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Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: Al Doggity on November 07, 2015, 04:41:59 PM

Title: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Al Doggity on November 07, 2015, 04:41:59 PM
Been doing calf raises-pausing at the top for a five-count for the last few weeks and the results have been promising.  Using moderate weight on the leg press, ignoring the stretch at the bottom, only focusing on the pause at the top.

Calves are stubborn and I'm not saying this is a magic bullet, but if you rarely feel a burn when working calves, give it a shot. You can test it out in your living room right now. Take off your shoes and try to do 20 (better stretch without shoes. Not as important if you are using weight)
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: ritch on November 07, 2015, 05:11:25 PM
I tried taking my shoes off once and never understood why people like that. Hurts bad and can hold the stretches longer with shoes.

I've done many routines that "seemed promising" as well. Yet never gained...

I swear doing seated calve raises make mine smaller, lol!

Edit: I even gave them another try lately. would do 30 min of calves first thing on leg day, fuck it... After 4 weeks no change at all. It's just not worth the cns taxing in my case when I could use that energy on other body parts.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Set It Up on November 07, 2015, 05:12:53 PM
although pellius and i dont see eye to eye on most things,......

he supposedly has the best calf routine that has yielded the best results on the entire internet

im not sure how to find it
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Irongrip400 on November 07, 2015, 05:14:11 PM
My calf routine is just wearing long pants.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: ritch on November 07, 2015, 05:18:14 PM
My calf routine is just wearing long pants.

that would be the leg routine for most as well...
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: TheShape. on November 07, 2015, 05:20:55 PM
107 slow reps every night on a 3 inch thick book works just fine
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: ritch on November 07, 2015, 05:23:27 PM
107 slow reps every night on a 3 inch thick book works just fine

how do you break it down? Just do as many as you can until you get 107 total?
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Irongrip400 on November 07, 2015, 05:25:52 PM
107 slow reps every night on a 3 inch thick book works just fine

I believe you have to be looking into the mirror, lights off,  and saying "Bloody Mary" as well to get the veiny look with striations.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Al Doggity on November 07, 2015, 05:52:11 PM
I tried taking my shoes off once and never understood why people like that. Hurts bad and can hold the stretches longer with shoes.

I've done many routines that "seemed promising" as well. Yet never gained...

I swear doing seated calve raises make mine smaller, lol!

Edit: I even gave them another try lately. would do 30 min of calves first thing on leg day, fuck it... After 4 weeks no change at all. It's just not worth the cns taxing in my case when I could use that energy on other body parts.


Yeah, I'm not claiming this is magic or anything. If anyone is looking for something new to try with a notoriously stubborn bodypart, thought I'd share something that seems to be yielding results for me.


As for shoes vs no shoes- I don't feel any pain and the stretch is just way more noticeable. If I stand on my tiptoes with my shoes on, I don't even feel a stretch.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: calfzilla on November 07, 2015, 05:57:14 PM
Calves   8)
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: BlackMetallic on November 07, 2015, 06:27:12 PM
For standing calf raises: I pause at the top for 6-10 seconds fully contracted followed by a 30-60 second stretch at the end of the set

Lots OF TUT

6-8 sets, 3-15 reps, 1-2 min rest maximum 4x a week

My calves are so so

Do they grow? Well their not bad on a pump 😜. They are growing- very slowly but i deserve the pain so i do them

Back in the mid 90's when muscle media 2000 was a real magazine someone wrote Bill Philips and asked him a question regarding a dr who performed a calf procedure in which he invasively went in and either cut the fascia or stretched it. Bill said the dr was in Colorado and what he did was make an incision and moved a tendon to the side. The dr himself said that the fascia and tendon on most people's calfs are so tight that they wont allow growth

The dr charged $20,000 for the procedure back in 95





Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Lustral on November 07, 2015, 06:39:05 PM
Been doing calf raises-pausing at the top for a five-count for the last few weeks and the results have been promising.  Using moderate weight on the leg press, ignoring the stretch at the bottom, only focusing on the pause at the top.

