Calf raises for size

[soseg]

Ok guys I was told by one guy that seated calf raises are better for your calves than standing raises... anyway I do both (just correct me if im wrong on that).

My question is this... at my gym we have a standing calf raise machine which goes up to 300lbs... anyway its too easy and although I've been using it for 2months or so what I do is I pack 44lb disks onto the top of it (resting on the pads that my shoulders push against to lift the weight)... so all up today I was raising 490lbs

I am just about to break the skinny 15" calves and am wondering... should I continue doing this and keep adding the big disks on top of the machine with people looking at me? Cause I think I'd add another 200lbs worth before I got to 17" calves at least, and eventually I just cant stack anymore disks on top before they begin to topple over

I am wondering - should I just do calf raises on the ground using a barbell on my back where I can load it up high without any issues...but as I'm doing it standing on flat ground I dont get the same range of motion as on the machine which lets you stand on a step so you can go further down

OR... should I take the weight off the machine and do the calf raises with 1 leg (which feels weird) but might be more beneficial? I find with 1 leg I am able to do 1/4th the weight of both legs together

Thanks

[pinchharmonic]

i think you'll get a similar response from most people, but

calves are an easy exercise to butcher, as far as form.

definitely re-check your form, in fact, go on youtube and watch calf raising training videos...

you admit yourself you have skinny calves.. even guys with great calves don't use that much weight. doesn't that make you skeptical?

the achiles tendon is a very strong tendon with great elasticity. that's commonly why calf exercises can be cheated so easily as you can just bounce on that tendon, and 300lbs it may be, it'll still bounce.

[soseg]

maybe you're right.
tho I do them pretty slow
When i get to the bottom I pause and then lift up slowly
but who knows
I'll go youtube right now

[soseg]

I've gotta say after watching some youtube clips this is a tough one. I really dont know what I'm doing wrong - if at all I am?

I can only think of pausing longer between reps and trying to tense my calves further...

I'm the type who can be quite pedantic on form so I'm just a bit lost here... hmm

[MMAMONSTER19]

also you can try standing calf raises under a smith machine and place the thickest plates you have or the calf roller underneath you and stack plates on the bar thats what i do, as well as the leg press machine if you got one just put your feet on there and slide your heels off and so its like a toe press but for your calves ya kno check it out

[russy_russ]

i think you'll get a similar response from most people, but

calves are an easy exercise to butcher, as far as form.

definitely re-check your form, in fact, go on youtube and watch calf raising training videos...

you admit yourself you have skinny calves.. even guys with great calves don't use that much weight. doesn't that make you skeptical?

the achiles tendon is a very strong tendon with great elasticity. that's commonly why calf exercises can be cheated so easily as you can just bounce on that tendon, and 300lbs it may be, it'll still bounce.

Tendons are very inelastic, sort of like a rope. Ligaments are elastic, they are very pliable. If tendons were not inelastic when a muscle is contracted it would not have an instant reflex, instead it would be delayed then the contraction would place a bunch of force on the tendons origin and insertion.

[soseg]

Tendons are very inelastic, sort of like a rope. Ligaments are elastic, they are very pliable. If tendons were not inelastic when a muscle is contracted it would not have an instant reflex, instead it would be delayed then the contraction would place a bunch of force on the tendons origin and insertion.

i had to read that about 4 times to understand it lol... but in simple terms, what exactly are you trying to say by that?

[ffmedic32]

If you are doin that kinda weight and actually using good form then your a beast. Make sure your going all the way down and getting a good stretch. If all that checks out then increase your reps. Speaking of that how many reps are you doing at that weight????
Want something new,,try doing donkey raises...

[soseg]

A recent forum post on here said donkey raises is like wearing a wife beater to the gym - gay. haha

Um atm I've taken it down to 5 reps (5x5s) but I could do 470lbs like 8-10 times.

I've got legs on tuesday so I think ill go ask one of the gym instructors to watch me and see if im doing it wrong.

I'll try with longer pauses as well first up, but I still can see myself having at least 3 plates on top of the machine.

[russy_russ]

i had to read that about 4 times to understand it lol... but in simple terms, what exactly are you trying to say by that?

Ok, Imagine if your tendons were elastic (very giving and pliable 'capable of large strain'). When a muscle is contracted imagine a rubber band stretching as the muscle contracts which wouldn't generate much musculoskeletal movement because the tendon would have to stretched a great length before movement can occur, thereby creating a needless amount of stress on the tendon.

In actuality, tendons are generally inelastic (not pliable 'incapable of large strain'). When a muscle is contracted imagine a rope as your tendon, little to no strain which causes instantaneous musculoskeletal movement. However, depending on location some tendons are more 'elastic' or more / less 'inelastic' than others. The overall idea is the transmission of muscle force from the fibers to be effective and rapid.

For a better understanding, take or read a biomechanics course / book.


Young's modulus:
Ligament 0.3 - 0.4 (Y) in GPa
Tendon 0.8 - 1.2 (Y) in GPa

To put this in perspective:
Rubber 0.01 - 0.1 (Y) in GPa
Nylon 2.0 - 4.0 (Y) in GPa

[soseg]

russy_rus i think i get you
but ill have to pass on looking up the physics... young's modulus brings back bad memories from highschool and first year university

[russy_russ]

[Aggravated]

I do anywhere between 8-12 sets of calves, twice a week. I do them on a smith machine, standing with the balls of my feet on a box. I also donkey raises with random girls sitting on my back (not the big ones from the womens only room though). After those I will do the sit down calve raises or the machine.

[soseg]

I do anywhere between 8-12 sets of calves, twice a week. I do them on a smith machine, standing with the balls of my feet on a box. I also donkey raises with random girls sitting on my back (not the big ones from the womens only room though). After those I will do the sit down calve raises or the machine.

LOL

Girls on your back... I've gotta see that in real life. Only seen pics of Arnie doing that.

gold

[Aggravated]

LOL

Girls on your back... I've gotta see that in real life. Only seen pics of Arnie doing that.

gold

There is one girl in particular that is always there that works behind the counter and she does it willingly. I don't workout with a partner so I have no one to stack plates on me. It is a pretty funny sight though.

[pistonpump]

i have to question your form as well even if you had 17" calves you could still get a good workout with only 250lbs. Its not about how much weight its about how you are moving it and something doesnt sound righ about it.

[soseg]

i have to question your form as well even if you had 17" calves you could still get a good workout with only 250lbs. Its not about how much weight its about how you are moving it and something doesnt sound righ about it.

Yeah I'm starting to agree with you guys but I honestly have NO CLUE as to what I'm doing wrong...

I'll ask a gym instructor to monitor me next time and tell em about my predicament.

What about seated calf raises? what weights to what calf sizes do you guys roughly use? I find gains on that are hard - dont think you can cheat it as much cause you're sitting down.

[pistonpump]

its how you move the weight imo on calves. do you have a plate loaded seated calf machine? i find a 45 plate on each side is a good weight, not too much but you can make it work. see what i mean?

[soseg]

pistonpump yeah we've got a plate loaded seated calf machine... i can throw 4x44lbs on it and do my 5x5s on it atm

I'll try some other ways of doing my raises. maybe the positioning of my feet on the food-rest-things...

I've done it all from pushing the weights up very slowly to normal speed to fast and dropping them at all speeds...

i dont know... like i said ill ask an instructor sometime during the week when i do my legs

[Aggravated]

I have good size calves, but mine never really grew until I started to use lighter weight. I usually do the seated raise with just one 25lb plate on each side. If I want to go heavy, then the most I will use is one 45lb plate on each side. I like to focus on the contraction.