How to lose belly fat AND keep your boobs <3<3<3 LF Chat 5.0<3<3<3

[earthshieldlol]

Typically seated is vastly inferior. Hardly no one does them well and it's really really really easy to cheat on them. Do them standing, on a smith machine, or on a leg press machine if you have to.

Yeah I did some on a seated machine the other day and all I got was cramps with way less weight than just doing them in the squat rack. Seems pretty worthless.

[phoenixr2]

I am curious to know though...would doing calf raises on a smith machine be superior to seated calf raises?

As someone said. MOST people cheat on seated calf raises. (I assume we are talking straight leg seated calve machine?) Most people bend at the knees and turn it into a mini leg press.

I generally do seated straight leg because I can control good form and murder calves, and then do bent knee seated calve raises after.

[missladyj]

As someone said. MOST people cheat on seated calf raises. (I assume we are talking straight leg seated calve machine?) Most people bend at the knees and turn it into a mini leg press.

I generally do seated straight leg because I can control good form and murder calves, and then do bent knee seated calve raises after.

I forgot there is a straight leg version as well...was doing bent knee seated calf raises. Does that change anything or is smith machine still better? I've seen a few strength programs recommend a barbell on the lap, something to raise your feet off the floor and do calf raises like that...so assumed the bent knee machine would be similar.

[truushot]

Yeah I did some on a seated machine the other day and all I got was cramps with way less weight than just doing them in the squat rack. Seems pretty worthless.

They aren't worthless, they work the muscles in a different way. One recommendation I read said, to do standing and bent knee sitting. If you do, bent knee, just like any other kind, the right way it works just fine. If you are cramping from doing them you are deficient in some way. Maybe you have an imbalance because you only work them one way or flexibility issues. Just guessing.

[phoenixr2]

I forgot there is a straight leg version as well...was doing bent knee seated calf raises. Does that change anything or is smith machine still better? I've seen a few strength programs recommend a barbell on the lap, something to raise your feet off the floor and do calf raises like that...so assumed the bent knee machine would be similar.

Both will get both muscles of the calves. The gastrocnemious and the soleus. When the knee starts to become more bent the larger (more superficial) gastroc becomes less active and the soleus does more work. I like to do both straight, and bent knee to hit both hard. If I had to choose one, I would do straight leg though.

[truushot]

I forgot there is a straight leg version as well...was doing bent knee seated calf raises. Does that change anything or is smith machine still better? I've seen a few strength programs recommend a barbell on the lap, something to raise your feet off the floor and do calf raises like that...so assumed the bent knee machine would be similar.

Bent Knee, done fully range of motion and probably the best way to do them as they are completely isolated. The key is the range of motion. Bouncing is a waste.

Start flat footed, bend your foot down as far as it will go then raise it as high as you can. Range should be 4 inches or more. I also use the standing machine that goes to or past 500 pounds. The issue I have is getting the weight up in the first place, as I'm too tall for the machine. BRB lower back injury waiting to happen. I can easily get 440 up do 20 reps its just the initial getting it up in the shoulder harness. I can't get my back straight under the machine. Manlets seem to have no issues...

[missladyj]

Both will get both muscles of the calves. The gastrocnemious and the soleus. When the knee starts to become more bent the larger (more superficial) gastroc becomes less active and the soleus does more work. I like to do both straight, and bent knee to hit both hard. If I had to choose one, I would do straight leg though.

Ok, I think I will try both then. Used to do straight leg all the time a few years back and noticed good results with it. Am pretty sure I was doing them properly and with good form, only thing that rotated was ankles, kept ass in the chair and knees locked, making sure to get full range of motion. Don't like standing calf raises because the weight is too much for my shoulders / traps...end up having red stress marks all over the place and even had my skin split in a few places when I got up there in weight.

Bent Knee, done fully range of motion and probably the best way to do them as they are completely isolated. The key is the range of motion. Bouncing is a waste.

Start flat footed, bend your foot down as far as it will go then raise it as high as you can. Range should be 4 inches or more. I also use the standing machine that goes to or past 500 pounds. The issue I have is getting the weight up in the first place, as I'm too tall for the machine. BRB lower back injury waiting to happen. I can easily get 440 up do 20 reps its just the initial getting it up in the shoulder harness. I can't get my back straight under the machine. Manlets seem to have no issues...

Thanks for your input tru. Will make sure to minimize bouncing...think I was getting a little when reaching the top of the rep.

[earthshieldlol]

They aren't worthless, they work the muscles in a different way. One recommendation I read said, to do standing and bent knee sitting. If you do, bent knee, just like any other kind, the right way it works just fine. If you are cramping from doing them you are deficient in some way. Maybe you have an imbalance because you only work them one way or flexibility issues. Just guessing.

True, true. My other hunch for the cramps is I did it the day after I got back from NYC and had spent basically three full days walking all day. So the calves were pretty tired out from that. Maybe I'll do both for the next few weeks and see how that goes. Then again I have pretty big calves already so I honestly wouldn't care that much if they never got any bigger lol.

