Thread: Lagging calves!! Help ME help THEM to GROW!

Calves are Lagging brothers. I train them 2-3 times a week. Ive tried rep ranges of 25-30 with moderate weight for 5-6 sets... Tried heavy weight low reps high sets...


They just dont want to grow!

Any suggestions???

Everyday.
Arnold said it in his original Encyclopedia of modern bodybuilding. He claims calves are like abs, we use them so often that they can be trained daily if they are a hardgainer area for you.
Its worth a shot.

So simple. Totally makes sense... Really haven't done this though so it's definitely worth a shot. I just hate the cramps i get in the arches of my feet.

Thanks brotha

Ahhhh.... I will give you me seceret weapon.

Heavy weight

Set 1- 5 reps. Rest 5 seconds.

Set 2- 10 reps rest 10 seconds

Set 3- 15 reps rest 15 seconds.

Set 4- 20 reps rest 20 seconds.


See the pattern? Keep going till you hit 30 reps. After 30 reps take a good minute or so before you hit the next series of sets.

Repeat this 3 or 4 times if you can. Next calf day instead of climbing by 5's youl climb by 3's. Next session climb by 6's. Keep swiching it up. I promise you. You make it through even one of those super sets or whatever they are with full calf contraction, you will want to die.

Thanks JB Robo! I'll try this too.

genetics play a lot into this, similar to biceps....

Originally Posted by Loose Cannon

genetics play a lot into this, similar to biceps....

Yes I've read everywhere that calves is pretty much genetics. But still train the shit out of them!

I do believe that calf size can have a lot to do with genetics. However, I struggled to get mine to grow until I started squatting and deadlifting very heavy weight. I used to do calf raises till I was blue in the face.. heavy, light, low reps, high reps, etc. They really didn't start growing till I started moving the heavy weight in compound exercises.

I believe in the "more often" way of thinking myself. I do calves every other day without fail; Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun, Tue, Thur, Sat, etc.. Example would be on Mondays I will do seated calf raises for high reps such as 8 sets of 25 reps with only enough rest in between sets to change wgt (I generally go up in wgt until I get to my 4th set of 25 reps and then do 5th set of 25reps with same wgt as 4th set continuing back down in wgt until my last set of 25 reps). Basically I do 200 reps of seated calf raises in a pyramid style wgt configuration. Then 2 days later/Wednesday I will do standing calf raises for 5 sets of no more than 10 reps each set. If you can do more than 10 reps on any given set then the wgt is probably not heavy enough. 2 days later/ Friday I go back to my higher rep seated calf workout. I forget the science/details but something to do with muscle fibers and the way certain exercises work..., seated calf movements are to be done with higher rep schemes and then standing calf movements are the opposite using heavy wgt and lower rep schemes. Dont quote me on this but I think that comes from the Charles Poloquin school of thought. Nonetheless, this type of routine consisting of going back in forth from lighter wgt/high reps one day then to heavier wgt/lower reps next time has really brought my calf development to light and I must say that I am very satisfied w my results. And just for the record, I am one of those poor bastards that have been genetically fucking ripped off in the calf department as well as biceps!! Good luck and give it a try?? Unfortunately, what works for one of us may not do so well for others!!

SJ

Anybody ever notice how those who were baseball catchers in school have huge calves? Could be coincidence but I've known a few and have always noticed that they have large calves regardless of training. I've also noticed some people who use to be fat as kids have large calves lol

Just speculation of course. I'm giving the everyday thing a shot. Also pyramiding with the weights and alternating between heavy and light days. Try to cover all my bases.