The Definitive Fitness/Aesthetics Thread

[Damon_3388]

80-90kg to 20 reps on the standing one.

I decided to do it to 25 reps today and cramped up. Strong work me.

Dude, up the weight!

You carry that amount of weight around on your calves every day anyway, so it's really not a stress for them. Push them harder with something heavier (like, at least 25% more than your bodyweight), and you'll see results.

In the one month that I had a gym membership (at the same World Gym, incidentally), I used to do 5 sets of 15 reps each at 240kg (which is as much as the machine could carry IIRC) on the standing calf raise. Would get tough towards the end, and burn like hell the next day, but putting your muscles under stress they're not usually under is the way to make gains.

[Deebz]

I believe you were calf raising 240kg about as much as I believed your natural stacked upper body comment (where's the pic btw? You've had a month ...).

I have a blown out knee and I'm rather cautious when it comes to anything legs-related. My calves still burn like crazy at the end of doing what i'm currently doing, with the intention to go heavier soon enough.

[Damon_3388]

I believe you were calf raising 240kg about as much as I believed your natural stacked upper body comment (where's the pic btw? You've had a month ...).

I weight 107kg. 240kg on the calf raise isn't a Herculean effort. Not sure what motive I'd have to lie to complete strangers on the Internet anyway. Point was about stressing your body beyond its everyday usage.

BTW, I never claimed that I was "stacked" or that I'm especially cut or anything like that, just that I think I probably measure up favourably as I am to a lot of guys who slave away at the gym daily.

I've already provided measurements earlier in the thread, but I'll provide a "before" pic closer to when I actually start working out. Not sure when that's going to be at that stage.

[r dub]

5 sets x 15 reps of 240kg?

[Ball So Hard]

This reeks of strong bullshit.

[Damon_3388]

5 sets x 15 reps of 240kg?

This reeks of strong bullshit.

Considering the size of my legs (46cm calves, 64cm thighs), I don't think it's any sort of amazing feat TBH.

EDIT: Just took some quick pics...

[Ball So Hard]

[breeno]

fuckin lol

[r dub]

Had a look a round on misc, I don't see anyone saying they do close to those numbers (530 pounds).

So yeah I'd say you're talking shit.

[Ball So Hard]

Had a look a round on misc, I don't see anyone saying they do close to those numbers (530 pounds).

So yeah I'd say you're talking shit.

He's probably one of those guys that loads up the power rack and and literally moves an inch for each rep.

[Deebz]

Crosby2Malkin and I both go to this same gym and we know you can't fit 6x20kg on each side of that stand.

[Damon_3388]

He's probably one of those guys that loads up the power rack and and literally moves an inch for each rep.

I'm not into that kind of ego boosting bullshit. As big a range of motion as your body will allow every time (obviously once you tire you become more limited).

Had a look a round on misc, I don't see anyone saying they do close to those numbers (530 pounds).

So yeah I'd say you're talking shit.

Crosby2Malkin and I both go to this same gym and we know you can't fit 6x20kg on each side of that stand.

Well however many plates you can fit on there at that particular gym, it was there. Whatever that works out to in weight. If I slightly overstated things as far as exact weight/number of plates, I'm sorry. Tired, and working on year-old memory of my one month at the gym.

Main point was to actually stress your calves, not just lift your bodyweight.

[r dub]

You realise the flaw in your argument is that your calves don't bear 100% of your body weight? Calf raises isolate the muscle so that it is the only muscle working to lift the weight.

[Deebz]

Jay Cutler`s Big Calves! - Muscle Gaining

“It’s not about the weight. Calf muscle training is all about the range of motion. Go all the way down and all the way up on every rep.”

Jay Cutler probably knows what he is talking about.

[Damon_3388]

You realise the flaw in your argument is that your calves don't bear 100% of your body weight? Calf raises isolate the muscle so that it is the only muscle working to lift the weight.

Yeah but if you're used to doing exercises that bear weight and force on the calf, like running, jumping, etc., using your own bodyweight isn't an unusual stress. Isolating the muscle with heavier weight (with a good range of motion, as mentioned above, which I never denied as being an important factor) is more useful than just powering through with your bodyweight. I mean, in reality, if you can jump off one foot from a standing start, you should be able to almost do around 85% of your bodyweight with one leg.

I'm just going on what little experience I have with this stuff, trying to be a part of the discussion. If people would prefer that I don't contribute, then I won't.