[truushot]

Both will get both muscles of the calves. The gastrocnemious and the soleus. When the knee starts to become more bent the larger (more superficial) gastroc becomes less active and the soleus does more work. I like to do both straight, and bent knee to hit both hard. If I had to choose one, I would do straight leg though.

Straight legs one can be done in numerous pieces of equipment. I can think of 5 off the top of my head in my gym without using the squat rack or smith machines.

[phoenixr2]

Straight legs one can be done in numerous pieces of equipment. I can think of 5 off the top of my head in my gym without using the squat rack or smith machines.

Did you mean to quote me on this? If so not sure if you were trying to make a point? I agree, you can do straight leg MANY different ways. I can walk down my hall and do them off my stairs right now lol.

[missladyj]

Did you mean to quote me on this? If so not sure if you were trying to make a point? I agree, you can do straight leg MANY different ways. I can walk down my hall and do them off my stairs right now lol.

Ok I think my machine / exercise terminology is lacking lol...this is what I was thinking when you said straight leg calf raises, is this correct? I know there are various ways to do them but curious if these are the ones you do...



These are the calf raises I was doing, which I believe is seated bent knee (seems likely)

[Serpentarius]

This is why I am doing high reps (from Overcoming Gravity - Steven Low): "Rate coding / firing matters very little for a strength-based program, but is useful to note for those seeking hypertrophy. Muscles that rely more on rate coding tend to be composed of more slow-twitch fibers. Therefore, they respond better to higher repetitions. Thus, the core, forearms, calves, and other highly rate coded muscles use higher repetitions for more growth."

I am curious to know though...would doing calf raises on a smith machine be superior to seated calf raises?

Felt pretty good about my workout today. Was thoroughly tired, much more so than with body weight exercises. I also feel a 'high' from lifting that I don't get with calisthenics....mood is x1000 right now.

seated=soleus
standing=gastrocnemius

[caprica6]

curious if these are the ones you do...

I got my calves by doing cardio while fat, lol, and for the last two years I’ve been maintaining them with cardio and standing calf work. I’m like earthshield - seated with knees bent cramps my calves.

Here’s Ava Cowan doing both seated and standing. For standing calves, note how her ankles can dip below the platform at the start of the movement using this machine, and how her knees bend slightly at the top of the movement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...MAbQE-c#t=331s The video is sped up at the end, obviously.

The full leg workout:

[cunfewzed]

Holy tl;dr calf thread of peace!

Just checking in. I did learn the diff in the two calf muscles and seated vs. standing. Thx!

Seated machine never does it for me. I'll stick to the smith.

[missladyj]

seated=soleus
standing=gastrocnemius

[IMG]http://i50.tinypic.com/fyzlf5.png[IMG]

Thank you...and damn them legs sexy

I got my calves by doing cardio while fat, lol, and for the last two years I’ve been maintaining them with cardio and standing calf work. I’m like earthshield - seated with knees bent cramps my calves.

Here’s Ava Cowan doing both seated and standing. For standing calves, note how her ankles can dip below the platform at the start of the movement using this machine, and how her knees bend slightly at the top of the movement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...MAbQE-c#t=331s The video is sped up at the end, obviously.

The full leg workout:

[video=youtube;HoKjMAbQE-c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoKjMAbQE-c[video]

Lol @ getting calves from cardio while fat . Think the same thing happened for me...used to have looong jump rope sessions and calves easily got developed.

I did standing calf raises same way she did them...liked the exercise but all the weight + pads on my shoulders causes lots of red stress marks and sometimes splits in my skin. Going to have to find a different way to do them...not sexy to look like I take part in flagellation lol.

[caprica6]

all the weight + pads on my shoulders causes lots of red stress marks and sometimes splits in my skin. Going to have to find a different way to do them...not sexy to look like I take part in flagellation lol.

I used to get the same red marks and felt a lot of pressure on my shoulders in the beginning. My body must have adapted because I don't feel that same discomfort anymore. I haven't checked for those red marks in a long time but I'll do that next time. It's beginning to put too much pressure on my back at 115-122 lbs.

[missladyj]

I used to get the same red marks and felt a lot of pressure on my shoulders in the beginning. My body must have adapted because I don't feel that same discomfort anymore. I haven't checked for those red marks in a long time but I'll do that next time. It's beginning to put too much pressure on my back at 115-122 lbs.

I didn't get those marks at the early 100s either once adapted, but when I hit around 170 started getting them and splits in the skin. Think that's just too much weight to have the pad bearing down on my shoulders, and it rubs every time I come up from the bottom of the rep. It's 10x worse if I'm sweaty...which I usually am by the time I get to calf work.

[Serpentarius]

tfw you have more stretch marks than a pregnant woman and they itch like crazy despite being over 3 years old

[truushot]

tfw you have more stretch marks than a pregnant woman and they itch like crazy despite being over 3 years old

I have the marks but they don't itch since losing weight. Probably because you are bulking they are itchy. Growing some?

[Znik]

tfw you have more stretch marks than a pregnant woman and they itch like crazy despite being over 3 years old

Guess I am lucky, my stretch marks never itch.
To jump on the calves chat, I've started doing some Tibialis Anterior workout with feet at the end of the bench and dumbell between my feet. Sure gave a good burn in them calves.

