My calves are really hard to develop...

[whoa4]

Honestly, when I came to Miami I had pretty big calves, now I notice them dwindle. I don't work them as much as I used to (mainly because I don't have the proper equipment), but my calves have always been a stubborn muscle to grow. I work them out now, and I don't see too many results. The main time I feel a burn in them is when doing my polymentric work. But just weightlifting wise, it don't do too much fro me. I could do a 100 reps and not feel them. I even got to the point where I do 50 each leg as one set. Is the reason I'm not gaining size in them because I'm burning them out? Should I "bulk" them up like I would normally do any other body part?

[khalid a.k.a Genocide]

Honestly, when I came to Miami I had pretty big calves, now I notice them dwindle. I don't work them as much as I used to (mainly because I don't have the proper equipment), but my calves have always been a stubborn muscle to grow. I work them out now, and I don't see too many results. The main time I feel a burn in them is when doing my polymentric work. But just weightlifting wise, it don't do too much fro me. I could do a 100 reps and not feel them. I even got to the point where I do 50 each leg as one set. Is the reason I'm not gaining size in them because I'm burning them out? Should I "bulk" them up like I would normally do any other body part?

what exercises are you doing for claves in the gym?

IMO calves do not require that much isolation work(or focus) since you use your calves when doing other leg exercises such as squats, leg presses, lunges. Even when doing deadlifts and (BB or DB)bent-over rows you feel a little on your calves.

So I just do isolate work on my calves once a week and only one or two exercises with 10-15 reps. I mainly do seated calf raises, standing calf raises and donkey raises.

[whoa4]

what exercises are you doing for claves in the gym?

IMO calves do not require that much isolation work(or focus) since you use your calves when doing other leg exercises such as squats, leg presses, lunges. Even when doing deadlifts and (BB or DB)bent-over rows you feel a little on your calves.

So I just do isolate work on my calves once a week and only one or two exercises with 10-15 reps. I mainly do seated calf raises, standing calf raises and donkey raises.
Do you see great results with them?

At home, I used to do a modified, seated calf raise (which I felt gave me the best results). Now, I try to improvise since there aren't too many machines for it at my gym in school. I do seated raises, but I do high reps with everything, even with heavy weights. That could be thr problem now that I think about it, but I was always told that your calves are stubborn muscles that require alot more work than regular muscles. Sometimes I do standing calf raises with 135 or better for about sets of 50, or sometimes I do polymetric jumps with the weights. I do jumps/drills with ankle weights, and that usually have my calves on fire. Then I do one leg calf raises with weights . When I'm at the gym, I'll do a few sets after leg presses then go to the standing calf machine and do the entire rack as many times possible. I mean, they're a good size but not like I want them to be and I feel as if they've gotten smaller. I want them to keep up with the rest of my body, and i don't even work them everyday (maybe like 3 times a week). Maybe I'm over doing it..

[Diggy_Dat_Niggy]

My calves have gottem better from exercise. I use to use ast's max ot training principles...http://www.ast-ss.com/max-ot/max-ot_intro.asp, but I mess with the weight and reps now to see if I can make them better.

One thing I know about calves is that alot of it is based on genetics, my girl has some big ass calves and she doesnt even work them out, she says its from heels, but I dont see how heels can >>> 340lbs of weight, so its her genetics.

I use every calf machine that is available and Ill also use the leg press machines to do calves by letting my hells hang off of the platform and press up with my toes.

Id like my calves to look better myself, they are long, but I cant complain on the progress Ive made on them

[whoa4]

My calves have gottem better from exercise. I use to use ast's max ot training principles...http://www.ast-ss.com/max-ot/max-ot_intro.asp, but I mess with the weight and reps now to see if I can make them better.

One thing I know about calves is that alot of it is based on genetics, my girl has some big ass calves and she doesnt even work them out, she says its from heels, but I dont see how heels can >>> 340lbs of weight, so its her genetics.

I use every calf machine that is available and Ill also use the leg press machines to do calves by letting my hells hang off of the platform and press up with my toes.

Id like my calves to look better myself, they are long, but I cant complain on the progress Ive made on them
What do they say about doing calves on that site?

I mean, I can put 315 on my shoulders and rep, do barbell calf raises, do 500lbs on this standing calf machine at some gym down here, yet I can't get the to get any bigger. My homeboy told me he did his religiously on the standing calf machine, and his are huge. Mines used to be bigger, but I stopped doing the machine I felt gave me the best results. I think I may be doing too high of a rep. They're strong, just not big like I want them to be. I know genetics is apart of it, but I also know they can be bigger...