Calves are stubborn and I'm not saying this is a magic bullet, but if you rarely feel a burn when working calves, give it a shot. You can test it out in your living room right now. Take off your shoes and try to do 20 (better stretch without shoes. Not as important if you are using weight)

Firstly to 1st reply - please don't take shoes off. Some young guys do that non stop in gym and they smell like shit.

What I did was ignore convention and train calves EVERY workout. Once a week, twice a week, heavy weight, high reps... nothing changed them. They aren't great, but I have shit insertions so I'm limited in how I can grow - they have gone up close to 2 inches over past year or so from matchsticks to slightly larger at top matchsticks.

Work with what you have.

Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Skeletor on November 07, 2015, 06:42:03 PM
Upright rows are the key to calf and quad mass. Just look at Wolf's improvement with just one rep:

(http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=534605.0;attach=563240;image)
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Mr.1derful on November 07, 2015, 06:48:11 PM
Since my achilles surgery, I now only have 1 calf. 
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Lustral on November 07, 2015, 06:50:39 PM
(http://i.imgur.com/vWcVbnL.jpg)

My calves now by the way. Still flat as DLB's quads on soleus which pisses me off no end.

Couple years ago calves made me look like a double peg legged extra in a pirate movie.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: TheShape. on November 07, 2015, 06:51:25 PM
how do you break it down? Just do as many as you can until you get 107 total?
Just 107 slow reps no matter what.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: _aj_ on November 07, 2015, 06:52:15 PM
Upright rows are the key to calf and quad mass. Just look at Wolf's improvement with just one rep:

(http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=534605.0;attach=563240;image)

Lmaooooo!
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Irongrip400 on November 07, 2015, 07:08:01 PM
(http://i.imgur.com/vWcVbnL.jpg)

My calves now by the way. Still flat as DLB's quads on soleus which pisses me off no end.

Couple years ago calves made me look like a double peg legged extra in a pirate movie.

Note to self. Lustral not white.  ;D
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Set It Up on November 07, 2015, 07:08:58 PM
Upright rows are the key to calf and quad mass. Just look at Wolf's improvement with just one rep:

(http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=534605.0;attach=563240;image)

ahahhaha what the fuk
proofreader fired
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: calfzilla on November 07, 2015, 07:09:30 PM
Note to self. Lustral not white.

Of course he's not white, that's why the mudshark in the background is lusting after him.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Lustral on November 07, 2015, 07:18:09 PM
Of course he's not white, that's why the mudshark in the background is lusting after him.

Melanotan...

There are posts of me as pale as a ghost on here.

(http://i.imgur.com/UIh20wD.jpg)

Fat face, whatever...
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: The Ugly on November 07, 2015, 07:20:01 PM
My calf routine is just wearing long pants.

Best routine ever.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: calfzilla on November 07, 2015, 07:28:01 PM
Melanotan...

There are posts of me as pale as a ghost on here.

(http://i.imgur.com/UIh20wD.jpg)

Fat face, whatever...

I know, I have pics of you. No homo.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Set It Up on November 07, 2015, 07:33:52 PM
Melanotan...

There are posts of me as pale as a ghost on here.

(http://i.imgur.com/UIh20wD.jpg)

Fat face, whatever...

top level groundskeeper of that place behind you
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: calfzilla on November 07, 2015, 07:35:34 PM
top level groundskeeper of that place behind you

He is the top level groundskeeper.  :-X
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Set It Up on November 07, 2015, 07:37:03 PM
He is the top level groundskeeper.  :-X

is he really?
That place is well kept.
Trimming those bushes individually to that level is outstanding.
sometime I miss that work
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: AbrahamG on November 07, 2015, 07:38:13 PM
train them twice a week.  2-3 exercises per workout.  only 1 set of each 15-20 reps.

It's the 1st and only calf workout that I've seen any results from.  My calves are still weak but they finally have some shape and vascularity.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: calfzilla on November 07, 2015, 07:41:14 PM
is he really?
That place is well kept.
Trimming those bushes individually to that level is outstanding.
sometime I miss that work

I don't know, just messing around. Great lawn, far better than navy mikes.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Lustral on November 07, 2015, 07:43:04 PM
I know, I have pics of you. No homo.

Anyways, ignore what any guide or rule says. Do what works for you. If you have bad insertions you will never get Yates like calves. I tried everything training wise... and high volume heavy/low weight and high/low rep mix 5/6 days a week works for me.

