So we all have body parts that we struggle to control, grow, or define. Right? No, just me? Ok, stop reading here.

For those of you who do, I can relate. I have two body parts I really struggle improving – abs and calves.

Abs I’ve discussed before… So, what brought the calves up?

I watched some of the World Cup and some of the Tour de France recently and my oldest daughter walked in during both with roughly the same comment. Those guys are lean and they have great legs! Dad, you need to run / cycle!

OUCH! On two accounts. One, freaking me out a bit with her commenting on the guy’s legs. Two, I know what she meant.

I naturally have smaller calves. I know it and I work on them pretty hard. Not hard enough evidently.

Would I swap my chest and arms for their legs? Uh, no. Well, maybe Ronaldo’s – that guy is ripped by most any standard.

I would still like to have bigger calves though. And I’m willing to work hard for them so let’s see what I need to do…

Most body issues fall in two general categories people struggle with…

Diet and Genetics

Diet

Diet affects your entire body, but most people carry body fat in very specific areas in disproportionate amounts – unfair really, but you can at least control it with your nutrition and supplement plan.

Nothing you don’t already know. Men usually carry extra fat in the belly and “love handle” region. Women carry it in hips and thighs and sometimes arms or belly.

At least you can have some choice in the matter on how much body weight and body fat you have Although some of that is genetic, too. Not as much as people would like to think so don’t use that as a crutch. Now we come to genetics…

Genetics

Now before you think I am just whining, take this for what it is – my attempts to improve and really work on what needs improving the most on my body.

Genetics are what you are born with. I, NotSoAverageJoe, am average height for 40-ish, 5’8”, and my training partner in crime, ThatGuy, is 6’1”. NOTHING I can do about that.

I am large framed and put muscle on easily and I have another buddy, same height, who is super small framed – NOTHING he can do about that.

Be happy you can workout and walk and breathe. Realize what you have and be grateful. Then work for what you want!

Lose body fat and bad genetics

So I already have a plan to get my body fat under control. Belly and abs issue is being addressed.

Next up is calves. Since I already work them out hard every week I have decent muscle. It will become more defined as I lose body fat and it will look better – already seeing decent separation and minimal vascularity. Long way to go.

So how do you grow calves, chest, arms, quads, glutes or whatever is your weak point?

Train them of course! Change the way you hit them – angle, intensity, reps, weight, frequency, cardio, cardio type, and all the other variations of lifting and stressing a muscle.

Since you use your calves all day carrying your body weight it can be difficult to grow them so I am going to really change it up a lot. If you have any tips feel free to comment below!

First, I am going to work them every three days. Maybe two days one week, three days the next. Then swap to super heavy weight one day, super high reps another day. Going to see what seems to make them sore which is usually a good indicator for me that I have killed them.

Again, this was meant to motivate me and hopefully get you to recognize and admit your weak point, take them for what they are and then deal with it – don’t avoid them.

Comment below and let’s see how far we can take this! What are you working? Tips for me?