Quick Thought on Calve Growth

[myosin]

I've been asking a lot of questions here lately (and appreciate all the help) and realize I should probably try to "give back" something as well...

I think everyone here loves a good set of calves, men and women. Years ago (YEARS) I remember a trainer suggesting something for calve growth. I never really tried it because quite frankly, I was young and lazy. His very simple suggestion though has recently popped itself in my mind...

He suggested that a very simple way to add some significant calve growth was to always walk on your "tippy-toes" at home. Get up to go to the bathroom, walk on your tippy-toes, etc.

I want to be careful/respectful what I say next. His comment was how TYPICALLY, African-American's have a more difficult time growing their calves (again, TYPICALLY, not referring to everyone). An African-American client took his suggestion (and even occasionally carrying a dumb-bell with him) and added on some good sized calves.

I think I'm going to try this for the next month and see how it goes. I think a straight month of this should be enough to illicit some gains to see if it's worth while continuing.

If you give it a shot let everyone know if it helped.

 

[617ricky]

It makes sense, cuz I remember these shoes they used to sell, maybe they still do - anyways they were for basketball players looking to increase their vertical.. And they just kept your feet on your tippy toes.. I never really thought about it, but women must be getting a decent calf workout everytime they wear high heels then, no?

 

[myosin]

Yes and yes

It makes sense, cuz I remember these shoes they used to sell, maybe they still do - anyways they were for basketball players looking to increase their vertical.. And they just kept your feet on your tippy toes.. I never really thought about it, but women must be getting a decent calf workout everytime they wear high heels then, no?

That's right, I forgot about those! I wonder if they can still be found on eBay for a decent price.

Good point- you can surely see some decent calves on business women and really see their calve muscles working when they walk... I just hope no brothers here buy size 11 high-heels to help with their calves, that might be a line that has to be drawn

 

[UGAthlete]

**broken link removed**

 

[myosin]

Cool...

**broken link removed**

Nice find, thanks. I think I'll spend the $130 on other bodybuilding supplies and stay with the tip-toes haha

 

[617ricky]

I just went on ebay and searched "strength shoes", and I got a bunch of results.. You can get a pair used for $40-60 it looks like.

 

[ridge11]

It makes sense, cuz I remember these shoes they used to sell, maybe they still do - anyways they were for basketball players looking to increase their vertical.. And they just kept your feet on your tippy toes.. I never really thought about it, but women must be getting a decent calf workout everytime they wear high heels then, no?

It has a negative effect on women because the heel is keeping the ankle flexed while walking as opposed to the calf.

 

[Ashop]

I've been asking a lot of questions here lately (and appreciate all the help) and realize I should probably try to "give back" something as well...

I think everyone here loves a good set of calves, men and women. Years ago (YEARS) I remember a trainer suggesting something for calve growth. I never really tried it because quite frankly, I was young and lazy. His very simple suggestion though has recently popped itself in my mind...

He suggested that a very simple way to add some significant calve growth was to always walk on your "tippy-toes" at home. Get up to go to the bathroom, walk on your tippy-toes, etc.

I want to be careful/respectful what I say next. His comment was how TYPICALLY, African-American's have a more difficult time growing their calves (again, TYPICALLY, not referring to everyone). An African-American client took his suggestion (and even occasionally carrying a dumb-bell with him) and added on some good sized calves.

I think I'm going to try this for the next month and see how it goes. I think a straight month of this should be enough to illicit some gains to see if it's worth while continuing.

If you give it a shot let everyone know if it helped.

At my gym alot of guys take walks with barbells in the parking lot wearing strength shoes,,basically your walking on your tip toes and getting an incredible stretch.

 

[engbulldog]

so the tie toe thing might work eh?? I'm on it my calfs are just little guys at 16.5" is there any info if this really works??? cuz i knew a kid in high school that walked on his toes like with a bounce and he had BULLS!!!!

