[quote]drobin89 wrote:
whats with the hostility?[/quote]
'Roid/protein rage. It’s normal among the ladies in here.
Awesome thread!!
Runs back to SAMA
[quote]sluicy wrote:
I’d be curious to see a similar calf thread, only because mine suck. 
Who does do direct calf work? I’ve been told it’s unnecessary but, uh, apparently that’s not the case. [/quote]
I’ll challenge you in sucky calves. I’ve been told mine are so skinny it looks like I might trip in a hole and break a leg and they’d have to shoot me. I added some high volume direct calf work, and they improved uh… slightly.
[quote]drobin89 wrote:
whats with the hostility?[/quote]
Any hostility was a tongue in cheek reference to a jerk who told a woman who was frustrated with her weight loss to stop lifting, do leg lifts, and avoid protein as it is a bulking “suppliment.”
Oh, and I have big former cyclist calves - see e.g. my old avatar (I lost the pic) which showed them semi flexed. My ankles are pretty small, which adds to the appearance of size. The calves look tiny or even cankley when I have my ankles covered, like when wearing Chucks.
I know this is an arm thread but…shapely calves on a woman are incredibly attractive and complete the lower body “package”. Stick calves on men make them look like lazy trainers.
Train them twice a week alternating between heavy, low rep standing and higher rep seated.
Ok, I’m out.
Why do the men keep running away like they’re going to get bitten?
Am I correct that seated work trains your soleus, and standing, bent over work trains the gastrocnemius?
So far I’ve just been doing donkey raises with N. sitting on my hips. I was really sweaty after squats and deads today so he threw a blanket over me which probably added to the donkey effect.
Seriously, no wearing light sweats to squat/DL. They’re looking, but not for the desired reasons. Am I the last to know this?
I like my calves, and I’ve never trained them. Just running, and genetics. I’m a big-legged woman. (Does that mean I ain’t got no soul?)
[quote]AlisaV wrote:
I like my calves, and I’ve never trained them. Just running, and genetics. I’m a big-legged woman. (Does that mean I ain’t got no soul?)[/quote]
Haha!
Yeah, when I ran significantly, mine were very nice. Apparently running is not entirely as catabolic as some may say. I stopped running, my calves went AWOL on me. I’m interested to see what happens to them when I actually train them.
See, that’s the funny thing.
Way back in cross-country, most of the girls and guys were stick-skinny, and would brag about consuming whole loaves of bread. Then there were a few of us (including the fastest girl on the team, who wasn’t me!) who were short, medium build, and would grow some decent leg muscles over the season.
Running never made me little – just gave me calves and hamstrings. I think a lot depends on your natural build
[quote]sluicy wrote:
Why do the men keep running away like they’re going to get bitten?
Am I correct that seated work trains your soleus, and standing, bent over work trains the gastrocnemius?
So far I’ve just been doing donkey raises with N. sitting on my hips. I was really sweaty after squats and deads today so he threw a blanket over me which probably added to the donkey effect.
Seriously, no wearing light sweats to squat/DL. They’re looking, but not for the desired reasons. Am I the last to know this? [/quote]
Maybe it’s a flashback…everytime I snuck into the sorority at university I got into trouble. But, it was totally worth it. Ah, memories. Biting is encouraged by the way.
Anyway, you are right. Seated (bent knee) is soleus and straight leg is gastroc. I train them every second workout with 4-5 sets. I read on here somewhere about the low rep (gastroc) higher rep (soleus) thing. Also, I do seated after low back intensive work (squats, deads etc.) to give my low back a break.
Yes, you are the last one to figure out the attraction of watching pretty women do squats and DLs especially in light clothing Dark clothing makes your womanly bits less obvious but we (men) are still going to check out your curves. But, the gawkers and droolers that lack subtlety are an embarassment to all of us.
