File :-(, x, )
Calves Anonymous
Sup /fit/
Does anyone know really effective exercises for calves? My quads are big from SQUATZ but my calves are pretty small and it looks very akward. :\ The most i do are seated calf raises and running.
>> Anonymous
I could deep fry those calves and stick 'em in a bucket of KFC and noone would know the difference.
>> Anonymous
You should try standing calf raises as well, they work a different part of the calf than seated raises. And pretty much those are the exercises available to you.
>> Anonymous
>>187303
Muscle contraction is all or nothing.
>> Anonymous
Run barefoot.
>> Anonymous
DDR.
I did this almost every day for a month or so out of enjoyment, and my calves are great. Use the machines at the arcade, and do fast songs, since slower ones only give you cardio.
>> Anonymous
Stand up for eight hours a day, and don't sit down until you are going to sleep.
>> Anonymous
>>187318

Try a seated and standing calf raise with the same weight, come back, and tell me that again.
>> Anonymous
Tyre Pulling.
>> Anonymous
>>187322
I've seen a lot of guys suggest this. What is the benefit of running barefoot?
>> Anonymous
>>187330
I hate to suggest this but it's true, the only benefit of DDR is it WILL work your calf muscles, but it will take some time to get to the point where it is doing anything.
>> Anonymous
>>187368
It involves your toes more and doesn't let you land/utilize your heel as much. Use of heel in running makes use of upper leg muscle whilst lower foot muscles (sole and toes) make use of calve muscles. Running barefoot makes sure you're doing it right.
>> Anonymous
>>187374
Makes sense.

So while on the topic of running, where is the best place to run? Treadmill, concrete (on the street), field, or on a track?
>> Anonymous
Bicycle everyday for at least an hour for the last 9 years. That's what I did and my calves are fucking huge. 0f all my body, I can flex my calves into various shapes the most. Maybe this just goes to show that as long as you're doing a vaguely correct exercise, how long and how hard you're doing it matters much more.
>> Anonymous
>>187390

Seconding this question.
>> Anonymous
>>187398
So we need a time machine?
>> Anonymous
Do raptor squats. They make your calves huge.
>> Anonymous
>>187390
Run on concrete ALL THE TIME. Your joints love it.
>> Anonymous
your calves are used to 100s of reps with your body weight so you need to really overload them
running on the beach barefoot will help,
also load up a leg press heavy and pump out calf raises on there. point toes in and out to work on entire shape of your calf
>> Anonymous
>>187390
>>187424
>>187438
Personally, I run on concrete in vibram fivefingers shoes, which /fit/ rages on whenever I post anything about them, so inb4 vibram rage. As long as you're running at all and on your toes/soles the entire time, you'll benefit your calves no matter where you're doing it.
>> PetBot
>>187459
>As long as you're running at all and on your toes/soles the entire time, you'll benefit your calves no matter where you're doing it.

So as long as I'm running on the bottoms of my feet, it'll be ok?
>> Anonymous
>>187459
I really fucking want those shoes! I saw a post about them (might've been you?) here. Unfortunately, I bought a new pair of running shoes less than a month ago and my birthday was a couple days ago and I hate spending my money when I don't quite need too.

I might try to convince my parents to buy them for me. I'm itching to try them.
>> Anonymous
Could I get by with putting some gel pads in my shoes when I run?

I just bought some running shoes today, and I don't have the money to spend on those fivefingers shoes (this is the first I've heard of them). There's nothing to run on BUT asphalt around my house, and it's too far to go anywhere else.
>> Anonymous
>>187505
Gel pads suck. Any padding sucks, really, but gel pads especially. I tried them once when (supposedly) in need of new insoles, and they basically send all the shock back into your foot god damnit.

Find a nice safe place to run barefoot, that's what I recommend--otherwise just use conventional soles and modify your running style.

Also! Google Chi Running. This is probably what I should have said first thing.
>> Anonymous
every one i see doing calf exercises (seated, standing or donkey) do them wrong.

never bounce the weight. you risk injury and get nothing acomplished.

explode up. hold for 2 seconds. slowly lower to stretch the fascia tissue and hold for 2 seconds.

if you think you're hardcore, try to explode up, slowly lower over 5 seconds and hold the stretch for 10 more seconds. you cannot do 10 of those without crying like a baby the first time you try it.
>> Anonymous
Basketball gave me the most epic calves one could ever see. No way I train them separately.
>> Anonymous
fat people have big calves
>> Anonymous
>>187459
What about just running in general, not necessarily to target calves. What is the best surface to run on.

And I'm going to sound like a total noob now, but when doing weighted calf exercises, where exactly does the weight go? Around your ankles?
>> Anonymous
>>187640
calves don't really respond all that well to lifting imho. much like forearms and very determinant on your weight
>> Anonymous
>>187318
are you suggesting that standing calf raises and seated calf raises are one in the same? hope not
>> Anonymous
If you don't have room, try jumping rope
>> Anonymous
For calves, do HINDU SQUATZ
>> Anonymous
>>187832

STFU I would even wish hindu squats on my worst enemy
>> Anonymous
>>187828
Aka running on ball of foot and toes, mobilizing your running style like nature intended, dissipating any risk of it fucking up your knees like regular running did to mine before I found it?

Yeah I fucking lol'd too. Fuck off, troll.
>> Anonymous
>>187835
What? Too MANLY FOR YOU?
>> Anonymous
HEAVY + high reps. Work them from all different angles: seated, standing and donkey.
>> Anonymous
>>187837

No, spectacular ligament and tendon damage. Matt Furey is a complete bozo
>> Anonymous
DDRfags, listen up.

THe OP wants size added to his calves, not measly muscle endurance.

Thats all DDR does. Just makes you able to do DDR for longer.

Try putting weights on your legs while you do DDR, but then again ankle weights are detrimental in many ways.
>> Anonymous
>>187841
Hm? I've done them for awhile and had no problems, didn''t learn about them from Matt Furey though. I had an east indian friend who showed me the basics. It seems like they do them all the time with no problems.
>> Anonymous
>>187845

Yea, I used to do them too for about a year without any problems. Looking back, I don't know why it took so long for my patellar tendons to blow out.
>> Anonymous
>>187847
I think there may be something wrong with how they're taught, because alot of east indian people do them constantly and consistently.
>> Anonymous
>>187850

I've wondered about how the Indian subcontinent can do them and not here about a lot of injuries. My best guess is that they start doing them young, allowing the joints to adapt early on to the stress.