No improvements!

[Kasushi sakuraba]

I hate my stupid calfs! I only have a standing calf raise machine in my gym and my calfs don't seem to be getting any bigger! I usually do three sets at 8-10 reps. As much weight as possible! My knees even hurt from the amount of weight, but my calfs just don't seem to be getting any bigger! Any advice would be great! Thanks!

[sp9]

I usually do 20-25 reps for 5 sets. See what other feedback you get.

I was not blessed in the leg or calf department. I feel your pain...

[DevilsDeity]

try 4 sets of 6-8 reps

if you have a work out partner try throwing in donkey raises

[Kasushi sakuraba]

What are donkey raises?

[Billmister]

give them time... they will grow

[A_Nice]

Do you feel them burning at all?

[jbrand]

the gastrocnemius is primarily fast twitch fibers, so you are going about it the right way in terms of rep-range and intensity. what seems to be beneficial is when you fatigue the calf to a painful extent, using such techniques as supersetting and drop sets.

[Vegas Kid]

I'm with jbrand on this one. I wouldn't even count the reps, just go until you can't possibly do anymore.

[Sicilian30]

Lower your reps, do more weight.. less reps.

[tbulldog]

6x20 seated calf
6x20 standing/donkey calf
heavy as possible
good luck bro
tbull
personal trainer(not showin my ass, just credibility)

[Kasushi sakuraba]

Yeah they burn like fire after but they just don't seem to grom! What are donkey raises? Thanks for the help. If I do like 4 sets or so should I just do them all to failure? With tons of weight!

[tbulldog]

if you do only four sets, you cant expect much, do you only do 4 sets for biceps, chest, legs?

[Canes4Ever]

Originally posted by jbrand
the gastrocnemius is primarily fast twitch fibers, so you are going about it the right way in terms of rep-range and intensity. what seems to be beneficial is when you fatigue the calf to a painful extent, using such techniques as supersetting and drop sets.

I'm gonna go with JBrand on this one (sorry Sicilian, still am your bro though ).

I would superset with drop sets, going 75 % max for 6-8 reps then 50% to failure (usually about 12-15 reps for me).

[NightOp]

Lots of good advice above. I'm a proponent of routine cycling every 4-6 weeks... Meaning pick one of the above suggestions and use it for a while... then do a two week period of a radically different and more intense routine to keep your body from adapting. For instance you could do>

25 free standing no weight no machine calf raises (just tip toeing rather) with a 2x4 (block of wood) or any suitable edge. Immediately goto the standing calf machine and do a weight that will cause failure at 25 reps or so.. do those 25 reps. At the peak of each rep hold and squeeze the crap out of your calves for a second or two. Then after those 25 machine raises... go back and do 25 free standing raises... then take a 30 second rest... then do the whole process all over (with less weight on the machine of course in order to get those 25 reps)... This is just a suggestion. My point is to try and every now and then beat the living crap of em... and a good way todo that is short rests and free standing raises in between the real sets... good luck.

[Kasushi sakuraba]

Hell yeah everyone sounds great! I will give it a shot tommorow! Much thanks to NightOp that sounds fun!