Not Working out Legs

[roidrage87]

I am now working out three times a week, alternating chest, back, and arms/abs. I am not doing legs because I am doing High Intensity Cardio (sprints) 3 times a week so I assume leg training would destroy my sprints (or vice versa).

Does anyone have an opinion on whether this is fine or detrimental to bodybuilding? Can you substitute leg training for sprints?

[chazzy1864]

Sprints / Running =/= Weighted leg training

[supmannn]

Sprints / Running =/= Weighted leg training

This.

[-Lucifer]

Sprints / Running =/= Weighted leg training

This. Keep doing what you're doing if you want to look like Johnny Bravo.

[roidrage87]

Sprints / Running =/= Weighted leg training

This. Keep doing what you're doing if you want to look like Johnny Bravo.

So what do you reccomend? Cutting out one day of HIIT? Which is more beneficial from a growth standpoint for the rest of your body? I've read about the benefits of Squats and the benefits of Sprints in relation to growth hormone, etc.

Nice Johnny Bravo Reference BTW.

[-Lucifer]

So what do you reccomend? Cutting out one day of HIIT? Which is more beneficial from a growth standpoint for the rest of your body? I've read about the benefits of Squats and the benefits of Sprints in relation to growth hormone, etc.

Why do you want to do so much interval training? You can still work your legs once a week and do your HIIT. Legs on Monday and HIIT on Wednesday and Friday. See how your body recovers.

[unity]

i don't understand what the problem is. i used to do HIIT on squat day... but squat day was three days a week.

[roidrage87]

i don't understand what the problem is. i used to do HIIT on squat day... but squat day was three days a week.

Interval training wrecks me... probably because my legs are too small for my upper body lol.

[Sevenstrings]

You can do stuff like that to a certain point and still progress fast, adding more volume isn't necessarily going to lead to more progress and will most likely just unnecessarily tax your CNS and possibly even impede progress.
Cut down on the volume of sprints and add in leg weight training.
All the pro sprinters never got there from sprinting alone. Now, I'm not saying you're going for that (to become a pro sprinter) but point being doing some stuff like squats, full cleans, power cleans etc IN ADDITION to sprinting going to improve your ability to sprint more than doing a ton of just high volume sprints.

[Epilerik]

It will be hard at first, but if you are capable of doing heavy squats and cardio in the same session, then whenever you do sprints without the leg workout your sprints will be even better

I don't know if you're in track or something, but let's say you got a meet in a month. If you work out your legs 3 weeks before, then have a week off but you're still practicing your running, your legs will be stronger than before and you will be fresh for your meet. And more leg strength=more explosive sprints

[-Lucifer]

Interval training wrecks me... probably because my legs are too small for my upper body lol.

In that case, you should focus on making your legs bigger and stronger. Moar squatting; less running.

[Jharmes5]

You can build muscle by doing sprints.

I would definitely not use them as my only leg workout though.

[Greco-Roman]

I am a track runner, and do sprinting. I also squat though. You can do sprints 2-3 times a week, and still be able to squat. Just don't sprint a day or two after you squat. Well, you can, but at first it would be physically difficult to sprint, and then it may hamper squat progression. But it may even help, who knows, try it out.

[VoxExMachina]

If you want to be a sprinter, then focus on your sprints and add in whatever leg training you feel you can do that will help (or at least not hinder) that goal.

If you want to develop your legs for hypertrophy, then lift like a bodybuilder and let the sprints fall where they may.

You can't always serve two masters, so you just need to make a choice and run with it.

(pun intended)

[ironwill2008]

I am now working out three times a week, alternating chest, back, and arms/abs. I am not doing legs because I am doing High Intensity Cardio (sprints) 3 times a week so I assume leg training would destroy my sprints (or vice versa).

Does anyone have an opinion on whether this is fine or detrimental to bodybuilding? Can you substitute leg training for sprints?

You answered your own question, here vvvv

Interval training wrecks me... probably because my legs are too small for my upper body lol.

[chazzy1864]

So what do you reccomend? Cutting out one day of HIIT? Which is more beneficial from a growth standpoint for the rest of your body? I've read about the benefits of Squats and the benefits of Sprints in relation to growth hormone, etc.

Nice Johnny Bravo Reference BTW.

Please stop hormone chasing. It is a pointless aspect of lifting to worry about and you'll merely waste your time with that subject.



If you are a runner, I'd suggest at least train more in the strength range w/ weights to make your legs stronger.

[ACRhino]

Olypmic sprinters squat the hell out of squats. You should squat. Everyone in the world should do squats.

Oh and you should do roman deadlifts and hammer the hell out of your hams too ... hams help you run and running is good for runners.

[chazzy1864]

Even a 40 meter dash is more "reps" than a set of squats. It is not the same physical exertion.

Yes, sprinting will be better than distance running, but it is not the same as weight training.

[mbinda]

OP..What about shoulders? In the midst of all this leg discussion I don't know if anyone else noticed that you failed to mention where shoulders fit in to your split.

[ase19]

you need to squat.
its fun and burns mad calories.
you could even substitute it for a day of cardio if you keep your rest period low and get your heart rate up

[URL]

nahbrah. you need to do heavy legs, just not prior to or after sprinting, preferrable

[Shizzyshawn]

Squattin would definately not hurt you. Its a good exercise to develop strength and power in your legs. That would help with sprints

[Tyciol]

Sprints / Running =/= Weighted leg training

But it is weight training Just not very heavy. You made the best point about the many reps done in a lot of sprints.

Of course if someone was sprinting up a hill dragging a sled they might not make it too many steps.

Squattin would definately not hurt you. Its a good exercise to develop strength and power in your legs. That would help with sprints

They could, but it's not definite. There are some guys who with huge legs who are great squatters who don't sprint too well. I don't think it's specific enough. Sort of like that whole 'bench press for punch' meme.

[TigerStealth]

well you asked about whether it is detrimental to "bodybuilding" and the clear answer for that is yes as all bodybuilders train legs, and train legs hard. If you have different goals and would prefer not to train legs that is your choice, but squats and deadlifts are the most fun!