Your Calves Frequency?

Training Bodybuilding
41

Only good thing about spending the last 5 years as a competitive cyclist is I got good calf development out of it. I tend to agree with guys like Flex Lewis that basically high reps, done slowly, exaggerating stretch and contraction is the way to do it. At the same time, I really concur with X that you have to attack them with just as much fire and gusto as any other muscle group. On days that aren’t severe, like arms & shoulders, I like to BEGIN with calves and fire everything I can into them.

And do donkey raises, definitely. If you don’t have the machine, just use a dipping belt loaded with weight.

42

I have quite large calves for my size (15 3/4") but that comes from running, jumprope, walking and backpacking/hiking. They used to be sticks.

43

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Why the hell are you making this that complicated? I train my calves daily because it makes sure I don’t neglect them. There is no special formula of sets and reps that I must do each time. I know I’ve trained them enough by how they feel. I wear shorts during every training session so that my calves are on my mind the moment I set foot in the gym. I used to be one of those guys who ALWAYS wore long pants in the gym. They didn’t get better until I quit doing that.

Some of the questions you guys ask show for damn sure that you do NOT have the same drive in you that others do on this site who are seeing progress. Lifting weights is not a matter of solving a math equation. That is where the ART comes in…and if you can’t ever find that balance, this is NOT for you.[/quote]

[quote]Cephalic_Carnage wrote:

As I said in the other thread… It’s hopeless… I have nothing against you, Pumped, but somehow I don’t think you’re ever really going to understand this whole bodybuilding thing…
[/quote]

I really don’t understand both of your comments like this. Do you really think I’m asking questions because I’m so lost and confused and have no idea what to do? lol, I’ve gained 20lb in the last 6 months with about 1.5in on my arm and strength gains all around. I ask a ton of questions because I’m so interested in all things related to bodybuilding and I like to ask questions to people who have been successful because, again, it’s interesting, not because I want to make it complicated or that I’m confused.

I met a guy in the gym the other day who was very lean at about 230lb…we talked and within a minute or so it was clear I was more “educated” on the topic than him but I asked questions because he’s been successful and because it’s interesting to talk about. What else is the point of going on a forum??

44

Yeah I split up sol/gas like Stu and bonez. Yet I’m going to start bumping up the frequency from 2 X a week to 3-4…as I have real small high insertions (think Johnny Jackson) I think stretching is underrated tho. Just found this one, I’m going to start incorporating after all my calve work… http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/stretching/peroneal_stretch.php

45

In the past I managed to increase my calves from 13.5" to just under 17". Only reason why I stopped was because I lost interest in them (terrible I know!)

I agree it takes a lot of volume to stimulate the calves. What’s funny is, the last time I had a “passion” for training calves (last time I bulked), I started off with the goal of increasing the training frequency for them gradually as and when needed;

I never increased frequency of once a week lol (did about 5-6 sets of 5-8 reps, one legged calve raise). I don’t believe working up to just one max set is enough, they always “ask for more”.

Like many others say, I think the intense sprinting played a large part…so I had the usual bodybuilding type sets, plus two 15 min sessions per week of high rep training (interval sprinting).

I think although the calves are predominately slow twitch, you still need to stimulate both fibre types.

It’s also important to realise that you can only really expect a decent growth spurt in the calves if you are bulking.

46

I train my calves to shock them (as Arnold advocated). Unfortunately, I can only used a smith machine to do standing calf raises at the minute (moving to a new gym at the start of May), but I’m always changing the number of reps, sets and weight used to keep them guessing. In the past 7 days I’ve trained them 3 times.

A) 90kg x12, 120kg x12, 140kg x12, 160kg x12

B) 70kg x8, 100kg x8, 120kg x8, 140kg x8, 160kg x8, 180kg x8, 200kg x8

C) 90kg x15, 110kg x15, 130kg x14, 150kg x15

Calves can handle a lot of weight, don’t need a lot of rest/recovery and for those reasons you should punish the little bastards. :slight_smile:

47

Mine are about 19" but my dad has pretty much the same calves, so it’s 3/4 genetic I think.

What I don’t like is they guy who you know got lucky with genetics ( kind of like my calves) but passes it off as all hard work.
I do standing calf once per week, seated once per week. I love the seated calf raise so much more than the standing. My gym also has that one where you sit on a little sled at a 45 degree angle and slide up by using your calves. Neat.