 

[Hungry Hungarian]

Tips toes and funny shoes are all well and good, but HEAVY ass donkey raises done in triple drop sets fashion (BFT style) changed my calves to cows. doing some DC style calf training now ....jury's still out on them.

 

[jm425]

It may work. Doesn't hurt to give it a try. I'm one of the lucky ones. My calves are 19 inches and it's from a combo of genetics and doing calf raises.

 

[Showy0023]

I started training calves 2 X week awhile ago. On leg day I always finish with dumbbell lunges. About 6 months ago I started doing one down and back (regular lunges) then a down and back on my tippy toes....usually have about 45 - 60 lb dumbbells. This wears my calves out!

 

[Showy0023]

My calves are 19 inches......

I officially hate you! JK!

 

[myosin]

This is an addition to regular training...

I'm not advocating not training calves in the gym. Yeah of course, donkey's is a GREAT exercise for calf growth.

This suggestion is as an addition to calf growth, particularly if you've reached a plateau.

 

[Fa Seeshus]

one simple way to get them to grow is to do them first in a workout.

blows me away how many guys wait until the end of a session to hit calves... especially if it is on a quad or ham training day.

 

[VitoBrata]

one simple way to get them to grow is to do them first in a workout.

blows me away how many guys wait until the end of a session to hit calves... especially if it is on a quad or ham training day.

Yes, I am a strong believer that you should hit your weakest muscle first.

 

[vegemite]

**broken link removed**

Oh wow, these are actually real shoes?

I thought they were made up for that Seinfeld episode LOL.

 

[love2build1]

My 3 year old girl walks on her "tippy-toes" everywhere just about, has since she started walking - and her calves put most to shame.

Good though, sometimes the simplest solution is the answer - I think i'll join in on this little experiment.

 

[latimus]

dont know if strength shoes will make your calves any bigger but in high school I wanted to have a big vertical and a good 40time. I wore strength shoes and wore ankle weights under my pants for a couple years and did plyometrics a ton, by the end I had the fastest 40 in the school, fastest 10 yard, 2nd fastest 100 yard and could jump up and dunk two handed no problem. I am 5 11. the only guy who beat me in 100 went to state in 100yard track. I was a tennis player so my reaction time was quick but I lost my speed toward end of 100. those shoes work great if you do it religioulsy toward a specific goal. of course who knows if they really did much because my mom was an elite sprinter in school and college so genetics could have helped a bit also.
oh and I found my strength shoes at goodwill for a couple bucks, got lucky someone got rid of theres.

let us know how the tip toes deal works.

 

[buselmo]

I gained about 0.75 inches on my calves while preparing for my first contest in the season... the total i gained was actually 1.25 inches (they shrank when i stopped training, then when i got back, they grew back to their original size of 16.5, then went to 17.25 at the time of the contest)... the real problem was...
god, i'm so embarrassed to say this ... i actually gained that size from tips i got on getbig.com... LOL!!!
For years i trained them hard and heavy... they stagnated for 2 years at 16.5 ... didn't grow a millimeter!!!... then, i read this thread on getbig about training calves (they have it as a sticky) and i altered it slightly...
3 days per week... i just put two plates against the wall after a work out, and do one leg at a time bodyweight standing calf raises slowly... when i can't do anymore, i do assisted reps (putting my hand on the wall and lift myself up)... when the pain is unbearable, i start bouncing on that leg until tears run down my eyes... then i do the other leg and repeat for 3 sets...

grab your bicep and squeeze it... it's not rough and tight... now grab your calf and squeeze it... it's as tight as shit... i believe the true limiting factor in calf growth is fascia and nothing else... they can grow, but they'll never look good if they don't have insertion points down to your ankles. look at victor martinez... huge calves!!! but the insertion points are above the midpoint of his leg! so they look small. but look at branch... his damn insertion points are close to his heels! LOL!... that's what'll make'em look bigger...

still... they can grow without weights my friend