[matman1813]

I don't think my 4 day Christmas binge set me back too badly. I weighed in at 231lbs this morning, happy days.

[missladyj]

Didn't realize how much DLs tax them traps crew checkin' in...

tfw you have more stretch marks than a pregnant woman and they itch like crazy despite being over 3 years old

[IMG]http://i46.tinypic.com/2j456js.jpg[IMG]

Don't feel bad...I have more stretch marks from growing too fast / being fat than from being pregnant. Have had them since a teenager and they itch whenever it's cold and I'm outside for a while. Use a really good lotion and it helps a lot. I personally love hemp lotion the best.

I don't think my 4 day Christmas binge set me back too badly. I weighed in at 231lbs this morning, happy days.

Must be nice...I didn't even bother weighing in for Krete's thread Sunday lol. Messed around and gained 4lbs -.-

[cnh57811]

I don't think my 4 day Christmas binge set me back too badly. I weighed in at 231lbs this morning, happy days.

In my experience, weight gain from heavy eating is masked in the short term with weight loss from being dehydrated. The scale results from heavy eating creep up on me in the days after it occurred and I get back to my normal water intake. Hopefully, this is not the case for you, but just letting you know what happens to me.

Must be nice...I didn't even bother weighing in for Krete's thread Sunday lol. Messed around and gained 4lbs -.-

:/

[missladyj]

:/

ikr...the good thing is that when that happens and I get on track, lose water weight ridiculously fast. So hopefully I'll be looking good by next Sunday lol.

[earthshieldlol]

mmmm my back and hammies are pretty stiff this morning. feels g0t m8.

[z71kris]

I need to get my diet back on track crew checking in...just stopped tracking for a few days, and ate whatever I wanted including two bacon cheese burgers, and cookies out the ace, and this awesome garlic/cheese/beer bread dip we make for holidays, lots of booze, tons of potatoes, a lot of ham. But whatevs, I get back on track and not a single faurk was given.

[cunfewzed]

In my experience, weight gain from heavy eating is masked in the short term with weight loss from being dehydrated. The scale results from heavy eating creep up on me in the days after it occurred and I get back to my normal water intake. Hopefully, this is not the case for you, but just letting you know what happens to me.

good to know, thx!

I don't think my 4 day Christmas binge set me back too badly. I weighed in at 231lbs this morning, happy days.

i feel this way as well. I expected a huge bloat and fluctuation in weight but I haven't seen it. I'm going to wait until tomorrow to weigh in and assess the damage. I've been putting it off hoping to miss the mental let-down of a higher number on the scale. Hopefully cnh is dead wrong

tfw you have more stretch marks than a pregnant woman and they itch like crazy despite being over 3 years old

do you still use some sort of cream on them? have they faded over time?

[cnh57811]

I need to get my diet back on track crew checking in...just stopped tracking for a few days, and ate whatever I wanted including two bacon cheese burgers, and cookies out the ace, and this awesome garlic/cheese/beer bread dip we make for holidays, lots of booze, tons of potatoes, a lot of ham. But whatevs, I get back on track and not a single faurk was given.

I have done this several times over the past 2 years and it is the only reason why my cut has taken so long. I just stop counting, eat my face off for a week or two and before I know it, I have set myself back by about a month. So between the time I spent eating (2 weeks) and the time it took me to lose all that weight (4 weeks), I have just elongated my cut by 6 weeks. I have done this more times than I want to admit. It is not worth it man. Get your sh!t together and get back on track.

I'm only responding to this cause you're a good guy....If I didn't give a fk about you, I wouldn't have said anything.

[cunfewzed]

I have done this several times over the past 2 years and it is the only reason why my cut has taken so long. I just stop counting, eat my face off for a week or two and before I know it, I have set myself back by about a month. So between the time I spent eating (2 weeks) and the time it took me to lose all that weight (4 weeks), I have just elongated my cut by 6 weeks. I have done this more times than I want to admit. It is not worth it man. Get your sh!t together and get back on track.

I'm only responding to this cause you're a good guy....If I didn't give a fk about you, I wouldn't have said anything.

I must mirror these feels. The holidays warrant a little mini-binge, in my mind....like a weekend. When you get past a week, you fall back into old habits and kill progress you worked incredibly hard for.

[z71kris]

I have done this several times over the past 2 years and it is the only reason why my cut has taken so long. I just stop counting, eat my face off for a week or two and before I know it, I have set myself back by about a month. So between the time I spent eating (2 weeks) and the time it took me to lose all that weight (4 weeks), I have just elongated my cut by 6 weeks. I have done this more times than I want to admit. It is not worth it man. Get your sh!t together and get back on track.

I'm only responding to this cause you're a good guy....If I didn't give a fk about you, I wouldn't have said anything.

thanks for words of wisdom(SRS), I know, I am looking at what this has done my schedule, I am not sure if I will make my deadlines of March for 200, and July of 180, but I will do my best, and work hard, thats all I can do.