48

[quote]Clintern wrote:
i have no doubt that i can build massive calves even if i dont have the best genetics, just have to find the right exercises, training frecuency and volume[/quote]

Thats what I have been thinking about my forearms for the last 2 years, I think forearm size and calves size works just the same. Damn I’d like to see them grow faster

49

[quote]pumped340 wrote:

I met a guy in the gym the other day who was very lean at about 230lb…we talked and within a minute or so it was clear I was more “educated” on the topic than him but I asked questions because he’s been successful and because it’s interesting to talk about. What else is the point of going on a forum??[/quote]

More “educated”?

LOL.

I have no doubt some newbs probably would think the same about me simply because I don’t care to even know half of the bullshit they think is important. There are TONS of successful bodybuilders who guys like you would think are “less educated”…yet they will continue to outperform every single one of you despite what you think you know. Therefore, if he is making more progress, who is really the uneducated one?

What are your stats?

My comment before was based on how complex you make the simple issue of sets and reps. You are trying to be so “exact” that you miss the concept of making decisions on the fly or on split second notice.

There has never been even one day where I organized a workout the way you seemed to.

I guess that makes me “uneducated” as well compared to you.

I would rather remain “ignorant”.

What are your stats?

20lbs in 6 months sounds amazing…if you have been at this for a few years and are already relatively big. If you are a beginner it is not so great.

50

I don’t know why this is so complicated. If you want your muscles to grow - lift heavier weight and control it.

No offense intended to the guys that do but I can’t understand how you go to the gym and keep a log book a jug or water and all your gear. This aint a camping trip.

I go in, hit the weights hard and get out. Fluck increasing my weight by .005 lbs, fluck more than 10 reps on a given excercise. I have NEVER gone to the gym with a set program. I just can’t do it. When I get to the gym, I already know what bodyparts I need to work. Its a question of which machine and how much weight can I handle. Every excercise I do has a warmup set and that lets me know how much weight I can handle.

Calves are 2-3 days per week. If I can remember because I’m not that concerned with direct calf growth right now. I usually do 2-4 sets to failure. Sometimes I rep slow, sometimes I rep quick. My calves are thicker than a chicko stick (80’s rap ref - couldnt resist- Nice N Smooth).

51


I don’t remember the rap, but the candy sure was good!

52

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]pumped340 wrote:

I met a guy in the gym the other day who was very lean at about 230lb…we talked and within a minute or so it was clear I was more “educated” on the topic than him but I asked questions because he’s been successful and because it’s interesting to talk about. What else is the point of going on a forum??[/quote]

More “educated”?

LOL.

I have no doubt some newbs probably would think the same about me simply because I don’t care to even know half of the bullshit they think is important. There are TONS of successful bodybuilders who guys like you would think are “less educated”…yet they will continue to outperform every single one of you despite what you think you know. Therefore, if he is making more progress, who is really the uneducated one?
[/quote]

You obviously saw the quotations, what did you think the point of that was?

53

[quote]pumped340 wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]pumped340 wrote:

I met a guy in the gym the other day who was very lean at about 230lb…we talked and within a minute or so it was clear I was more “educated” on the topic than him but I asked questions because he’s been successful and because it’s interesting to talk about. What else is the point of going on a forum??[/quote]

More “educated”?

LOL.

I have no doubt some newbs probably would think the same about me simply because I don’t care to even know half of the bullshit they think is important. There are TONS of successful bodybuilders who guys like you would think are “less educated”…yet they will continue to outperform every single one of you despite what you think you know. Therefore, if he is making more progress, who is really the uneducated one?
[/quote]

You obviously saw the quotations, what did you think the point of that was?

[/quote]

Exactly like I said. I never once had that thought…and I spoke to many lifters bigger than me…as a biology major who definitely knew more about the human body than most people in most gyms.

It doesn’t matter if you know more textbook shit than someone making tons more progress than you. There isn’t one person alive who has made that type of progress that you could learn absolutely nothing from and they are by no means coming up short in that area if they are reaching levels of development that few humans ever reach.

It is great that you spoke to the guy to get some knowledge from him as far as experience, but it is the belief from a lot of smaller lifters that they are more “educated” than people who have passed them up in progress by miles…and the reason for that is most are looking for some form of validation in spite of the relative lesser results.

Once again, what are your stats?

