What to do with my calves?

LLC · 10-02-2008, 11:38 AM

So I've just started the NROLW, and am really excited about it. I have worked our regularly for a number of years, have always stuck to full body workouts with compound exercises, and have lifted relatively heavy, but did add isolated bicep curls, calve raises, etc.

My real concern is my calves. I have always added isolated calve exercises to my workouts, because I really want to develop my calves - I feel they're so skinny in relation to the rest of my body. I can't seem to wrap my head around not doing any isolation exercises. I really want to follow the program as it's written out.

Will the lower body exercises help me develop growth in my calves without doing isolation exercises?

Lost Dog · 10-02-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LLC

So I've just started the NROLW, and am really excited about it. I have worked our regularly for a number of years, have always stuck to full body workouts with compound exercises, and have lifted relatively heavy, but did add isolated bicep curls, calve raises, etc.

My real concern is my calves. I have always added isolated calve exercises to my workouts, because I really want to develop my calves - I feel they're so skinny in relation to the rest of my body. I can't seem to wrap my head around not doing any isolation exercises. I really want to follow the program as it's written out.

Will the lower body exercises help me develop growth in my calves without doing isolation exercises?

They will help, but if they are truly skinnier than the rest of you, take ten minutes at the end of your workouts to put in some calf time. It won't hurt your recovery or progress.

Calves tend to develop best with higher reps, so maybe stick to a couple of sets in the 15-20 range.

Luna Sea · 10-02-2008, 01:04 PM

I don't have any scientific studies to back me up, but I think that the size of your calves lean in favor of genetics. This does NOT mean that weighted calve raises won't make them grow, but I've got huge defined calves without doing any isolation exercises at all. Plus my bodyfat is higher than ideal for a woman. Now if I can only get my quads and hamstrings in proportion to my calves, I'd be one happy woman!

Iron-Maiden · 10-02-2008, 02:33 PM

I agree w/ Lost Dog. If you are worried about it stick some exercises in at the end of your WO. But the compound movements will help. I have very muscular legs and calves so I don't do any more than what the program says to do.

Lost Dog · 10-02-2008, 03:09 PM

Yep. You're always going to fight genetics to a large degree. But I believe my calves are so freakin' awesome because I was fat. So I had 30 years of weighted calf raises, just from walking. Talk about high reps.

WalkingDysfunction · 10-06-2008, 08:36 AM

Why don't you try jumping rope? You'll get the high reps by jumping on the balls of your feet constantly and you get an aerobic/anaerobic workout. It also helps with footwork if you plan on doing any boxing/kickboxing in the future.