To train legs or not to?

[Brutus_G]

Hey guys i just wanted to rant and hear some peoples ideas on leg training. Should you do it or not? I see these people all the time not working their lower body, going easy looking the same every, day every week,and every month. Just doing bench presses and barbell curls. What do you think of them? What role do you feel legs play in muscle growth and mass? Maybe you have a real life example of how squats or dead lifts helped you grow? Well i do. Squats have made me gain muscle like no other and well i like the added strength not to mention how you calves get that sexy diamond shape they get. Also maybe post a pic to prove your point.
OK well here is a pretty perfect body. Lower body is slightly bigger than upper in my opinion.
http://www.fitbygeno.com/images/Bodybuilders_Anatomy_Chart-8in.jpg

 

[TrojanMan60563]

I don't agree 100% that doing legs will make your arms or pecs grow, but I do think its important to have strong legs. Even if just to get around easier. To some degree I think you have to have a balance to avoid injuries. You are only as strong as your weakest link and there is zero reason for that link to be your legs.

 

[SuppAddict]

yeah legs are the largest muscle in your body, so you shouldl work them out

i love seeing all these tools in the gym who do a bench press everyday, and full body curls (actually bicep curls but its too much weight so they do full body curls.

they work legs like once per month and put up as much weight as a 10 year old

 

[nsimmons]

Legs make your upper body grow. All my lifts were peaking until i started heavy on legs again and in 2 months my lifts are up and theres noticible difference in appearence. My weight is only down 5 lbs or so over the last 3 months, but im getting cuts and seperation appearing, so looks like im trading fat for muscle. Only difference in my routine is adding legs and dropping a cardio day.

 

[fufu]

of course you should train legs. anyone who is able to do so and doesn't is 2pid.

 

[mrmark]

is there any scientific basis that training legs has an impact on the rest of your body?

Either way, it seems silly to only train upper body and looks clown like.

 

[devildog88]

There is a guy who comes to the gym at the school where I work out who never does legs. He works out in tight t-shirts and jeans! The thing is he has a huge chest and gigantic arms. So the kids all think he is the shit and want to do the same workout that he does! It drives me crazy.....no ground based or multi joint movements. Just slow and deliberate curls and bench presses. Every variation you can think of! I am almost to the point where I am going to have to tell him he can't work out there any more.

 

[Brutus_G]

Im glade to see you guys have common sense and that so far there are 18 votes for yes and 0 for no.

 

[mrmark]

There is a guy who comes to the gym at the school where I work out who never does legs. He works out in tight t-shirts and jeans! The thing is he has a huge chest and gigantic arms. ....I am almost to the point where I am going to have to tell him he can't work out there any more.

That makes up about 50% of the guys at my gym. The usually head straight for the bench with rack and do 6 sets of bench press. Usually followed by more chest.. and then biceps... and then more biceps etc...

 

[Decker]

That makes up about 50% of the guys at my gym. The usually head straight for the bench with rack and do 6 sets of bench press. Usually followed by more chest.. and then biceps... and then more biceps etc...

You may not get the whole story. Some of these guys are huge but they have birdlegs. Fine, that's pretty obvious.

But I take my wife to Bally's every Saturday so she can do her jogging, stretching and light lifting. I usually just noodle around doing some IBP or curls or such. I have a pretty good home gym and lift only at home so I don't need another place to train.

It's come to the point where watching other people lift is just too entertaining to pass up. So that's what I do.

 

[Brutus_G]

I personally feel that big muscular thighs are a must to look good for guys. It would be interesting to hear the general girl opinion on this. Comon ladies

 

[ablc]

Girl opinion? Okay...I lift heavy things. The heavier the better. And I can deadlift and squat more than I can bench and row, so there's no way I'm neglecting lower body work. Plus, I think the main lifts use all of the body, not just the parts they're "supposed" to be working, so stronger legs/back/abs/traps/anything will help my bench and such, another reason to not neglect anything.
Isolation stuff...I do it, but you won't catch me doing it in a gym. Can do that at home easily enough...besides, it's no fun, and I don't want to start associating the gym with my more depressing, pathetic, wimpy lifts.

In case you meant what girls think about guys' lifting...I love seeing guys squat properly. Seeing them do silly things is, well, better them than me The guys back in the corner with me moving big weights definitely get more positive attention than the guys repping out on the curl machines in front.

