HighIntensity.net View Mike Mentzer Bodybuilding Topic

I have good genetics and potential for building muscle but I have stubborn small calves like many out there. I work them with animal like intensity but they are slow to grow. I understand they will never be massive but I do want them respectable. What are some routines that you guys use to get big calves??????

Try doing NOTHING for your calves. Just do heavy deadlifts and squats normally and you may be surprised that your calves begin to grow. I have heard many stories about HIT doing this for the calves. It could be that you have horrible recovery ability for your calves. I may be hard to believe, but it is true sometimes. BUT, you would HAVE to have patience to try not doing anything for a while. You couldn′t do this for a workout and expect them to grow. You′d have to try for a few months. If they aren′t growing now, what do you have to loose?

Darrell

TrueIntensity,

Well nobody′s perfect in the first place. Anyway my suggestion to you is to train it properly. I suggest you do standing cal raises and be sure to LOCK OUT you knees when doing this exercise so as to EFFECTIVELY shift most of the stress to the GASTROCNEMIUS muscles which is crucial for optimum calf development. Next you may need to do your reps in a slow and very controlled manner. Although weight is important you need to concentrate more on the performance of the reps in full range of motion with very slow and controlled movement (try 6/6) to positive failure and once every 3 rd workout perform PURE negative reps to failure while still maintaining strict form (10 seconds down).

Another technique I personally lke is doing your calf exercise ONE LEG at a time (uni-lateral) that way you could focus more on each individual muscle(side) you train. Try it and see what hapeens.

PEACE.

Try lower reps and heavier weights. And don′t do seated calf raises. Standing calf raises or toe presses will hit your soleus sufficiently, in addition to the gastrocnemius.

I do my standing calf raises with slightly bent legs. This gives me a better contraction at the top of the movement. And it′s important to hold the weight momentarily at the top for peak contraction.

CM

Great advice!! thanx!!
I′ll give these tips honest tries, but NeuroMass says standing calf raises with locked out knees and Canada man says bent knees. Which is better for mass though??