If doing 100 reps on a step everyday works do that, try it first.


Re groundskeeping: That is my parents' house, professionally maintained by landscapers. I cut grass and remove weeds in my (small) garden.

My sisters and I often take piss out of parents that pampas grass (in background) is apparently a symbol for swinger couples.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Set It Up on November 07, 2015, 07:43:37 PM
I don't know, just messing around. Great lawn, far better than navy mikes.

cmon man, Navy Mike has the bum knee, how can he be expected to maintain a lush landscape?  :-\ :-X

heres nicest place I worked at for greenskeeping
anyways back to calves
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: deadz on November 07, 2015, 07:46:17 PM
top level groundskeeper of that place behind you
You were into grounds keeping for a minute.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Set It Up on November 07, 2015, 07:47:14 PM
You were into grounds keeping for a minute.

if 14 years = a minute then yup, a minute.
I havent been on the welfare all my life, only since 2007
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Hypo on November 07, 2015, 07:50:19 PM
Note to self. Lustral not white.  ;D

Impressive results. Good work.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Moontrane on November 07, 2015, 08:04:47 PM
My calves were at their best when I was squatting and deadlifting. I did a few sets of calf exercises each week as well, but powerlifting made them grow.

I don’t squat or deadlift now, and they're 2" smaller.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Lustral on November 07, 2015, 08:26:59 PM
My calves were at their best when I was squatting and deadlifting. I did a few sets of calf exercises each week as well, but powerlifting made them grow.

I don’t squat or deadlift now, and they're 2" smaller.


I had opposite results. Powerlifted competitively so ignored calves and they looked like it. Still DL and tore a muscle this week doing 247.5kg x 6, quit squats cos of constant injuries to knees/lower back.

(http://i.imgur.com/0rEywDE.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/YTgtnt9.jpg)

Felt pain at the time (Monday) but honestly didn't think it was bad til girlfriend saw the bruising last night.

Good reminder to me to use volume and stop when feel a tweak. Like I said, to each his own.

Calves 6 days a week helped me, might not help others.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: WalterWhite on November 07, 2015, 09:07:03 PM
I've just found mixing it up works well. Anything none seated I just use my bodyweight.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: njflex on November 07, 2015, 09:24:02 PM
I've just found mixing it up works well. Anything none seated I just use my bodyweight.
8)
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: wes on November 07, 2015, 09:59:31 PM
although pellius and i dont see eye to eye on most things,......

he supposedly has the best calf routine that has yielded the best results on the entire internet

im not sure how to find it
I believe that it`s pinned at the top of the training forum
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Set It Up on November 07, 2015, 10:04:42 PM
I believe that it`s pinned at the top of the training forum


Training forum?
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: _aj_ on November 08, 2015, 04:26:51 AM
I had been making some progress in my shit calves when I blew my Achilles two years ago. Now the surgically repaired one is permanently about 40% weaker and about 1/2" smaller. I believe that the tendon healed just a tiny bit longer than previous. So now I have one shit calf and one calf from a paraplegic. FML  :-\
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: local hero on November 08, 2015, 04:37:31 AM
I've just found mixing it up works well. Anything none seated I just use my bodyweight.


So you confuse the muscle to shock it into growth?
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: _aj_ on November 08, 2015, 04:38:12 AM

So you confuse the muscle to shock it into growth?

Weider Principles. Smart.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: King Shizzo on November 08, 2015, 04:44:47 AM
Melanotan...

There are posts of me as pale as a ghost on here.

(http://i.imgur.com/UIh20wD.jpg)

Fat face, whatever...
Do you even lift?
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Raymondo on November 08, 2015, 04:46:06 AM
Melanotan...

There are posts of me as pale as a ghost on here.

(http://i.imgur.com/UIh20wD.jpg)

Fat face, whatever...

