Calves won't grow: Genetics?

[sirxxxlew]

not that I train them more than the rest of my body but the rest of my muscles make gains and my calves never seem to keep up. I can do a lot of weight with them. But they just seem to become more defined and not get bigger. It drives me nuts because when I look in the mirror my calves aren't in proportion with the rest of my body. My quads are good. But when wearing shorts you can't see them. A lot of people blame it on genetics but I dunno.

I've tried high reps, low reps, seated, standing, one leg, both legs, full extension, half extension.

Just looking for a few new things to do. Any suggestions?

 

[roidedsurfbum]

I don't have any suggestions, but if it were possible I'd trade you my calves for your forearms...I have the same problem with my forearms (they're literally the size of a 13 year old girls' arms) but everything else is jacked...my calves grow without me even working them.

My buddies give me shit for it all the time...with a shirt on you can't tell how jacked I am necessarily...when it comes off everybody's starin' and making comments. The damn forearms man!

But yea, I absolutely hate blaming anything on genetics...but if you have tried everything in the book (giving ample time on each technique) and you aren't seeing any growth then it just might be. I'll keep an eye on this thread to see if somebody has some good advice for you.

 

[punkguitarist]

Have you tried DC's calf training protocol? I guarantee it is the most painful calf exercise you will ever do. Its 3-5 mins of constant tension on your calves.

It seems to work for a lot of people who's calves are stubborn.

One each rep you explode up to the top position, hold it there for a sec, then a 5 sec negative, then you hold it the bottom stretched position for 15 secs. Thats ONE rep. Do one set of 12-15 reps. I doubt you'll want to do any more calf work after that.

I think part of the reason it works so well is that for a lot of people, the muscle fascia around the calf is tight and preventing the calf muscles from growing and expanding. This method really stretches them out.

Give it a shot.

 

[ezred]

definitely try out what punkguitarist posted. i do most of my calf work in a similar way i go slow down, hold stretched but only for about 3-5 seconds then i push up strong and quick.

i also started doing a setup that i saw on a m&f raw where you hit calf raises on the 45 degree leg press.

start with 1 plate and do 30 reps then immediately add another plate (on both sides) and do 30 more or to failure, whichever comes first. continue that only pausing to add the plates.

you stop moving up when your failure is under 10 reps. then you pause for 30 seconds or a minute and go back down, going to failure every time. it takes a little while but if you have strong calves, butthere's no rest except for the adding/removing of plates. that helped me start adding some size and definition to my calves.
i have strong calves as well and found it hard to add size, although when i got back to lifting they were already ok as far as proportions, but as the rest of me started to add size slowly, my calves were lagging.

also try doing different foot positions to hit the outer calves harder that can sometimes help give you a growth boost because they aren't used to handling the brunt of the load.

 

[sirxxxlew]

gunna try the last two posted suggestions. Thanks for the suggestions.

I don't have any suggestions, but if it were possible I'd trade you my calves for your forearms...I have the same problem with my forearms (they're literally the size of a 13 year old girls' arms) but everything else is jacked...my calves grow without me even working them.

That's the thing that's discouraging and makes me think genetics. I don't even work my forearms at all. I have 9 1/2 inch wrists to begin with and my forarms get worked just from grabbin heavy weight.

 

[Mr P]

Here is a trick I learned it worked wonders for me, stand In place raise your calves up and down, and do 300 reps no rest, take the burning pain and continue till you finish 300 reps do this every day, now that you know the trick I'll have to kill you ,.

P/s wether genetics are on your side or not this method works...

 

[TonySuicideKing]

Here is a trick I learned it worked wonders for me, stand In place raise your calves up and down, and do 300 reps no rest, take the burning pain and continue till you finish 300 reps do this every day, now that you know the trick I'll have to kill you ,.

P/s wether genetics are on your side or not this method works...

i do that from time to time. shit gets brutal after a while

 

[sirxxxlew]

I've done reps of close to 100 with light weight. But never 300. No weight? Quick reps? Hold at the top? Cause I dunno if imma get through 300 honestly.

 

[Mr P]

With your own body weight just go up and down, if you cannot complete he 300, rest a few seconds and then continue until you reach 300.. Be sure to not lean forward or backward, keep your body straight and just hold on to something with one finger for balance.

Here's a pic (this is one is not current, but There you can see definitions, they have gotten better now)

 

[bigboy86]

Try throwing a calf exercise in at least 3 times a week into your other workouts i mean you constantly use you calf muscles daily ,so its gonna take more to break that muscle fiber down than it would your chest or arms necessarilly

 

[drewbolic]

try training shoe less