HELP: Genetically small calves! ANY SUGGESTIONS?

[blondwhisky]

I am 21 6'2 185 pounds and will NOT wear shorts. I have such small calves i cant' stand it! IS there any workouts or advice to help achieve bigger calves, im desperate. Im on my feet a lot as it is, which i heard can also keep them small but is there anything at all i can do????

 

[wayneboard1]

I am 21 6'2 185 pounds and will NOT wear shorts. I have such small calves i cant' stand it! IS there any workouts or advice to help achieve bigger calves, im desperate. Im on my feet a lot as it is, which i heard can also keep them small but is there anything at all i can do????

This may get moved as it should of been posted elsewhere such as the bodybullding forum. But very few people are over there and I am in the same boat as you on this so I will bump it. My calves are actually pretty strong and never had an issue except for the size. I swear, 9 year old girls have bigger calves than I do. It makes no sense considering the rest of me is a typically thicker build overall, and then you look at my calves. SO sad.

 

[Indy]

I am 21 6'2 185 pounds and will NOT wear shorts. I have such small calves i cant' stand it! IS there any workouts or advice to help achieve bigger calves, im desperate. Im on my feet a lot as it is, which i heard can also keep them small but is there anything at all i can do????

Well this is what you do START wearing shorts and if that doesnt help cut your pant legs off at the knees so that your calves are always showing. This WILL give you the mental drive to hit them harder than ever, and with full intensity at every workout...negative reinforcement I guess you could say but I didn't make it up. In an interview with Arnold he said that's what he did cause his calves were way behind early in his career.
On another note since calves are used so much, it's hard for many to get them to respond and grow...For me, if I use higher reps 18-20 reps and 5-6 sets instead of the standard 3x8-10 and it works much better for me on calf raises etc..Might want to try them standing on a 4x4 or something barefooted so you get the full range of motion of the muslce too.

 

[chefbone]

I know some hard-core nuggas that have a sick build but no calves. Are you brotha???? I'm not trying to be funny it's just a lot of brothas I know are like that!!!

 

[blondwhisky]

I know some hard-core nuggas that have a sick build but no calves. Are you brotha???? I'm not trying to be funny it's just a lot of brothas I know are like that!!!

No pure bred white.....i just really am DESPERATE to get some size....when on AAS if i work them extra hard will it help to gain some size? I heard Dbol gives good calf pumps

 

[psychedout]

Running will build a great set of calves IMO. Go down to a walking trail where people usually go for runs and such and look at these 'average joes' calves. You'll quickly realize that their calves aren't as average as you think. Sprints are particularly effective for calve development. Skipping rope is also equally as effective. Of course doing standing calve raises and squats are going to help quite a bit as well.

Genetics will play a part in calve size, but don't let that hold you back from maximizing your calve potential.

 

[needsize]

intense training has helped mine, meaning lots of supersets and drop sets, ie, I'll do some straight heavy sets of calf raises, then start pulling plates and continuing to go to failure. A couple drop sets for every exercise really ups the intensity and actually got mine to grow

 

[flex2win]

I have very high inserts on my calves, as I'm a classic ecto. However, I switched my approach to calves about 2 years ago. I split my soleus and gastroc training up into two different sessions per week, at least 2 sessions. Heavy as I can go, full stretch down at the bottom, 15-20 reps for 8-10 quality sets. I stetch for a good minute in between sets and change footing as well. They have responded nicely, 15 to 17.5" over that period of time. Galaxy has a sweet set on him i remember seeing a while back also..

 

[pdaddy]

Growth acceleration of any body part requires prioritization. Try training the calves twice per week at the start of the workout or if you feel necessary on a separate training day. I believe that prioritizing body parts in this fashion is a hidden key to success. “Whatever is trained first- is trained best” old slogan, but still holds true. The two separate days allows you to hit the soleus and gastroc on different days, which is especially helpful if you plan on walking anywhere during your daily life. Training both on the same day with a killer routine may force you to slither on the ground like a snake from the post workout soreness. NO pain no gain!

 

[MJM79]

if u dont mind telling. What size are your calves ?

 

[TheRide]

Do a search on "the gauntlet" insane calf routine that someone posted here years back... just make sure you have aleve on hand for the next day!

