimes as much as 20) build more muscle in big bodyparts like quads/hams and back than lower reps.

Are you using progressive resistance on quads? 365 for 6-8 reps. If you've been doing the same weight and reps for months, your body has probably adapted, is not being challenged and has no reason to react, as in grow. Why not go to 375 or 385, or see if you can do 10, 12 , 15 reps at 365? I suspect you are not training to your full capacity and "leaving money on the table."

Use various "shock" methods on the calves, like drop sets, rest pause sets, static holds and even increase the number of days they are trained each week. For cardio, do low intensity walking on as steep an incline you can stand on a treadmill. This will burn your calves in addition to providing a cardio workout.

Take it from someone who 1) lost out on calf genetics at birth and 2)who had the exact opposite problem in my quads and proportion of upper body/lower body ( genetics such that my quads grew just by my waking up in the morning and an upper body, especially back, that refused to grow) six years ago. It took years of hard work, including countless days on the chinning bar and MONTHS without squatting, but now if anything my quads and hams have trouble now keeping up with my back and shoulders.

I refuse to blame genetics for my calves and now am spending whatever time it takes to build up those suckers.

[desert goggles]

Originally Posted by egoatdoor

But are you training to show off how much you can lift or to build an all around proportioned body?

Its results that count. The results are not there and using "genetics" as an excuse is a crutch IMO.

What you are doing is not building your legs in proportion to the upper body, so why do you keep doing something that is not working to that end?

Various ideas:

Deemphasize work on your strong suit( upper body) and spend ( months or years if necessary) time working those wheels.

Work at a higher rep range on legs. There are many theories out there that higher reps( 12 to sometimes as much as 20) build more muscle in big bodyparts like quads/hams and back than lower reps.

Are you using progressive resistance on quads? 365 for 6-8 reps. If you've been doing the same weight and reps for months, your body has probably adapted, is not being challenged and has no reason to react, as in grow. Why not go to 375 or 385, or see if you can do 10, 12 , 15 reps at 365? I suspect you are not training to your full capacity and "leaving money on the table."

Use various "shock" methods on the calves, like drop sets, rest pause sets, static holds and even increase the number of days they are trained each week. For cardio, do low intensity walking on as steep an incline you can stand on a treadmill. This will burn your calves in addition to providing a cardio workout.

Take it from someone who 1) lost out on calf genetics at birth and 2)who had the exact opposite problem in my quads and proportion of upper body/lower body ( genetics such that my quads grew just by my waking up in the morning and an upper body, especially back, that refused to grow) six years ago. It took years of hard work, including countless days on the chinning bar and MONTHS without squatting, but now if anything my quads and hams have trouble now keeping up with my back and shoulders.

I refuse to blame genetics for my calves and now am spending whatever time it takes to build up those suckers.

Like some of the things you said, but didn't say I had a problem with quad development. Just some people think that guys with skinny legs don't train them at all. I never said they are not growing (calves), just that they are growing slowly. And yes,I have tried several different schemes, and like I said in a previous post, Heavy weight with medium rep range seems to work best for me. And to say genetics don't play a part , have to disagree.

I know this might be a lil extreme, but Look at Phil Heath, awesome calves. Then look at Johnny Jackson and Victor Martinez, very poor calf development. These are pros on gear, and they still have problems with calves.

[worldofwiz]

It's funny my legs will get bigger just by looking at them. I have 17 to 18 inch calf and I don't really do anything to them.

[moisy]

As a gym junkie and female ... it is good to read that guys actually do work their legs because so many guys at the gym that I train at do not ... they will work their chest and bis, tirs and abs till the cows come home ... but you never see them go to the squat rack or leg press. No wonder they all wear pants when they work out ... they have "wee tiny" legs!!! lol

[redweston]

I never use to work em, but it was explained to me that Legs are a must for everybody, the amount of work that you do on them also helps to build up heart and lungs.

PS Mine still don't grow, my dad had skinny legs !!!

keeponpumpin!- RED

[Marius_Ursus]

Originally Posted by desert goggles

LOL! No matter what I do with calves; light weight, high reps or heavy weight, low reps; they don't respond well. But I have seen better results with going heavy for medium reps.

Have you tried sprints?

[rocketman44]

I've at times envied guys with thick calves. My calves/ankles and forearms/wrists are similar in that both are kind of on the thin side.

In addition to working my legs at the gym, I work them by walking stairs at work. I think anyone with hard-gaining calves will benefit from simply using the stairs whenever possible (plus, there are the cardiovascular benefits). That, along with working legs in the gym will hopefully at least make one's body look more proportioned, though genetics are hard to overcome.

[blabber]

Originally Posted by Bando

I think calves are 75% genetic and 25% the weight you carry every day. I see some heavy people that work on their feet with massive calves. Then there are people like me who are predisposed to have big calves (and I'll never dunk a ball)....

True! At 358 lbs my calves were 20.5"! At a little over 300 lbs now, they're 'only' 19" and looking solid as hell with some veins rippling through and a wicked split separation starting to show.

My dad had huge calves even though at 6'2" he was never over 210 lbs and never lifted weights. They're a trait in my family. Everyone asks what I do for mine. I shrug and say "Carry myself around?"

[egoatdoor]

Originally Posted by worldofwiz

I have 17 to 18 inch calf and I don't really do anything to them.

I HATE YOU.

Originally Posted by moisy

As a gym junkie and female ... it is good to read that guys actually do work their legs because so many guys at the gym that I train at do not ... they will work their chest and bis, tirs and abs till the cows come home ... but you never see them go to the squat rack or leg press. No wonder they all wear pants when they work out ... they have "wee tiny" legs!!! lol

So true. They would die if they were forced to wear long sleeve shirts( to cover their arms) and short shorts in the gym one day.

Originally Posted by rocketman44

I've at times envied guys with thick calves. My calves/ankles and forearms/wrists are similar in that both are kind of on the thin side.

In addition to working my legs at the gym, I work them by walking stairs at work. I think anyone with hard-gaining calves will benefit from simply using the stairs whenever possible (plus, there are the cardiovascular benefits). That, along with working legs in the gym will hopefully at least make one's body look more proportioned, though genetics are hard to overcome.

One of my gyms has a flight of stairs between the two floors and I've been doing Stair Climbs for 6-12 minutes the last few months as part of my cardio routine. Its not intended as a calf workout, but if I do each step slow and push down hard, flexing the calves, I do get a pump in them.