My Calves Suck!!

[luigisacs]

I have been born with ugly genetics in my lower legs. It looks like two sticks sticking out the bottom of my shorts. I had worked them fairly hard in the "BB" style (many MANY reps, hundreds of angles) and nothing. I had been doing all my body parts the BB style and hated it.

So then I learned about this site, and more specifically the 5x5 method and it has worked very well so far (it has only been 4 weeks). I began to think that if the 5x5 worked with other lifts, why not a specific calf excersice.

I want like to know everyone's opinion using the Smith Machine Calf Raise off a block in a 5x8 method? Does anyone think that it would give quantifiable results?

 

[thegoodfoods]

Arnold once had puny calves. he cut his pants and made them into shorts so he can constantly look at and scrutinize his tiny calves. he would do a set on the bench press then do a few sets for the calves, then repeat then repeat. by the end of the workout he had done 25 sets just for calves. just my 2 cents

 

[jpt]

calves are tough to grow so don't be too hard on youself. i know bros with big legs and tiny calves....it's genetics. it's not like they don't do heavy squats or anything like that....just born with stubborn calves

most people train calves the wrong way i think...i see alot of guys keep a 6-8 rep range on everything and then they rep out on their calves...they'll do 4x25 or something crazy. i think the you need to apply to your calves what works best for the rest of your body. if it's volume then do that...if it's 5x5....keep the reps under 10 i say. good luck

 

[AEKDB]

When I finish doing squats I do calf raises before I rack the weight. In my opinion this does three things: 1) the calfs are already pre-exhausted from the squats, 2) it forces the body to stabilize the weight unlike on a calf machine or smith machine, 3) extends the time under load. Other good calf lifts are jump squats and power shrugs. If you do these lifts you may not have large calfs due to genetics but you will have strong calfs.

 

[get456]

if high rep work isnt doing it....... try HEAVY weight and lower reps... IMO most people do those 20-30 rep sets with very little weight (as someone mentioned) what they dont realize is just how much weight their calves can handle..

im as bad as anyone... i was doing 4 plates on the 45* machine... for like 25 reps... thought that was heavy... but i said fuck it let me try some more... i did 8 plates for 20!

(it only holds 4 per side, so im maxed on that one)

point being... give some lower rep, heavy weight work a try

ps-- i FINALLY have a little split in the middle of my calves now! for the first time ever!!

 

[perp69]

Go heavy as you can. That and gaining weight will put mass on em.

Perp

 

[al420]

Arnold once had puny calves. he cut his pants and made them into shorts so he can constantly look at and scrutinize his tiny calves. he would do a set on the bench press then do a few sets for the calves, then repeat then repeat. by the end of the workout he had done 25 sets just for calves. just my 2 cents

This is not worth .02 ...lol