Calves.....WTF?

[platinum ice]

What is the best way to grow calves if your genetics sucks for calves? I mean, my arms can easily blow up, but the calves don't seem to grow no matter how hard I would work them. If I need size, what is better, high reps? or low reps- heavy weight? I am getting back into training after a long layoff, and want to get the calves to growing. It sucks when someone looks at you and thinks, "wow, that dude is big. Too bad he doesn't work out legs". No matter if I have big thighs, if my calves are small, my legs look small, as shorts cover most of your legs anyways, all that shows is calves. It sucks to hear crap like that when you bust your butt, and people think you don't even do legs.......

Anyways, I have heard that if you looked at a cadaver, most muscles in the body would be bright red, but the calf muscles are dark red, because of the lifetime of walking on them. Makes them harder to grow. Anyways, when you put that on top of crap calf genetics, is there any killer routine to make them grow? Whacha got?

 

[gjohnson5]

I've done calf raises every way I can think of and they have never grown.

I've found that if I do stationary bike with resistance (toes on pedals only) I can hurt them good

 

[gjohnson5]

But I'm black. We're supposed to be lacking in the calf department. White dudes shouldn't have that problem (assuming you're white)

 

[platinum ice]

But I'm black. We're supposed to be lacking in the calf department. White dudes shouldn't have that problem (assuming you're white)

Lol.... yeah, I'm white. Part of the problem is that before I started lifting, I had the body of a marathon runner. Long, thin, lean muscles. After eating, lifting for years, and a little juice, you can see in my avatar that I can put on some size, but the calves stayed the size of the runner........ bah

 

[protein100]

One solution would be to wear a speedo, so people can see your legs, not only your calves

Since calves are made of fast twitch fibers, like the forearm and abs, I think you should train them with high repetitions, actually until muscular spasm (until you can't do another rep). This is what I do and it works for me. 10 series like this and you'll see some improvement.

Hope it helps.

 

[Sassy69]

Like P100 said w/ the fast twitch muscle fibers - stuff like spin classes, reps in the range of 30+ on calf machines, etc. Consider including some drills like sprints of high knee running, etc. Maybe hit them 2-3 x/ week.

I was majorly born w/ calves - my dad's calves are almost as big as his quads. - I'd donate some to ya, but you'd have to take some of my butt fat as well.

 

[Neo22]

heres a link to a vid with a few calve hybrid sets. Trust me it works!!

http://webcast.bodybuilding.com/fitshow/week30/week30wm.htm

 

[gjohnson5]

Like P100 said w/ the fast twitch muscle fibers - stuff like spin classes, reps in the range of 30+ on calf machines, etc. Consider including some drills like sprints of high knee running, etc. Maybe hit them 2-3 x/ week.

I was majorly born w/ calves - my dad's calves are almost as big as his quads. - I'd donate some to ya, but you'd have to take some of my butt fat as well.

It depends on genetics , but calves are generally more SLOW twitch muscle fiber or Type I muscle , not fast twitch. This is why high reps work for them. But still even high reps never worked for me which is the reason I suggested the bike work

 

[Lee]

try doing the old 100 rep seated calf raise. just start with a weight that you can do with 10-12 reps, and just keep doing set after set til u hit 100 reps. thats the only way mine grow.

 

[mesco]

lee how many times a week you do that? just on legs day?