[quote]giterdone wrote:
Anyway, you are right. Seated (bent knee) is soleus and straight leg is gastroc. I train them every second workout with 4-5 sets. I read on here somewhere about the low rep (gastroc) higher rep (soleus) thing. Also, I do seated after low back intensive work (squats, deads etc.) to give my low back a break. [/quote]
Well, I’d think that one would want a leaner soleus to emphasize the gastrocnemius. I avoid seated work for that reason, because my soleus seem to maintain themselves better, perhaps they are more involved in stabilization? [quote]
Yes, you are the last one to figure out the attraction of watching pretty women do squats and DLs especially in light clothing Dark clothing makes your womanly bits less obvious but we (men) are still going to check out your curves. But, the gawkers and droolers that lack subtlety are an embarassment to all of us.[/quote]
What I meant really was that my butt was sweating to the point that it soaked right through my pants. I think they were noting that I sweating like a racehorse, which was particularly obvious in my gray sweats. Haha. I’d make a point of superiority since none of them actually squat or DL, but I don’t yet move enough weight to impress anyone, so that can’t be an excuse!
I don’t know if I believe calf size is all genetics. For years my legs were sticks and now they’re growing faster than any other part. It’s because I run, walk, hike and climb a lot. If all the work you do is stationary then how can your calves get worked. Assuming you eat enough that is.
1 Like
[quote]debraD wrote:
I don’t know if I believe calf size is all genetics.
[/quote]
Not all genetics, but more so than any other muscle. There are people who have never touched a weight that have large, defined calves, and there are weight trainers doing direct calf work that never acheive much size at all. Of course training can make anyone’s calves grow, but genetics determine how big they’ll get.
1 Like
[quote]Yo Momma wrote:
debraD wrote:
I don’t know if I believe calf size is all genetics.
Not all genetics, but more so than any other muscle. There are people who have never touched a weight that have large, defined calves, and there are weight trainers doing direct calf work that never acheive much size at all. Of course training can make anyone’s calves grow, but genetics determine how big they’ll get.
[/quote]
That’s assuming weights are the only way to train a muscle, or always the most effective. I would say for calves that is not the case. Do some hiking with a heavy pack and calves will grow, without ever touching a weight.
[quote]sluicy wrote:
giterdone wrote:
Anyway, you are right. Seated (bent knee) is soleus and straight leg is gastroc. I train them every second workout with 4-5 sets. I read on here somewhere about the low rep (gastroc) higher rep (soleus) thing. Also, I do seated after low back intensive work (squats, deads etc.) to give my low back a break.
Well, I’d think that one would want a leaner soleus to emphasize the gastrocnemius. I avoid seated work for that reason, because my soleus seem to maintain themselves better, perhaps they are more involved in stabilization?
Yes, you are the last one to figure out the attraction of watching pretty women do squats and DLs especially in light clothing Dark clothing makes your womanly bits less obvious but we (men) are still going to check out your curves. But, the gawkers and droolers that lack subtlety are an embarassment to all of us.
What I meant really was that my butt was sweating to the point that it soaked right through my pants. I think they were noting that I sweating like a racehorse, which was particularly obvious in my gray sweats. Haha. I’d make a point of superiority since none of them actually squat or DL, but I don’t yet move enough weight to impress anyone, so that can’t be an excuse! [/quote]
I, like many, struggle with calf size. Many consider the right formula for aesthetics is that your arm and calf (and some say neck) should be the same measurement. I need to train seated and standing but you many not.
And, butt-crack sweat is sexy…on the right woman. But on the wrong person it can be nasty, if you know what I mean.
I also agree completely with Debra about other options for calf growth. High rep stuff…sprinting, hill climbing / hiking, running in the sand…can make a big difference. Check out the calves on a big fat guy.
[quote]debraD wrote:
Yo Momma wrote:
debraD wrote:
I don’t know if I believe calf size is all genetics.
Not all genetics, but more so than any other muscle. There are people who have never touched a weight that have large, defined calves, and there are weight trainers doing direct calf work that never acheive much size at all. Of course training can make anyone’s calves grow, but genetics determine how big they’ll get.
That’s assuming weights are the only way to train a muscle, or always the most effective. I would say for calves that is not the case. Do some hiking with a heavy pack and calves will grow, without ever touching a weight. [/quote]
Guess I should have re-worded my last sentence to say “any training” instead of “training”.
