Stubborn a** calves.....:(

[hybrid1]

Hey all..... I am having a helluva time getting my calves to grow at all. I have torn both ankles in the last couple of years doing martial arts.

I work calves every leg day. Quads and hams are proportionate to my chest and back, but my calves look ridiculous.

Any advise would be appreciated

And yes I was one of those dumbass lifters who only worked chest and arms for the first year. We had a gym at work, and nobody told me any different. I have been working legs without fail for the past couple of years. Plaqued with injuiries though......

[Spook]

and do calves once every 2 to 3 days. What does you calf routine look like anyway, and what do your movements look like (no, not whats in the crapper); do you use fast ballistic movements or slower reps?

*** 1972-2003...A beloved brother stands watch over us all. He will not be forgotten and we will stand with him again as guardians over others. We will spend eternity feasting on happiness and love that is perfect. All will be happy in the new age where God will be our center and is our strength. *** Spook

[Spook]

Just let us see your routine and I'm sure some good bro's or myself could help ya out some.

*** 1972-2003...A beloved brother stands watch over us all. He will not be forgotten and we will stand with him again as guardians over others. We will spend eternity feasting on happiness and love that is perfect. All will be happy in the new age where God will be our center and is our strength. *** Spook

[hybrid1]

Damn,Spook I knew I could count on ya!!!

What I do for calves is after a each set of Squats or leg presses, I use slow , to failure reps. The number of reps vary depending on squat or press.

I use a leverage squat machine because of lower back issues, and it has a calf attachment.

I just do calf raises on the leg press. I never get above 15 on reps though. I work legs twice per week.

[Spook]

and try doing calves on non-leg training days.

Here are a few possibilities to try:

3 sets of Standing calves at 20-25 reps.
3 sets of Calf Presses at 20-25 reps

Next calf training day 2-3 days later on a non-leg day....

3 sets of Standing calves at 20-25 reps.
3 sets of Seated or Donkey Calves at 20-25 reps.

Do these at a moderate speed rather than slower movements but keep the movements controlled nonetheless. After doing this routine for about 4-6 weeks, then give this a try:

3 sets of Standing calves at 12-15 reps
3 sets of Calf presses at 12-15 reps
3 sets of Seated calves at 12-15 reps supersetted with tibialis curls at 30 moderately paced reps

Do these every other day, but on non-leg days. For the normal rep pace give a paced positive-contraction-negative like a 2-1-2 count or 2-1-3 count. Be sure to eat. If you experience shin splints with this one then drop the tibialis curls.

Later, you can go back to another moderately paced like a 1-1.5 second count on negatives and positives. Do full range of motion to get the highest peak contraction and the greatest stretch you can get.

Hopefully, this will be something new for you to try out and will be a different way to trick the calves. They calves are the most used muscle in the body unless you are a bedfast sexaholic. They can handle a high volume, but if this is too much volume then work your way up to this through several routines. After a while you could go back to doing calves on leg days, but my typical leg day used to be too high of volume to do calves.

*** 1972-2003...A beloved brother stands watch over us all. He will not be forgotten and we will stand with him again as guardians over others. We will spend eternity feasting on happiness and love that is perfect. All will be happy in the new age where God will be our center and is our strength. *** Spook

just wanted to say great advice on the calf training. Follow what the Spookster says.

Personally, higher rep sets have caused my calves to grow more, but my calves pretty much grow from walking. <img src="http://www.nirvana2.com/smilies/bounce2.gif" alt="Bounce2" width="40" height="62"><!--graemlin::bounce2:-->

Also, if you do them on leg days, do them first in the workout.

[jjrabbit]

What are calves? obviously i dont know b/c mine are non-existant(sp)

+jazzyjackrabbit+

[hybrid1]

WOW!! That will be one heck of a change for me. I will start and keep you posted on the progress. I never thought of training them on a different day than legs.

I have been eating like a horse trying Scrappers advice of 400g of protein a day.

I will work the 20-25 rep range and see. I have never went that high on calves. I have done that before for a week or two on chest and had great results.

Thanks Spook and RJ.

[dark_catt]

if your ankles can take it try plyometrics

Screw you and the bunny slippers you walked in with!!!!!