Bowed legs of peace.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: King Shizzo on November 08, 2015, 04:48:24 AM
Bowed legs of peace.
He could walk right over a fire hydrant without changing his stride.  :D
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Simple Simon on November 08, 2015, 04:48:42 AM

Training forum?
;D
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: oldtimer1 on November 08, 2015, 04:52:59 AM
Anyways, ignore what any guide or rule says. Do what works for you. If you have bad insertions you will never get Yates like calves. I tried everything training wise... and high volume heavy/low weight and high/low rep mix 5/6 days a week works for me.

If doing 100 reps on a step everyday works do that, try it first.


Re groundskeeping: That is my parents' house, professionally maintained by landscapers. I cut grass and remove weeds in my (small) garden.

My sisters and I often take piss out of parents that pampas grass (in background) is apparently a symbol for swinger couples.

Your parents must be loaded having that grade of landscaping. Do you live on their estate?

Concerning calves I have been training them for 40 plus years. I still have no calves. Bill Grant and Wolf laugh at my non existent calf development.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Tapeworm on November 08, 2015, 04:57:09 AM
if you rarely feel a burn when working calves

Oh they burn.  Like a motherfarker and into the next day.  Just never grow.  For a white feller, from the knees down I'm a bushman of the Kalahari.

Ok I skip 'em a lot.  But only because training them is a &$%* waste of time.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Thespritz0 on November 08, 2015, 05:37:15 AM
If your calves aren't getting larger, I'd suggest training them on a three-day cycle. Do a heavy workout the first day, a short pumping session the next and rest them completely the third day.

A pump day like this actually stimulates recovery, because it forces blood into the muscle and pushes waste products out.

Try it, if you aren't growing you need to look at your diet...
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: _aj_ on November 08, 2015, 05:40:26 AM
If your calves aren't getting larger, I'd suggest training them on a three-day cycle. Do a heavy workout the first day, a short pumping session the next and rest them completely the third day.

A pump day like this actually stimulates recovery, because it forces blood into the muscle and pushes waste products out.

Try it, if you aren't growing you need to look at your diet...

Broscience Alert!!
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Grape Ape on November 08, 2015, 06:01:26 AM
I had been making some progress in my shit calves when I blew my Achilles two years ago. Now the surgically repaired one is permanently about 40% weaker and about 1/2" smaller. I believe that the tendon healed just a tiny bit longer than previous. So now I have one shit calf and one calf from a paraplegic. FML  :-\

A severely sprained ankle some how manifested in me not being able to flex my right calf muscle for the last 12 years.

After training with a rucksack and logging tons of miles that changed for the first time a few weeks ago.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Thespritz0 on November 08, 2015, 06:08:15 AM
Broscience Alert!!
^^
Not Quite...
First off, low-rep training with heavy loads translates into an ability to use more weight during [your] 'hypertrophy range, which increases time under tension and thus enhances growth...
Alternatively, high-rep training with light weights helps increase buffering capacity, allowing you to crank out an extra couple of reps at a moderate-rep range. Moreover, heavier-load training tends to target the high-capacity muscles associated with the largest type-II muscle fibers, while light-load training focuses more on the endurance-oriented type-I fibers.
What does all of this mean, GetBiggers? This combination of training approaches maximizes hypertrophy along the spectrum of fiber types. In other words, training with this variety of volume and intensity will maximize your ability to grow.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: _aj_ on November 08, 2015, 06:08:27 AM
A severely sprained ankle some how manifested in me not being able to flex my right calf muscle for the last 12 years.

After training with a rucksack and logging tons of miles that changed for the first time a few weeks ago.

Now that Soulcrusher is gone, you are the new Bringer of Ruck.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: _aj_ on November 08, 2015, 06:11:39 AM
^^
Not Quite...
First off, low-rep training with heavy loads translates into an ability to use more weight during [your] 'hypertrophy range, which increases time under tension and thus enhances growth...
Alternatively, high-rep training with light weights helps increase buffering capacity, allowing you to crank out an extra couple of reps at a moderate-rep range. Moreover, heavier-load training tends to target the high-capacity muscles associated with the largest type-II muscle fibers, while light-load training focuses more on the endurance-oriented type-I fibers.
What does all of this mean, GetBiggers? This combination of training approaches maximizes hypertrophy along the spectrum of fiber types. In other words, training with this variety of volume and intensity will maximize your ability to grow.

