calf problems - UK-Muscle Body Building Community

bodybuilder · 11-03-2006, 02:08 PM

i am having problems bringing my calves up n need 2 get these up b4 my show in a few months. i have serious concerns about these as they are totally lagging behind. any advice?

**hackskii** · 11-03-2006, 05:46 PM

I think the best thing for calvs is to stretch the crap out of them after they are good and pumped.
Also you can do a combination of full range from all the way extended to all the way stretched using weight to get the best form.

Then some partial reps using the heaviest weight you can use.

Calves are genetic but do have the most fasia in the body.

Fat guys usually have the biggest calves I have ever seen women included

tkd · 11-03-2006, 10:34 PM

calves are mostly slow twitch fibres, so you cant really treat them the same as your other muscles, however, this doesnt mean that you should overtrain them, the same principal should apply : hit them hard 2 times a week and let them recover, making sure you have hit the soleus and gastrocnemius.

for the soleus : seated calf raises
for the gastrocnemius: standing calf raises + donkey calf raises ( alternate every week, so your muscles never are able to adapt and experiences constant shock)

after a warm up, stick to 2-3 exercises and 3 sets per exercise
An exercise tip would be holding the contraction at partial rep before completing the range of motion.( alot of pros do it)

give your calves priority when it is for example: " leg day". start off your workout with calves instead of quads, that way you have more energy!

i hope this helps

samurai69 · 12-03-2006, 12:42 AM

If show is only a few months away i would defiantel aim for high reps (i do sets of 50+ on seated calfs).....a mix of all 3 exercises mentioned above and fascial stretching...put them all together and you should have a good calf in a couple of months

SCJP · 12-03-2006, 10:33 AM

Samurai,

What sort of stretches, the usual leg straighted behind you type or something else?

& when - before, after or between sets?

Ta.

Crazy Mick · 14-03-2006, 09:48 AM

Doubtful you will make them grow much in a few months, in the long run though i found heavy is the way to go with calves, heavy as possible.

samurai69 · 14-03-2006, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCJP

Samurai,

What sort of stretches, the usual leg straighted behind you type or something else?

& when - before, after or between sets?

Ta.

High reps, then when you have a good muscle pump (burning) stretch with both leg straight and the bent knee one for soleus (if you have a training partner try PNF)

dont forget heavy and high reps

sweet_FA · 14-03-2006, 05:25 PM

try starting with a lower rep range say 15 reps then work your way up to 50 reps. I like to mix up slow controlled reps with ballistic reps during the later, higher rep sets. I found this sort of method has really thickened my calves out and added good defination.

Littleluke · 14-03-2006, 09:26 PM

My calfs are starting to show now, they used to be totally flat. I do 3 sets of raises for 20 reps, then a 4th set of 5 fast 5 slow for 30 reps. I'm gonna start throwing in seated ones now aswell!

bwl · 15-03-2006, 08:31 PM

whats everyones calf size? mine is between 21 and 23" depending on if i am on a bulking phase or not.

Crazy Mick · 17-03-2006, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwl

whats everyones calf size? mine is between 21 and 23" depending on if i am on a bulking phase or not.

Around 18" i don't measure though and i'm lean, not seriously juiced either.

Crazy Mick · 17-03-2006, 12:51 PM

Who get the big red stretch marks when they do standing raises across the traps and onto the delts? I do, i don't know for sure what they are from and if anyone has a suggestion i'd like to hear it. I heard 3 suggestions so far and i counted out 2 of them, so lets hear 'em

tkd · 17-03-2006, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Mick

Who get the big red stretch marks when they do standing raises across the traps and onto the delts? I do, i don't know for sure what they are from and if anyone has a suggestion i'd like to hear it. I heard 3 suggestions so far and i counted out 2 of them, so lets hear 'em

i get them aswel, its from the equipment resting on your shoulders + traps when you do standing calf raises.

meera · 17-03-2006, 10:29 PM

I am not one for standing calf raises but last week I threw it into my routine and that felt so great on the calves! I also hit the calves placing the tip of my feet on the leg press plate and pressing the plate slowly away, just hitting the calves, not the rest of the legs. All this certainly targetted the calves precisely.

Crazy Mick · 18-03-2006, 10:24 AM

But there has to be a reason the marks appear, personally i reckon its microscopic veins that burst coz of the weight, the other reasons were T shirt dye running from bodyheat, and the seams of the T shirt pressing into the skin, but i still get the red marks with no T shirt.

