importance of legs

[brennan]

Just wondering if this is true about doing legs...a lot of my friends never work out legs when they lift bcs. they dont think its important for them..they just want chest/arms, etc...i always tell them that legs are very important cuz i've been told that by doing legs more testosterone is released in the body bcs. its such a big muscle group thus helping other muscle growth...they always tell me im full of shit...now i love doin legs and have always done them..for sports but also for the testosterone belief...but is this true or did i make it up? might i add i also love doing legs cuz its the day when i feel i work the hardest...leg days kick my ass and i love it!!!!!!

 

[Arnold]

Doing compound exercises like squats will cause a release of GH.

Tell your friends that they're leaving out half of their body. When I first began lifting as a young teen I never worked my legs either, then when I was 17-18 years old I joined World Gym and I was enlightened.

 

[brennan]

im tryin to get them to do it...but they wont listen...pretty annoying...man do i love squats...a lot of people i know dread them...but thats the lift i get most pumped about and really push myself...cant wait for the gym today!

 

[OceanDude]

Legs are the biggest muscles in the body. Because of this they provide an incredible opportunity to stimulate large GH release. Also, becuase they are so large even a small percent increase in size equates to a fairly large increase in fat burning active tissue. You can count on roughly 50 cals more per day per lbs of lean tissue working for you automaticlaly (every day) to burn up excess body fat - this will help you get the 6 pack that all guys want. It also increases blood volume and glycogen storage capacity so you will actually be able to have more energy for even more intense workouts in other body areas.

I know a guy at our gym who is tall, handsome and very athlentic. He benches incredible amounts of weight but he does not work legs at all - just upper body. He has the genetics to be a world class body builder but becuase he is fixated only on upper body he is no where near his potential and looks silly from the waist down - tooth pick legs. Balance and symmetry is important not only for fitness but also for asethetics.

 

[Mudge]

Yep, the more compound the movement the "greater its effect on the body for overall stimulus." Things like squats, and deadlifts would probably be the top two for kicking the bodies ass.

Once the upper body starts to get big, and you have Grandpa's legs, it doesn't look nice IMO.

 

[I Are Baboon]

Originally posted by Mudge
Once the upper body starts to get big, and you have Grandpa's legs, it doesn't look nice IMO.

I agree.

There are high school kids at my gym, and many of them neglect their legs. They have nice upper bodies with chicken legs. They just look rediculous.


Mmmm....chicken legs........

 

[Fade]

Hahahaha

The chicken leg people. See them at my gym too.

They make me laugh.

 

[Mudge]

Most of the people that want summer muscles, seem to neglect legs. If you are SERIOUS and love to kick your ass, then do legs, even if your upper body continues to grow someone without legs it will just look funky.

 

[Trump]

Because of years of playing soccer, I have never had to work legs, they have just always been muscular.

I don't have a leg routine.

 

[I Are Baboon]

Originally posted by Mudge
Most of the people that want summer muscles, seem to neglect legs. If you are SERIOUS and love to kick your ass, then do legs, even if your upper body continues to grow someone without legs it will just look funky.

Or if you just want to burn calories, a 60 minute high intensity leg workout burns one or two calories.

 

[Mudge]

Dont need to remind me, leg day kills me.

 

[RCfootball87]

Originally posted by Mudge
even if your upper body continues to grow someone without legs it will just look funky.

It will really look funky if you throw on some of firestorm's infamous workout pants.

 

[Mudge]

Especially if you have no legs, there is a gal at my gym with bigger legs than most of the guys there, frankly I think she is hot.

Damn those tights, they make me think unclean thoughts.

 

[CJB]

Don't be a curl jockey!

 

[Mudge]

Bench presses and curls my entire routine.

 

[nikegurl]

woman's viewpoint comin' at ya...

good legs on a guy are HOT.

But I always admire the guy at the squat rack even if his legs don't look the part yet. there's a certain integrity to leg training.

training legs is the "real deal". without it seems like the rest of the time in the gym isn't as legit.

don't listen to your friends! you've been right all along

 

[Mudge]

You dont earn your stripes till you fight passing out under the bar. Anyone can pump out a few reps, if you can win battles with your mind under the bar even under heavy duress, you are a winner.

 

[brennan]

training legs is the "real deal". without it seems like the rest of the time in the gym isn't as legit.[/QUOTE]


squats, deads, pullups and dips is all i need...yep

 

[LAM]

your buddies will all be playing "catch-up" years from now. I've never understood how people can totally neglect leg training.

 

[DanK]

All they have to do is hit their legs once or twice good, and they'll realize they've been missing out big time. They will get much faster results with fat loss and muscle gain by hitting their legs. I always have had fairly large legs and I figured my cardio warmup pretty well covered legs, and the first 3 months of working out it was probably true. If they are serious about weight lifting they'll wish they had taken your advice the first time, instead of down the road when they finally come to their senses. I think if I had started doing legs six months earlier I would have been a lot closer to my goals now.

 

[OceanDude]

All I know is I have been doing legs religiously for 6 months. BUt yesterday I decided to validate my progress by dropping my weights by 50% and making sure I got a commplete and perfect flex on my (hack) squats. Ouch! I am dieing today. Just the few extra reps I can do at the lower weights combined with a slightly better range of motion about locked me up in bed for a day. I know I will get more growth as a result of this technique. I recommend that those that are doing leg routines (which should be about everyone not in a wheel chair) to go back and drop weights now and then and see if you don't find that you can stretch the motion a bit more and induce more growth...

 

[P-funk]

I actually read a study (which I could remember were the hell it is so that I can post it for you) that took 15 males and had them workout 3 times a week and only do squats. The reason behind the study was to see the effects that squats have on upperbody composition. There arm size was measured before and after the test. At the end of the test they found that each of the men had an increase in arm size of about half an inch. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Just doing squats made their arms bigger.

 

[Mudge]

Synergism (nearly indirect) is proven then, tada.