Double-Down Broscience Alert!!!
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Thespritz0 on November 08, 2015, 06:18:14 AM
Double-Down Broscience Alert!!!
^^
So what's your great advice??  You BLEW your calves, right?  Mixing Heavy/Light training works for me, and I'm injury free...
At least if you are KNOCKING someone, BRING something to the table yourself.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: _aj_ on November 08, 2015, 06:51:54 AM
^^
So what's your great advice??  You BLEW your calves, right?  Mixing Heavy/Light training works for me, and I'm injury free...
At least if you are KNOCKING someone, BRING something to the table yourself.

I blew my Achilles running 40yard sprints. At 49 years old. Even at that, I had to do at least 4 other stupid things to cause the rupture.

With calves, genetics rule. If you have shit calves, you'll likely always have shit calves unless you move to a planet with 2.5 gravities.

The best training advice was earlier in this thread: if you have shit calves, buy long pants and train in those. Problem solved.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Man of Steel on November 08, 2015, 06:55:22 AM
one word...bathtub
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: NelsonMuntz on November 08, 2015, 07:02:43 AM
I had really shitty calves years ago, they improved with alot of what you guys mentioned basically everything including workouts where I would have 1 exercise for mutiple sets of 50-100 reps adding weight. Granted when you are doing 50-100 rep sets there is a point within the set that full reps are impossible  even  with rest pause. from there I would do partials, restpausing to make sure to get 100. Burn like a bitch.

But when I would do something like that but alternate workouts in the more conventional set/rep pattern, ie 3-5 sets x 6-15 reps, they grew.
Few years ago they topped out at 17 and a half inches with a few veins(which was my dream lol). That was a long way from  the 13-14 inch calves I had at 220-230 lbs back before the mid 90's lol.

Been back in regular workouts since september, and recently while doing cardio was watching some of these guys doing the stereotypical arms arms, chest, shoulders,arms, arms, leg ext/leg curl, partial seated leg press and crappy form pulldown type workouts with the pant legs rolled up and horrible shitty literally non existent calves,yet decent arms. It made me think of I believed Poliquin saying years ago that if guys devoted 1 set of calves for ever set of arms they do over whatever bodypart split there would be some pretty decent calves out there.

So now I say fuck it and just do 1 workout devoted to just calves rather than tagging it on to other bodypart days 2-3 days a week. Plus I finish off with some additional moderate low back, glute work

And my calves are coming back either way
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: _aj_ on November 08, 2015, 07:06:52 AM
I still do calves 2x/week on "legs" day, which I reverse the usual order and do:

- calves
- glutes
- hams
- quads

They all suck, but I never give up, never surrender!
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: dr.chimps on November 08, 2015, 07:10:54 AM
one word...bathtub
Tell me, Clarice. Has the tub stopped screaming? Wonder how many people still remember that pic?      ;D
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: wes on November 08, 2015, 07:18:31 AM
Arnold and most of his era,worked calves daily starting whatever bodypart of the day off with calves first.


Just a thought.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: NelsonMuntz on November 08, 2015, 07:29:24 AM
Arnold and most of his era,worked calves daily starting whatever bodypart of the day off with calves first.


Just a thought.

They all had decent calves then as well, at least built with hard work and not just site injections.

I did Arnold double split from the Encyclopedia of Modern bodybuilding(original edition, which had better inspiring photos btw) back in the summer of 1987.

LOL, I lasted about 6-8 weeks, but it taught me the value of hard work in the gym. Do something like that for a while might not make the best gains but it makes everything else easier and I exploded in pure natural strength and bulk size the 2 years after once I went over to the 3 and 4 day on,  1-2 days off split

PS- I did not see mentioned here, but 1    element of calf training that is often ignore is doing calf raises for the front of the calf. Some gyms I belonged to over the years had the special apparatus for this, if not simply sit on the floor in front of the low pully and put your foot(shoe on) into the attachment for 1 arm movements and do the raises pulling with the top of your foot
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: WalterWhite on November 08, 2015, 09:41:48 AM

So you confuse the muscle to shock it into growth?

Yes always change things up. Also mix numbers of reps, flex/hold at the top, stretching etc.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: ritch on November 08, 2015, 10:15:46 AM
They all had decent calves then as well, at least built with hard work and not just site injections.