But I assume that hiking with a weighted pack is a form of weight training.
[quote]giterdone wrote:
sluicy wrote:
giterdone wrote:
Anyway, you are right. Seated (bent knee) is soleus and straight leg is gastroc. I train them every second workout with 4-5 sets. I read on here somewhere about the low rep (gastroc) higher rep (soleus) thing. Also, I do seated after low back intensive work (squats, deads etc.) to give my low back a break.
Well, I’d think that one would want a leaner soleus to emphasize the gastrocnemius. I avoid seated work for that reason, because my soleus seem to maintain themselves better, perhaps they are more involved in stabilization?
Yes, you are the last one to figure out the attraction of watching pretty women do squats and DLs especially in light clothing Dark clothing makes your womanly bits less obvious but we (men) are still going to check out your curves. But, the gawkers and droolers that lack subtlety are an embarassment to all of us.
What I meant really was that my butt was sweating to the point that it soaked right through my pants. I think they were noting that I sweating like a racehorse, which was particularly obvious in my gray sweats. Haha. I’d make a point of superiority since none of them actually squat or DL, but I don’t yet move enough weight to impress anyone, so that can’t be an excuse!
Many consider the right formula for aesthetics is that your arm and calf (and some say neck) should be the same measurement. I need to train seated and standing but you many not.
[/quote]
Looks like I’m quoting myself…which seems odd.
I was thinking about the balance question (calf size = arm size). Does the formula work for women as well as it does for men? For example, what arm & calf measurements does a figure competitor like Jelena Abbou (or any other female with great aesthetics) have?
Juliette Bergman supposedly had the same measurement for neck, arms and calves.
Doesn’t work for me though. My calves are almost 15 inches while my arms are a miserable 12.5 (and that’s carrying a bit of fat). I tend to muscle up well in the chest and back but have a devil of a time putting muscle on delts and arms. In my teens, before I started lifting weights, my calves were naturally 14 inches and my arms only 10.
Arm size: 11 3/4"
Calf size: 12 1/2"
Neck size: 12 1/4"
123 lbs
5’6"
12% body fat
I have the skeletal base of a goldfinch.
I just read an article on how to beef up your calves - the problem is that the gastroc muscle is fast twitch and the soleus is slow. So when you’re doing straight leg calf raises, do them at even pace, and when you do bent leg calf raises, explode them up, wait two seconds, and let them down s-l-o-w-l-y.
I’ve already noticed a difference in my puny legs.
[quote]giterdone wrote:
giterdone wrote:
sluicy wrote:
giterdone wrote:
Anyway, you are right. Seated (bent knee) is soleus and straight leg is gastroc. I train them every second workout with 4-5 sets. I read on here somewhere about the low rep (gastroc) higher rep (soleus) thing. Also, I do seated after low back intensive work (squats, deads etc.) to give my low back a break.
Well, I’d think that one would want a leaner soleus to emphasize the gastrocnemius. I avoid seated work for that reason, because my soleus seem to maintain themselves better, perhaps they are more involved in stabilization?
Yes, you are the last one to figure out the attraction of watching pretty women do squats and DLs especially in light clothing Dark clothing makes your womanly bits less obvious but we (men) are still going to check out your curves. But, the gawkers and droolers that lack subtlety are an embarassment to all of us.
What I meant really was that my butt was sweating to the point that it soaked right through my pants. I think they were noting that I sweating like a racehorse, which was particularly obvious in my gray sweats. Haha. I’d make a point of superiority since none of them actually squat or DL, but I don’t yet move enough weight to impress anyone, so that can’t be an excuse!
Many consider the right formula for aesthetics is that your arm and calf (and some say neck) should be the same measurement. I need to train seated and standing but you many not.
Looks like I’m quoting myself…which seems odd.
I was thinking about the balance question (calf size = arm size). Does the formula work for women as well as it does for men? For example, what arm & calf measurements does a figure competitor like Jelena Abbou (or any other female with great aesthetics) have?
[/quote]
I have no idea about the exact answer to your questions. I would think that women could build bigger calves than arms, but that’s only based on what I’ve seen. I’m curious though.