calf success stories?

[MrSinister]

hey ppl, especially the longer lifters here...
Just wondering/hoping if there's anyone out there who has beaten the endless battle of having awful calf genetics and managed to pack some meat onto their once twig-like legs???
What was the definitive change/mod you did which you werent doing previously that sparked up some more mass ??

[shaneee]

can't help you here
when i first started lifting i was 16" calves..not sure now but they've got bigger so it's hard to tell
but what i do for calves anyways is on my leg day(i do these in between sets of other exercises cuz im all tired at the very end, 1 min breaks in between so i do this **** fast)

4x10 standing calf raises
3x20 seated calf raises

and that's all =/

[OgMudbone]

what shaneee said. also sprints seemed to help me out alot. although every person is different though.

[jonnyflores]

Mine will never be great but the way I made them "respectable" was prioritizing the heck out of them and training them twice a week.

I would put them first in my workouts and lift as heavy as possible but with impeccable form. Your calves are used to a partial range of motion as you walk everyday, so I really try and focus on the stretch and a peak contraction. And for me, heavy was the only way I was able to get them to grow (many prefer higher reps due to the type of muscle fibers in yoru calves but it just did not work for me - but I will utilize them from time to time to just change things up)

I have high calves and that will never change but I brought them up to 18"+ so I'm just trying to do all I got with what my parents gave me.

In sum, I'd suggest that you treat them like your favorite muscle group and not an after thought at the end of leg day (would you do the same to chest or arms?), really focus on your form, and hit them heavy since they can take a ton of abuse.

[CelticTheTruth]

I got 18" calves from 10 years of basketball.

[Musclezs]

i dunno how big mine were when i started (very small though). they have gotten noticeably bigger tho. all i do is standing and seated calf raises, 4 sets each, sets of 1-16. i prioritized them for a bit in the summer, and i may start doing that again.

[MrSinister]

Originally Posted by Musclezs

i dunno how big mine were when i started (very small though). they have gotten noticeably bigger tho. all i do is standing and seated calf raises, 4 sets each, sets of 1-16. i prioritized them for a bit in the summer, and i may start doing that again.

i've been smashing mine hard for over 2 years.. hardly grown an inch! hit them with everything i can think of.. i was hoping to find someone similar to me who somehow blasted through this plateau, but besides "supplements" im not sure if theres a cure it doesnt bother me as i will always continue to train them but still..

[Erikpdx]

I've always had naturally large calves(17"), so I've never really had to work on my calves for growth. Think a lot of it is genetics(dad has huge calves). I also tend to run on my toes when I'm running or playing soccer and think that probably helps. Wish the rest of my body came along as easy.

[HALON]

If you want to build your calves but are having trouble you need to mix up your routine like reps, tempo and exercises.


When doing calves raises do the reps 2 second up and 2 second down. Hold the contraction at the top for 1 second. Try for at least 10 reps. You wont be able to walk after these.


You can also try jumps. That is you jump from the standing position but also use you calves to help you jump up.

[blueboy22]

These are mine. And they are not on a person who stands 5' 4". I am 5' 10".

I have done the same thing for two years with awesome growth....

Standing calf raises, explode up, hold it at the highest point for a count of 8, slowly come down. 4 sets of 15. Twice a week.

[jawadams]

Originally Posted by CelticTheTruth

I got 18" calves from 10 years of basketball.

Here's your solution. Start playing basketball and in 10 years you'll be all set.