I did Arnold double split from the Encyclopedia of Modern bodybuilding(original edition, which had better inspiring photos btw) back in the summer of 1987.

LOL, I lasted about 6-8 weeks, but it taught me the value of hard work in the gym. Do something like that for a while might not make the best gains but it makes everything else easier and I exploded in pure natural strength and bulk size the 2 years after once I went over to the 3 and 4 day on,  1-2 days off split

PS- I did not see mentioned here, but 1    element of calf training that is often ignore is doing calf raises for the front of the calf. Some gyms I belonged to over the years had the special apparatus for this, if not simply sit on the floor in front of the low pully and put your foot(shoe on) into the attachment for 1 arm movements and do the raises pulling with the top of your foot
[/b]

that won't help someone with shitty ass calves, lol... You can do it on a lower pulley attachement if you really wanted to. That is a "finishing touch" move, won't put on inches to someone who is struggling with calve development. It really has to be the least used machine of them all.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: NelsonMuntz on November 08, 2015, 11:46:45 AM
[/b]

that won't help someone with shitty ass calves, lol... You can do it on a lower pulley attachement if you really wanted to. That is a "finishing touch" move, won't put on inches to someone who is struggling with calve development. It really has to be the least used machine of them all.

I respectfully disagree. like you said the least used machine of all, well that is yet another reason there are so many shitty calves, ie not developing them from all angles. It's like just doing only stand calf raises, not doing seated calf raises or other movements vailable, never mind set, rep and/or frequency ranges then complaining about a lack of progress

fully developed from that side could add potentially another inch.

It also cuts down on strains and injuries in the calf area because all over balance of strength

Anyways, it is just a suggestion, if what you are doing works for you, then keep doing it.

Thats what I do.

Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: ergo on November 08, 2015, 12:40:43 PM
If you have great calves any thing you do will enhance them but that does not necessarily mean you are training them correctly. If you are having and have always been having difficulty adding size and definition to your calves due to some genetic limitation it is because you have not been training them correctly and have been following routines that have been parroted down forever in every article you read. I'm sure you have tried every magazine routine possible and have had very little success and have come to the conclusion that you just cannot have stellar calves and will just continue to wear sweatpants to the gym. This is not true for you. 1st you have been lead to believe that you must train the soleus and the gastrocnemius separately. You cannot separate out the individual muscles of the calves as both of these muscles will fire. Training the calves in a bent knee position (seated) greatly reduces the amount of resistance that can be used and is extremely detrimental in what you are trying to accomplish, which is hypertrophy based upon the first law of moving max resistance for your desired number of repetitions. 2nd you have been lead to believe that the calves require a complete full range of motion (ROM) on the negative stretch. This is completely false and once again detrimental to your goal of using as much resistance as possible. You need only go parallel. Any further limits power! 3rd you have been lead to believe that calves require higher reps (remember a rep is just a unit of time) again higher repetitions is detrimental to your goal of using maximum resistance. Calves are best trained in the 4-8 rep range using a Standing or Donkey calve machine. You can push as high up on the positive as possible for the first 4 reps and then continue on for mini partials, as calves are one of the only muscles that will fire using mini partials. Correct these three fallacies and you will use 100's of pounds more resistance immediately. Now for the point that is crucial for your calve development. Always use bands in conjunction with the machine as a form of added resistance from the start at warm ups through your heaviest set. Bands will incrementally increase up to 100's of pounds of added resistance when needed most at the point of peak contraction where you are at your strongest while providing a constant increase in TUT during the positive and a strong damaging gravitational assist on the negative. One rep with bands assisting will create more complete tension for growth then multiple reps without bands. What this means is that the low repetitions that you are doing with tremendously heavier resistance, always creating an increase in TUT from the added band tension, equates to the theory of using higher reps except your poundage will be astronomical compared to trying to grind out 20 lesser tensioned repetitions. I gave up all hope until I was able to extrapolate out this training method. I never thought it would be possible to make any improvements in my genetically high inserted calves. They are not gigantic and never will be, but they are stellar.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: ergo on November 08, 2015, 12:44:32 PM
calves band work 2-4 working sets twice a week...
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: njflex on November 08, 2015, 04:52:22 PM
If you have great calves any thing you do will enhance them but that does not necessarily mean you are training them correctly. If you are having and have always been having difficulty adding size and definition to your calves due to some genetic limitation it is because you have not been training them correctly and have been following routines that have been parroted down forever in every article you read. I'm sure you have tried every magazine routine possible and have had very little success and have come to the conclusion that you just cannot have stellar calves and will just continue to wear sweatpants to the gym. This is not true for you. 1st you have been lead to believe that you must train the soleus and the gastrocnemius separately. You cannot separate out the individual muscles of the calves as both of these muscles will fire. Training the calves in a bent knee position (seated) greatly reduces the amount of resistance that can be used and is extremely detrimental in what you are trying to accomplish, which is hypertrophy based upon the first law of moving max resistance for your desired number of repetitions. 2nd you have been lead to believe that the calves require a complete full range of motion (ROM) on the negative stretch. This is completely false and once again detrimental to your goal of using as much resistance as possible. You need only go parallel. Any further limits power! 3rd you have been lead to believe that calves require higher reps (remember a rep is just a unit of time) again higher repetitions is detrimental to your goal of using maximum resistance. Calves are best trained in the 4-8 rep range using a Standing or Donkey calve machine. You can push as high up on the positive as possible for the first 4 reps and then continue on for mini partials, as calves are one of the only muscles that will fire using mini partials. Correct these three fallacies and you will use 100's of pounds more resistance immediately. Now for the point that is crucial for your calve development. Always use bands in conjunction with the machine as a form of added resistance from the start at warm ups through your heaviest set. Bands will incrementally increase up to 100's of pounds of added resistance when needed most at the point of peak contraction where you are at your strongest while providing a constant increase in TUT during the positive and a strong damaging gravitational assist on the negative. One rep with bands assisting will create more complete tension for growth then multiple reps without bands. What this means is that the low repetitions that you are doing with tremendously heavier resistance, always creating an increase in TUT from the added band tension, equates to the theory of using higher reps except your poundage will be astronomical compared to trying to grind out 20 lesser tensioned repetitions. I gave up all hope until I was able to extrapolate out this training method. I never thought it would be possible to make any improvements in my genetically high inserted calves. They are not gigantic and never will be, but they are stellar.
good read ergo...thanks..
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Dokey111 on November 08, 2015, 05:21:47 PM
 :D
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: The Ugly on November 08, 2015, 05:24:18 PM
"Stubborn" calves are genetically hopeless calves, science is settled here.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Man of Steel on November 08, 2015, 05:33:28 PM
calves band work 2-4 working sets twice a week...

too lean....need more bodyfat and size
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: Dokey111 on November 08, 2015, 06:51:15 PM
Most people "Stubborn" calves are often genetically hopeless calves, science is settled here.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: NelsonMuntz on November 08, 2015, 07:58:15 PM
calves band work 2-4 working sets twice a week...

supershredded
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: falco on November 09, 2015, 06:05:51 AM
Upright rows are the key to calf and quad mass. Just look at Wolf's improvement with just one rep:

(http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=534605.0;attach=563240;image)

(http://static.tumblr.com/0zx49bw/hRYlxiw4f/brendan_fraser_laugh.gif)
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: falco on November 09, 2015, 06:07:58 AM
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: SuperTed on November 09, 2015, 06:45:16 AM
My right calf is decent but the left one isn't. I don't really care tbh. I don't plan on competing and I don't wear shorts so I don't give a fuck how shitty my calves are.
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: _aj_ on November 09, 2015, 10:30:48 AM
Am I the only one that had hoped ergo's calves were bigger? No doubt they are ripped...
Title: Re: For those with stubborn calves willing to try something new...
Post by: ritch on November 09, 2015, 10:34:47 AM
Am I the only one that had hoped ergo's calves were bigger? No doubt they are ripped...

And if it weren't for the hord of massive gear he takes, he would not be much impressive. He does know his stuff, but everything is based on using massive amounts of gear to look that way.

Telling you guys. Nobody goes from shit calves to great calves. Or spend over a decade like I did trying to build them, lol...