54

OP, I dont train them directly. They’ve always big fairly big as have I (fat & heavy, definately not skinny fat!).
I’m currently ~280lb, calf = 19.25

55

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Here’s a pic of mine at 46cm, which i believe is just a tiny bit over 18". Nice cheaty angle eh?

56

Do you guy measure your calves with your leg extended out or perpendicular to the floor? The reason I ask is because I was happy to see that when I measured mine this morning they had grown since the last time (this was measured sitting down with them perpendicular to the floor), but when I measured them straight out they hadn’t changed at all. I don’t really care as long as they’re growing, but I found that odd.

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]pumped340 wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]pumped340 wrote:

I met a guy in the gym the other day who was very lean at about 230lb…we talked and within a minute or so it was clear I was more “educated” on the topic than him but I asked questions because he’s been successful and because it’s interesting to talk about. What else is the point of going on a forum??[/quote]

More “educated”?

LOL.

I have no doubt some newbs probably would think the same about me simply because I don’t care to even know half of the bullshit they think is important. There are TONS of successful bodybuilders who guys like you would think are “less educated”…yet they will continue to outperform every single one of you despite what you think you know. Therefore, if he is making more progress, who is really the uneducated one?
[/quote]

You obviously saw the quotations, what did you think the point of that was?

[/quote]

Exactly like I said. I never once had that thought…and I spoke to many lifters bigger than me…as a biology major who definitely knew more about the human body than most people in most gyms.

It doesn’t matter if you know more textbook shit than someone making tons more progress than you. There isn’t one person alive who has made that type of progress that you could learn absolutely nothing from and they are by no means coming up short in that area if they are reaching levels of development that few humans ever reach.

It is great that you spoke to the guy to get some knowledge from him as far as experience, but it is the belief from a lot of smaller lifters that they are more “educated” than people who have passed them up in progress by miles…and the reason for that is most are looking for some form of validation in spite of the relative lesser results.

Once again, what are your stats?[/quote]

Yea, that was exactly why I put the quotations around “educated”, for those same reasons. I’m sure I know more about the biology/physiology and even more so about the principles of gaining muscle, nutrition, and losing fat than 99% of the people at my school…but like you and I are both saying that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be talking to guys bigger/more experienced than I am. The other side to that though is that I am reluctant at times to talk to a guy who’s clearly got some muscle but when I can also tell he’s just gotten big from doing what his football coach or something has him doing, when I could just talk to Thibs and CC here. But past a certain point of development I still like to talk to them regardless.

Stats as in lifts or height and weight? All of that is in the other thread from about a week ago, but I’m 6’0" and 203 as of this morning.

57

[quote]pumped340 wrote:
Do you guy measure your calves with your leg extended out or perpendicular to the floor? The reason I ask is because I was happy to see that when I measured mine this morning they had grown since the last time (this was measured sitting down with them perpendicular to the floor), but when I measured them straight out they hadn’t changed at all. I don’t really care as long as they’re growing, but I found that odd.[/quote]

I measure them standing up. If your leg is bent, the muscle is going to read slightly larger.

[quote]

Yea, that was exactly why I put the quotations around “educated”, for those same reasons. I’m sure I know more about the biology/physiology and even more so about the principles of gaining muscle, nutrition, and losing fat than 99% of the people at my school…but like you and I are both saying that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be talking to guys bigger/more experienced than I am. The other side to that though is that I am reluctant at times to talk to a guy who’s clearly got some muscle but when I can also tell he’s just gotten big from doing what his football coach or something has him doing, when I could just talk to Thibs and CC here. But past a certain point of development I still like to talk to them regardless.

Stats as in lifts or height and weight? All of that is in the other thread from about a week ago, but I’m 6’0" and 203 as of this morning. [/quote]

The point was, there are no people who “just got big somehow”. They might not have approached it the same as you, but rarely will you find someone who has zero opinion of what works for them based on their experience assuming the guy is REALLY big and not just some average weekend warrior.

58

We all know it’s not a guaranteed sign of progress, but the sorest my calves have ever been is the day I didn’t have a big workout in me, so I just did 10 sets of calf press with a light weight, with 30 sec rests. The weight was light, but I got a good stretch at the bottom, paused at the very top and was cursing every st of stairs for at least 3 days.

Variety and progression is the key. Keep getting stronger, and regular change your approach, then resume getting stronger with the new approach.