Dude.
THAT is impressive. Wow, man, great work.
You’ve obviously worked your ass off and your mass on.
Great job man congrats.
Awesome work man. Mind sharing how you managed to put that size on your calves? Your adductors are noticeably thicker too.
OP you have big hands.
Amazing transformation man! Keep up the good work!
[quote]Tyler23 wrote:
Awesome work man. Mind sharing how you managed to put that size on your calves? Your adductors are noticeably thicker too. [/quote]
Thanks, I’ve been training them 3 days a week since September. I started off with standing smith machine calf raises, flat-footed bare-footed (socks). I would put a weight eg 100kgs on the bar and do 20 reps, then 18 reps, then 16,14,12,10,8. As that got easier I upped the weight. I’ve got to give Iron Dwarf credit for that because I almost completely copied it from the calves thread he added it to. The next session I would use the seated leg press and find a weight I could manage about 20 reps with for the first set. I would then rest for about 20-30 secs then go again, usually getting about 12 reps, I’d do this for a total so 8 sets. Always making sure to get at least 8 reps. To add intensity to this I’ve added in partials (tip-toe/contraction end of rom), super sets with body weight calf raises and stretching them when they’re fully pumped. (This is agony!)
Another thing I learned from ID was the importance of developing a solid mind-muscle connection with my calves. I did this by:
Controlling the eccentric
Contracting the muscle HARD on the concentric, pausing in the tiptoe position briefly at times
Watching my calves as I trained them
Getting a severe pump to the point that it hurt a lot.
I think it wasn’t as hard for me to put that much size on my calves since they were under developed to begin with. The real test comes after the diet when I intend to add the same again.
[quote]optheta wrote:
OP you have big hands.[/quote]
If you’re referring to the first picture, I think that was caused by my lack of arms, they’re more proportionate now 
[quote]lemony2j wrote:
[quote]Tyler23 wrote:
Awesome work man. Mind sharing how you managed to put that size on your calves? Your adductors are noticeably thicker too. [/quote]
Thanks, I’ve been training them 3 days a week since September. I started off with standing smith machine calf raises, flat-footed bare-footed (socks). I would put a weight eg 100kgs on the bar and do 20 reps, then 18 reps, then 16,14,12,10,8. As that got easier I upped the weight. I’ve got to give Iron Dwarf credit for that because I almost completely copied it from the calves thread he added it to. The next session I would use the seated leg press and find a weight I could manage about 20 reps with for the first set. I would then rest for about 20-30 secs then go again, usually getting about 12 reps, I’d do this for a total so 8 sets. Always making sure to get at least 8 reps. To add intensity to this I’ve added in partials (tip-toe/contraction end of rom), super sets with body weight calf raises and stretching them when they’re fully pumped. (This is agony!)
Another thing I learned from ID was the importance of developing a solid mind-muscle connection with my calves. I did this by:
Controlling the eccentric
Contracting the muscle HARD on the concentric, pausing in the tiptoe position briefly at times
Watching my calves as I trained them
Getting a severe pump to the point that it hurt a lot.
I think it wasn’t as hard for me to put that much size on my calves since they were under developed to begin with. The real test comes after the diet when I intend to add the same again.[/quote]
Awesome. I was thinking of trying something similar (3x/wk) when I bulk in the next few months. I have ID’s post bookmarked and ready for reference. How did you structure the rest of your workouts, specifically legs? It’s clear you put on mass all over your lower body.
I want to do a leg specialization and am not sure whether to focus on just calves for awhile, then switch to upper legs or just attack it all at once (2 - 3x/wk on upper, 3x/wk calves). I don’t want to make the mistake of chasing two rabbits and catching neither.
The continuation of my sporadic log!
Well, I’ve reached that point again where body fat is creeping up to unacceptable levels - thus begins the diet.
I’m still toying with the idea of turning this into a contest prep but can’t help but feel my lower body is still too far behind to do as well as I would like.
Looking good dude! Do you do anything specific for your forearms? They look sick as shit in your 2012 pics when you are lean.
[quote]RATTLEHEAD wrote:
Looking good dude! Do you do anything specific for your forearms? They look sick as shit in your 2012 pics when you are lean.[/quote]
Thanks RATTLEHEAD, ‘sick as shit’?! Lol I’m stealing that one
I have never done any direct forearm work, I feel that pull-ups and deadlifts seem to have the most training effect but I also feel they have always been a strong point without much effort. I also play the drums and spent a number of years as a car mechanic so that definitely contributed.
Those pis from the first page were very impressive, great physique change.
I also have to wonder, why are all these guys lifting less than me much more jacked and bigger?! I’m going to have to get to a 405 bench to even look like I lift.
Looking good lemony.How long have you been at your current weight in these set of pics,and what is that at the moment.
[quote]jppage wrote:
Looking good lemony.How long have you been at your current weight in these set of pics,and what is that at the moment.[/quote]
Thanks man, I reached 250lbs at the peak of this gaining phase and have held that steadily since mid-December, my calories by the end were just 5000+ for training days and 4500 non training days so I have been slowly tapering down to find maintenance again. I’ve lost a few lbs in the past two weeks so I’m hovering around 245lbs right now.
I’m very pleased with the added weight though as I am a good 10 lbs heavier and a bit leaner than the peak of my last gaining phase
Great work, well done.
Lookin great after only three years. Shows that you can do whatever you put your mind to