A Bodybuilding Coach Shared His Hack for Growing Your Calves
In a short recent video on his YouTube channel, bodybuilder and lifting coach Eugene Teo shares his simple advice for kickstarting growth in the calves, which can often be one of the more stubborn areas when it comes to building muscle.
He starts by explaining the importance of slow and controlled reps and placing enough of a stretch on the muscle: "Lower yourself slowly over at least 2 seconds, and hold the stretch position for at least 2 seconds on every rep. Train them 2 to 3 times per week, and do two exercises on each workout: one with a bent knee, and one with a straight leg." He recommends 2 to 4 sets on each exercise, consisting of somewhere between 6 to 12 reps.
Ultimately, Teo's training protocol for calves is pretty simple: stop treating them as an afterthought in your sessions, and you'll start to make progress. "Most importantly, start your workouts with calves instead of doing them at the end or skipping them altogether," he says.
"Unfortunately, there's no real secret here," he adds. "Calves are just like any other muscle group. Train them hard through a full range of motion with an emphasis on the stretch, and they'll grow."
Variety can also be a useful tool when stimulating calves: in addition to your gym sessions, consider heading outside. Sprints, stair runs and hill runs will not only take your calves through a full range of motion, they'll also hit up your glutes and hamstrings too.
You Might Also Like
Solve the daily Crossword