Besides...I think I'd get lynched if I quit squatting and dl'ing. My gym is a fishbowl and that kind of behaviour would cause nothing but trouble

 

[kr1s1]

Its true that the core exercises cant be overlooked. A strong core = a strong body. My opinion is that if your not d/lifting and squatting regular then you wont grow. Squats are also an excellent strength exercise and works loads of muscles from one movement - bargain!

 

[TrojanMan60563]

I used to powerlift with my father between ages 13-17, and I gave it up due to an injury racing BMX...anyways I have always had huge legs and no longer squat or deadlift. I still have nice wheels for someone that does neither.

I can say my calves have suffered a little, and my back has suffered the most from giving up the heavy deadlifts.

I do plan on getting back into the swing of deads and possibly squats.

I injured a quad riding BMX....and my back has some issues like bad disks, and bulging disks......I guess that is my biggest issue for not squating heavy anymore....or deadlifting. After thinking this over more I don't know if doing either is actually worth the possible injury or risk of further injuring myself. HMMM

 

[CowPimp]

If you don't train your legs you're a dumbfuck. I'm not going to elaborate on why. If it isn't obvious to you, then you deserve the marginal results that you get and hideously unbalanced/injury prone physique that you will build.

 

[Squaggleboggin]

There's nothing more fun than using the power of your legs when fighting a friend. Or maybe I'm just a freak... Besides, exercises that involve the legs and back are the most important and the most fun. Car pulling, anyone? How about farmers walks, snatches or deadlifts? What about bottom squats? Yeah, they're completely awesome and the most fun I have doing pretty much anything. Legs rule.

 

[Nate K]

This is the most ridiculous thread ever.

 

[Squaggleboggin]

This is the most ridiculous thread ever.

You don't come here often, do you?

 

[MyK]

There's nothing more fun than using the power of your legs when fighting a friend. Or maybe I'm just a freak... Besides, exercises that involve the legs and back are the most important and the most fun. Car pulling, anyone? How about farmers walks, snatches or deadlifts? What about bottom squats? Yeah, they're completely awesome and the most fun I have doing pretty much anything. Legs rule.

 

[Squaggleboggin]

Hahahahaha. I was waiting for someone (namely you) to say something about that. I was talking about certain situations. For example, if you're on the ground you can twist your legs around his legs to trip him and put him into submission. Or if he tries to hit you, you can grab his arm, fall back and kick him over your head onto the ground. There are many useful things you can do with your legs and almost all of them surprise people because they have no idea what they can do.

 

[MyK]

Hahahahaha. I was waiting for someone (namely you) to say something about that. I was talking about certain situations. For example, if you're on the ground you can twist your legs around his legs to trip him and put him into submission. Or if he tries to hit you, you can grab his arm, fall back and kick him over your head onto the ground. There are many useful things you can do with your legs and almost all of them surprise people because they have no idea what they can do.

 

[Brutus_G]

Somebody voted maybe....boys lets get the guns. No i totally agree squats rock bottom are my favorite exercise. I never had very fats muscle gains till squatting and dead lifting.

 

[TrojanMan60563]

Squating and deadlifts work multiple muscle groups....that is probably why they make people grow so fast and claim deads or squats made some other body part grow.....and I hear they raise natural test levels....but when your jacked that doesn't matter anymore. I am all for doing both but since I am cautious about it I do other things.....I do leg presses in place of squating and I can keep good form and go over 1000lbs...something I never did squating.

 

[Brutus_G]

I feel that leg presses are best for leg hypertrophy while squats are best for strength. As long as you work the legs i think it's cool.

 

[GFR]

It depends on your goals, you don't want 29 inch thighs if you are a competative swimmer. I train mine now but took years off training them...except for running. My rule is if they hit 27 I am doing too much.

 

[Brutus_G]

Really how much you weigh foreman? I mean 27 that's pretty good.

 

[Skate67]

How would training you legs make other parts of your body grow . Doesn't sound right...

 

[Brutus_G]

GH release is greater from bigger muscles. Plus lower body work in general incorporates bigger more stronger muscles than the upper body.

 

[GFR]

Really how much you weigh foreman? I mean 27 that's pretty good.

Well right now they are 27.5 but I need to cut off 1.5 of fat off them

 

[Brutus_G]

I'm still pretty impressed. Where you measure them at? I have 20 inchers lol in the middle. I'm like 150 pounds right now.