It if was from the equipment, there should be huge block shaped marks from the pads, not the thin lines you get, so i reckon its veins.

11-03-2006, 02:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
bodybuilder Gym Addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 191	calf problems i am having problems bringing my calves up n need 2 get these up b4 my show in a few months. i have serious concerns about these as they are totally lagging behind. any advice?

11-03-2006, 05:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
hackskii UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Southern California U.S.A. Posts: 23,135	I think the best thing for calvs is to stretch the crap out of them after they are good and pumped. Also you can do a combination of full range from all the way extended to all the way stretched using weight to get the best form. Then some partial reps using the heaviest weight you can use. Calves are genetic but do have the most fasia in the body. Fat guys usually have the biggest calves I have ever seen women included __________________ "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." - George Carlin Scott To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

14-03-2006, 05:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
sweet_FA im typing this slow for those who cant read fast Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NW England Posts: 560	try starting with a lower rep range say 15 reps then work your way up to 50 reps. I like to mix up slow controlled reps with ballistic reps during the later, higher rep sets. I found this sort of method has really thickened my calves out and added good defination. __________________ Too weird to live, too rare to die

17-03-2006, 10:29 PM	#14 (permalink)
meera CEE...mmmmmm Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 299	I am not one for standing calf raises but last week I threw it into my routine and that felt so great on the calves! I also hit the calves placing the tip of my feet on the leg press plate and pressing the plate slowly away, just hitting the calves, not the rest of the legs. All this certainly targetted the calves precisely. __________________ Ain't noone in this world like a Bruce....

11-03-2006, 10:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
tkd Looking Freaky Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 547	calves are mostly slow twitch fibres, so you cant really treat them the same as your other muscles, however, this doesnt mean that you should overtrain them, the same principal should apply : hit them hard 2 times a week and let them recover, making sure you have hit the soleus and gastrocnemius. for the soleus : seated calf raises for the gastrocnemius: standing calf raises + donkey calf raises ( alternate every week, so your muscles never are able to adapt and experiences constant shock) after a warm up, stick to 2-3 exercises and 3 sets per exercise An exercise tip would be holding the contraction at partial rep before completing the range of motion.( alot of pros do it) give your calves priority when it is for example: " leg day". start off your workout with calves instead of quads, that way you have more energy! i hope this helps

12-03-2006, 12:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
samurai69 Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Mid Portugal - by the sea Posts: 3,077	If show is only a few months away i would defiantel aim for high reps (i do sets of 50+ on seated calfs).....a mix of all 3 exercises mentioned above and fascial stretching...put them all together and you should have a good calf in a couple of months

12-03-2006, 10:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
SCJP Looking Freaky Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SW Herts Posts: 929	Samurai, What sort of stretches, the usual leg straighted behind you type or something else? & when - before, after or between sets? Ta.

14-03-2006, 09:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
Crazy Mick Looking Freaky Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 643	Doubtful you will make them grow much in a few months, in the long run though i found heavy is the way to go with calves, heavy as possible.

14-03-2006, 09:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
Littleluke Junior Bodybuilder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK. Posts: 3,003	My calfs are starting to show now, they used to be totally flat. I do 3 sets of raises for 20 reps, then a 4th set of 5 fast 5 slow for 30 reps. I'm gonna start throwing in seated ones now aswell!

15-03-2006, 08:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
bwl Newbie Trainer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: south wales Posts: 42	whats everyones calf size? mine is between 21 and 23" depending on if i am on a bulking phase or not.

17-03-2006, 12:51 PM	#12 (permalink)
Crazy Mick Looking Freaky Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 643	Who get the big red stretch marks when they do standing raises across the traps and onto the delts? I do, i don't know for sure what they are from and if anyone has a suggestion i'd like to hear it. I heard 3 suggestions so far and i counted out 2 of them, so lets hear 'em

18-03-2006, 10:24 AM	#15 (permalink)
Crazy Mick Looking Freaky Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 643	But there has to be a reason the marks appear, personally i reckon its microscopic veins that burst coz of the weight, the other reasons were T shirt dye running from bodyheat, and the seams of the T shirt pressing into the skin, but i still get the red marks with no T shirt. It if was from the equipment, there should be huge block shaped marks from the pads, not the thin lines you get, so i reckon its veins.