How to make your calves sore for 5 or 6 days ...

[SteelWeaver]

First, don't train calves for at least 2 weeks.

Then, go into the gym and do just one warm-up set of 15 reps on a light weight.

Then hit the heaviest weight you can for about 10-12 reps, rest for 10 secs, drop the weight a plate or two, rep out at least 10 again, 10 secs rest, etc.

Do this for 10 sets. Don't drop the weight on the last 5 or 6 sets. Just squeeze harder.

Hobble cannot begin to describe .......

lololol! Agony. I will not do this again for a while.

Oh, and then, the next day, in the name of AR, before peak DOMS has set in, do a few fun light sets of donkeys or something.

The things we do ....

 

[newgirl-chargeback]

YIKES.....

 

[MS]

Sounds like part one of Poliquin's killer calf workout!

 

[wilson6]

Been using that routine for years on myself and clients. One multi drop set of 3 exercises and you'll be sore for up to 7 days. Takes less than 20 min to crush the calves of a group of 6.

W6

 

[MS]

Yup, I used a similar method to gain an inch on my genetically sucky calves. I've stopped doing it now though because it was interfering with my ability to enjoy backpacking!

 

[wateengedoe2]

AAAUUUUWWWW! Thanks but no thanks .. LOL! When I started working out I hit my calves real hard too, with as a result not being able to walk for a day or so and stumble around on my toes for another 3 days ... Had sore calves for a week ...

Just a question: why wait 2 weeks before doing this? Wouldn't they grow just as well when one does this every week .. with perhaps a bit less DOMS? That would make much more sense to me, then at least you know why you're doing it and not just waiting 2 weeks to increase DOMS

 

[chvl67]

I do this routinely for mass gain. It's called strip sets. I barely wait the 10 seconds in between, just pretty much however long it takes to "strip" the weights off. I do 5 sets up, then 5 sets down.

I'm walking around on my tiptoes for about 4 days after...

 

[SteelWeaver]

Ha ha ha ha

Yah yah, I know all that - I was just being dumb. This is a sort of tongue-in-cheek post, wateengedoe2. Actually, it IS part of the Poliquin routine, which I did to great effect very early last year, and which I go back to, or use parts of, fairly regularly. It's a fantastic routine and has done some nice things for my calves.

HOWEVER, it's apparently NOT a good idea to do this after a two week break - I usually work calves pretty hard, so they're used to some strain, but I sort of forgot about the time off, and now I'm hobbling. I'm sure if I do the same thing again tomorrow the DOMS won't be nearly as bad.

Ouchie. Heh heh.

 

[wateengedoe2]

LOL, StealWeaver, as we say in Dutch, if you burn your *ss, you need to sit on the blisters

Seriously, I can see this is an excellent routine to chock your calves, just NOT after 2 weeks of rest (OK, we all know that one by now, sometimes I'm a bit slow ), and not when you have to be able to walk somewhat normally the week after (e.g. job interview or important meeting at work) Just a pitty I have to climb stairs all the time at my job .. I'm on the 1st floor whereas most collegues and facilities are on the second and there's no elevator in that part of the building. This has been killing me several times when I was sore in my (upper) legs, calves will be even worse ...