And fukk them implants like homeboy on "Made" got. SMH

[Diggy_Dat_Niggy]

They believe in heavy weight and short reps. I believe it was 6-8 reps that I was doing. I know my shyts wanted to jump outta my leg when I was done. Id do this for many weeks then switch it up for higer reps sometimes if I was bored.

I know most body parts were 4-6 reps (chest, back etc..)


sign up, look thru it and It may be something that you may like. I use alot of the training principles from there, but I add isolation in(they dont really believe in it, because it doesnt involve other muscle or build muscle)

[staycee]

Does anyone know about when your calves 'split'. Mine did cuz i used to run track and hurdle. Idk if they did from the running or lifting.

[whoa4]

Does anyone know about when your calves 'split'. Mine did cuz i used to run track and hurdle. Idk if they did from the running or lifting.
Split? Never heard of it.

[staycee]

Split? Never heard of it.

Well your calf is actually two different muscles. If you work them hard enuff i guess they get defined as two different muscles. its not like i have two calves. its hard to explain cuz i dont kno what it really called.

Anyways my point was after that happened my calves were nothing but muscle. any movement of my foot would cause it to flex. i jut was just wondering if it ever happened to anyone who does calf work on machines or whatever. or if it was just from the running.

[Diggy_Dat_Niggy]

Well your calf is actually two different muscles. If you work them hard enuff i guess they get defined as two different muscles. its not like i have two calves. its hard to explain cuz i dont kno what it really called.

Anyways my point was after that happened my calves were nothing but muscle. any movement of my foot would cause it to flex. i jut was just wondering if it ever happened to anyone who does calf work on machines or whatever. or if it was just from the running.


The only ones that I usually see with that are people that are body builders.

[khalid a.k.a Genocide]

Well your calf is actually two different muscles. If you work them hard enuff i guess they get defined as two different muscles. its not like i have two calves. its hard to explain cuz i dont kno what it really called.

Anyways my point was after that happened my calves were nothing but muscle. any movement of my foot would cause it to flex. i jut was just wondering if it ever happened to anyone who does calf work on machines or whatever. or if it was just from the running.

however in most cases, as far as if the split shows or not depends on BF%, genetics, and life activity in general. The shape of the two muscles that form the calve is determined by genetics and nothing else.

I would think that by attaining and maintaing a (really) low bf%, one would have no problems in showing the "split" in your calves.

[omeo]

Here's a tip that i recently implimented and have had alot of success with. DO NOT BOUNCE THE WEIGHT on calve excercises. Your muscles/tendons in your calves have strong elastic properties that come into play with a bouncing motion. You are not putting enough stress on the muscle to produce growth if you bounce the weight. Insted, come to a controlled pause at the top and bottom of the movement. You'll feel it alot more.

[IJ_Rizzo]

Here's a tip that i recently implimented and have had alot of success with. DO NOT BOUNCE THE WEIGHT on calve excercises. Your muscles/tendons in your calves have strong elastic properties that come into play with a bouncing motion. You are not putting enough stress on the muscle to produce growth if you bounce the weight. Insted, come to a controlled pause at the top and bottom of the movement. You'll feel it alot more.

exactly what i was going to post.

i also get the best burn by far when doing plyo type cardio workouts... feel it the next day like i'd feel it in my chest or shoulders from throwing up heavy weights.

[<9-milli>]

its hard to get ya legs in shape anyway

[whoa4]

Here's a tip that i recently implimented and have had alot of success with. DO NOT BOUNCE THE WEIGHT on calve excercises. Your muscles/tendons in your calves have strong elastic properties that come into play with a bouncing motion. You are not putting enough stress on the muscle to produce growth if you bounce the weight. Insted, come to a controlled pause at the top and bottom of the movement. You'll feel it alot more.
I started doing this yesterday. I still did it, just not as much. I'd bounce a little for high reps, but yesterday I did low, slow reps, 15-6. didn't bounce, controlled the weight, paused on last rep, etc..

and Rizzo, thats when I usually felt my burns also. After jump-roping, polymetrics, jumping jacks, etc., I usually felt the burns the most on my calves. I mean, my calves are strong, the size is the problem. I remember reading that slower reps are what build size, so I started doing that yesterday....again. I know this sh*t, I just can't remember it...

and milli, my legs are easy to work, it's just calves are stubborn, like forearms are.