why are my calves not growing?! desperately need help

**Fresh** · 03-26-2006, 06:01 PM

well, when i first came on this site, i read a lot of leg posts. i needed to develop my legs, especially my lower legs, so i started doing some of the exercises suggested - squats, deadlifts, and seated calf raises (stopped doing standing calf raises because i heard that they are bad for your back). well, it's been about 4 months, and although my legs did get stronger, i have seen no progress in my calves and ankles in appearance. i started doing 1 leg day a week for first 3 months, and now do 2 leg days a week and stopped working out anything else because i feel that it will take away from any mass that can go to my legs. i started eating a lot more the past month to see if i would gain weight in my legs, but the extra 6 lbs. went to my gut and my face and my pecs. my ankles measure at a tiny 7.75", while my calves are 13". i am 25 years old at 5'9 - 5'10, and weigh 149 lbs.

can someone please help me out with any advice? i did read a few posts that said you are out of luck in developing calves because its mostly genetics. do you guys agree with this? i'm getting so desperate that i was thinking of getting some kind of fat injection in my legs or something.

**TJ Cline** · 03-26-2006, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by Fresh

well, when i first came on this site, i read a lot of leg posts. i needed to develop my legs, especially my lower legs, so i started doing some of the exercises suggested - squats, deadlifts, and seated calf raises (stopped doing standing calf raises because i heard that they are bad for your back). well, it's been about 4 months, and although my legs did get stronger, i have seen no progress in my calves and ankles in appearance. i started doing 1 leg day a week for first 3 months, and now do 2 leg days a week and stopped working out anything else because i feel that it will take away from any mass that can go to my legs. i started eating a lot more the past month to see if i would gain weight in my legs, but the extra 6 lbs. went to my gut and my face and my pecs. my ankles measure at a tiny 7.75", while my calves are 13". i am 25 years old at 5'9 - 5'10, and weigh 149 lbs.

can someone please help me out with any advice? i did read a few posts that said you are out of luck in developing calves because its mostly genetics. do you guys agree with this? i'm getting so desperate that i was thinking of getting some kind of fat injection in my legs or something.

Post your exact workout.

**Fresh** · 03-26-2006, 06:11 PM

on my leg days i do:

walk 1/4 - 1/2 mile uphill on treadmill.

deadlifts - 4 sets of 10 reps

squats - 4 sets of 10 reps

seated calf raises - 4 sets - 20, 15, 12, 10 reps

standing calf raises - 4 sets - 20, 15, 12, 10 reps
(going to substitute leg curls for the standing calf raise)

this is what my typical leg day looks like.

**TJ Cline** · 03-26-2006, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by Fresh

on my leg days i do:

walk 1/4 - 1/2 mile uphill on treadmill.

deadlifts - 4 sets of 10 reps

squats - 4 sets of 10 reps

seated calf raises - 4 sets - 20, 15, 12, 10 reps

standing calf raises - 4 sets - 20, 15, 12, 10 reps
(going to substitute leg curls for the standing calf raise)

this is what my typical leg day looks like.

I never do seated calf raises...I want to buiold up the gastronemius so standing are the king......drop the 20 rep crap and stick to 8-15 reps for them

**Fresh** · 03-26-2006, 08:53 PM

i feel a bit awkward doing the seated calf raises also, but many people have told me that the standing calf raises were bad for your back, especially if you're doing extra heavy weights with 8 reps.

**mattd46612** · 03-26-2006, 09:36 PM

throw 2 hot bitches on your back and do calves like arnold does in pumping iron. Foreman is right go highest possible weight and stick to lower reps. It takes alot of weight to shock the calves. No pain no gain.

**Fresh** · 03-26-2006, 10:02 PM

has anyone heard that the standing calf raises are horrible for your back?

**joesmooth20** · 03-26-2006, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by Fresh

has anyone heard that the standing calf raises are horrible for your back?

i'm sure it's just a myth man, keep heavy shoot for 6-8 reps 3 sets twice a week.

**PTYP** · 03-27-2006, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by Fresh

has anyone heard that the standing calf raises are horrible for your back?

You do squats right?..... whats the difference?

**MeatheadSam** · 03-27-2006, 08:53 AM

Consider that your calves are tasked with supporting and balancing you all day every day. They are accustomed to lots of use therfore need hard stimulation.

I suggest you do not waste time doing reps of concentric movements but do only overloaded negatives. Pile a weight on the calf machine you can use both calves to raise then lower slowly with only one calf. Emphasize on the eccentric portion very strictly. If you can support the weight you are using with the single calf you are not using enough.

**Fresh** · 03-27-2006, 04:52 PM

just came back from the gym. ironically, i just injured myself doing the standing calf raises. i'm not sure exactly what happened, but right when i got off the machine, the area where my shoulder blade is had a sharp pain. i believe it was more weight than i was able to handle. i can barely move my arm because of the pain. i hope it isn't serious.

**mattd46612** · 03-27-2006, 05:42 PM

to quote foreman... "my head just exploded"

**LAM** · 03-27-2006, 07:10 PM

how well do you stretch out your calves or lower body & back in general ?

**AKIRA** · 03-27-2006, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by ForemanRules

I never do seated calf raises...I want to buiold up the gastronemius so standing are the king......drop the 20 rep crap and stick to 8-15 reps for them

Holy shit. I agree with him.

Stack on the weight. Although, I wouldnt say drop the seated calf. Id switch them though. Do standing first.

But I see you got hurt. How? Were you doing Barbell calf raises or a machine? Anyway, yea, I agree with PTYP, if you do barbell squats, then it should be the same, if not easier. Something mustve messep up.

**anklebreaker** · 03-27-2006, 08:35 PM

How do calf raises on the leg press machine compare to standing and sitting calf raises?

**Favre** · 03-27-2006, 08:53 PM

I actually got a lot better results with high reps than low reps. If you pile on a ton of weight you'll most likely end up using your quads and momentum more than just your calves to get the weight up.

Here is a calf workout that takes 3 minutes to do and I can guarantee will leave them sore the next day if you haven't been doing something similar. Get on either a seated calf machine or sit down in a leg press machine and use a weight that will have you fail around 40 or 50 reps. After you can't possibly do another rep with good form using only your calves, you rest for a few seconds, no more than ten seconds. Then you do a few more reps, that's all you'll be able to do. Then you rest for a few more seconds and do a few more reps. Keep doing this until you get to 80 reps. It's killer. Try working your way up to 100 reps this way. The burn is intense. If people think it's dumb, try it once.

Bottom line is if you want bigger calves you have to blast them and eat. Find out what works best for you, heavy weight and low reps or vice versa. Doing both is a good idea cause nobody responds exactly the same way.

Also, whoever said standing calf raises are bad for your back has no clue. You should do them.

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