Oh no, I can hear you crying if you’ve read any of my previous articles. Not another one about being out of shape. I can unequivocally state that this article is nothing similar to “I Want To Lose Weight”. 

While the topic may be similar, the tenets of this article are vastly different. The thought came when a client asked a simple question. He was performing a Standing Calf Raise, and looked at the weight stack, and asked if anyone actually lift 300 pounds. 

“Can you lift it?” 

“Why, would I want to?” 

“Uh?” 

“What purpose would it serve me to lift the entire stack?” 

“But you make me go up in weight.” 

“That is what you have progressed to. I would not have you lift a weight that your joints and tendons could not handle. Do you understand what we’re trying to do?” 

“I don’t,” he said. “I thought we were lifting.” 

Fortuitously for me a guy came and started using the adjacent Standing Calf Raise Machine. He placed the pin on 200 pounds and starting bouncing up and down. I placed the pin on 100 pounds, and demonstrated the cadence at which I wanted the client to use. 

I explained that I wanted him to raise up as high as possible, and to lower slowly until he felt the stretch on his gastrocnemius. I queried if he noted the difference when he had executed the move. 

“I’m confused,” he said. 

“About?” 

“The guy is lifting twice as much weight as you and me.” 

“OK.” 

“But,” he said, trying not to be obvious. “His calves have no definition.” 

“It’s out of shape?” 

“What,” he blurted out. “He’s out of shape.” 

“No,” I said, looking directly at him. “I did not say he, I said it.” 

“What’s it?” 

We had several more exercises to complete in his one-hour workout session. There was a distinction between he and it that I hoped he would have figured out by the clues I gave him. Alas, he did not, and I became annoyed because this was not where his focus should have been. 

“We’re only half way through your workout. Do you really want to waste time looking at another man’s calves?” 

“No,” he said, despondently. “You’re right.” 

“I tell you what,” I said, attempting to get him refocused. “I have another client after you. If you haven’t figured it out before our next session, I will take some time after your workout and explain why a man obviously strong enough to raise the entire stack, can have calves that are totally out of shape . . .” 

B.M.Booth (NASM-CPT)