 

[brahma_bull]

I am 21 6'2 185 pounds and will NOT wear shorts. I have such small calves i cant' stand it! IS there any workouts or advice to help achieve bigger calves, im desperate. Im on my feet a lot as it is, which i heard can also keep them small but is there anything at all i can do????

A great way to bulk up your calves is to buy some strength shoes. They make you walk only on the first half of your foot which isolates your calves. Put them on and go for a walk around the block or hop on a treadmill. If you're eating right you'll gain some seroius muscle on your calves, unless your genetics just won't allow it. Not reccommending this link, but will give you a picture of what i'm talking about. http://www.strength-shoes.com/

 

[wayneboard1]

Do a search on "the gauntlet" insane calf routine that someone posted here years back... just make sure you have aleve on hand for the next day!

I did a plat search for this workout and found nothing. Any help is appreciated because this is one area where I just cannot get mass. I get strength fine, but size is a mystery. K to anyone that helps me find this workout.

 

[paridhm]

I did a plat search for this workout and found nothing. Any help is appreciated because this is one area where I just cannot get mass. I get strength fine, but size is a mystery. K to anyone that helps me find this workout.

I'm not sure if this is what you want bro, check it out. http://www.bodybuildinguniverse.com/article12.htm

 

[monstermmf]

I started using a big thick 3 inch band, basically like the ones for platforms for sprinters, but you know, you can use them for f*ckin everything.. anyways.. I just sit down everyday.. wrap it around my tip of my shoe, and hold onto it drawn back.. to where its hard to do like presses with it.. do 4 or 5 sets of front presses with it, pushing your toe all the way away from your body, concentrating it alot, then point your toe outward, do 30 or so, then point it inward.. and pretty much do that with each leg isolating.. My calves are turning into fuckin rocks.. that or stand on a real thin ledge and do calf raises.. where I'm forced to balence on my toes and support my weight doing them.. I find it adds size in addition to using weight.. Plus makes the vains pop like hell

 

[Whacked]

I thought Arnie had implants!?!? You never know WHAT to believe anymore

 

[GUESS]

I am 21 6'2 185 pounds and will NOT wear shorts. I have such small calves i cant' stand it! IS there any workouts or advice to help achieve bigger calves, im desperate. Im on my feet a lot as it is, which i heard can also keep them small but is there anything at all i can do????

Well bro there are two main things you can do. First take a look at a cyclists calves, their awesome. If you can start cycling do it and try to do most of the hard climbs going in a stright line isn't that effective.

Second what has really given me a wicked set of calves has been seated calf raises. When doing these go as heavy as you can without sacrificing form and stretch all the way both up and down you will feel them squeeze and burn like a mother. Also when you do them make sure to have your toes on the plate only, if you put more of the ball of your foot on the foot plate your not going to isolate your calf muscle as much, and also integrate a drop set when doing them. Then when your done do a second exercise going as heavy as you can with high reps, try this for 2 months and you'll get results guarateed.

Good luck bro!

 

[kbrkbr]

I hate to admit this, but the routine that worked best for me came from Nelson Montana.

I pick a weight I can do for 25 reps, full stretch, do one set. Wait 10 seconds, use same weight, do another set. Wait ten more seconds, another set. I continue this until I've done a total of 150 reps. By the third set I'm usually only doing 8-10 reps, and by the end maybe five.

 

[slat1]

This may sound stupid but it works...
Do calf raises everywhere. When I am looking in the fridge I have one hand on the door and I am doing calf raises.
Every time I go up stairs I stop and bang out a set til they burn.
Do them while watching tv. Do it every day. They will grow. It takes time but they will grow!

 

[CanadaBBOY]

Well bro there are two main things you can do. First take a look at a cyclists calves, their awesome. If you can start cycling do it and try to do most of the hard climbs going in a stright line isn't that effective.

Second what has really given me a wicked set of calves has been seated calf raises. When doing these go as heavy as you can without sacrificing form and stretch all the way both up and down you will feel them squeeze and burn like a mother. Also when you do them make sure to have your toes on the plate only, if you put more of the ball of your foot on the foot plate your not going to isolate your calf muscle as much, and also integrate a drop set when doing them. Then when your done do a second exercise going as heavy as you can with high reps, try this for 2 months and you'll get results guarateed.

Good luck bro!

Unfortunatly cycling doesn't do much for calves (at least in my experience). I have genetically small calves and i taugh spin classes for 8 months or so and noticed not even slight improvements.