Want to be different? - Give your legs a hammering!

[BazzaW]

Half way through my leg workout this morning, and it was one of those days when I was low on energy (stripping out some carbs) ...and it was leg day, when I looked around the gym and saw (as usual) that arms and chest were the workouts on display. The same guys doing the same routines, with the same weights. I started a set of hack squats and I'm thinking my legs are hurting like crazy, then I just dialled it on.

I thought these guys are great motivation for me. They're not improving, they are just going through the motions and it really spurred me on. I thought, when I have my Tom Platz (OK...not perhaps not that big) quads these guys will still be going through their same routines....

Just thought I'd share...keep hammering those legs and be different from the pack.

[ironwill2008]

At the last commercial gym where I was a member, on my first day there, I was standing near the dumbbell rack, and an average-looking guy was doing Dumbbell curls with 25's, for a couple of 8 rep sets.

Move ahead two years, on my last day training there, and there was that same guy, curling the same weight, for the same reps. Needless to say, his arms (along with the rest of him) looked the same as before.

That really brought home the point about progression, or more accurately, lack of same.

[HeismanWatch]

Half way through my leg workout this morning, and it was one of those days when I was low on energy (stripping out some carbs) ...and it was leg day, when I looked around the gym and saw (as usual) that arms and chest were the workouts on display. The same guys doing the same routines, with the same weights. I started a set of hack squats and I'm thinking my legs are hurting like crazy, then I just dialled it on.

I thought these guys are great motivation for me. They're not improving, they are just going through the motions and it really spurred me on. I thought, when I have my Tom Platz (OK...not perhaps not that big) quads these guys will still be going through their same routines....

Just thought I'd share...keep hammering those legs and be different from the pack.

Be different from the pack and stop worrying about the pack, and focus on YOU!

That's really all that ever matters isn't it?

[yakabebe]

I thought these guys are great motivation for me. They're not improving, they are just going through the motions and it really spurred me on. I thought, when I have my Tom Platz (OK...not perhaps not that big) quads these guys will still be going through their same routines....

I like to say that one shouldnt confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but not getting anywhere!!!

Move TOWARDS and FORWARD to your goals!

[IronCharles]

We can preach until we're blue in the face, and the bottom line is: People are still gonna do whatever they want to do.

Yes, I also see the same people in the gym who work strictly upper body, who use the same weights, same reps, same excercises every single day. It starts to bother me, because on the one hand, I think maybe the guy really wants to get bigger, wants to raise his natural testosterone, really wants to stop wasting his time in the gym, and you know what.... I can help that guy, I can show him what he's doing wrong, I can open his eyes to the 'secrets' of bodybuilding..... but I stop myself, and tell myself, That guy is not me. He doesn't have the same dreams, or goals.... and probably doesn't want the same things I want.

So I go on about my business. I do my leg work. I up my poundages, increase my reps, or take less rest between sets. I watch my muscles grow by the month. I nod and say hello to the guy doing curls with the same weights he has been using for the last year and a half. And I tell myself, "Well.... at least that's one less guy I have to worry about beating when I step on stage for the first time....."

[paolo59]

I used to hate working out legs. Now, it's the best two workouts of the week. Legs can be daunting, they cost a lot of work, and leave you feeling like a wrung out dish rag. It takes some time to get into quads, buttox, and calves. But it's well worth the effort. By the way, I never pay any attention to what the hell anyone else in the gym is ever doing. Get in, get out, don't rest between sets more than a minute, and mind your own business. My commentary generally is reserved for how I look in the mirror. That is more than enough to keep me occupied.

[BergMuscle]

x2 to x10 on the last 5-6 posts ^^^

I train at home, alone, but I have friends who "work-out" one way or another and there's only one with whom I've had serious bodybuilding conversations (I plan to train with him someday when we can get our schedules together - maybe during summer since we are both teachers).

I can remember reading/hearing someone say "Keep doing what you've always done and you'll get what you've always gotten." That applies to a lot in life, including building muscle. It's also the reason I've taken to microloading (increasing weights by 1-3# rather than 5# or 10#) and/or pushing for just one more rep on one set each time I train.

[Paprika]

Yup in 6 months I have only seen 3 people train their legs at my gym and even then no one did their calves. I dont quite understnd it. I was doing calf raises toady and these 2 guys were looking a me like I was insane. But it is just horses for course I suppose. I let them do their thing and for the most part they leave me alone too. It does get a bit irritating when you see these knuckle heads laughing as if your the one that is in the wrong but bless them, they arent that bright!

[Klayfish]

My legs got pounded today. And I'm glad. Don't care what anyone else in my gym does. Besides, that means I never have to wait to use the squat rack...unless someone is curling in it....

[pharmamarketer]

I used to hate working out legs. Now, it's the best two workouts of the week. Legs can be daunting, they cost a lot of work, and leave you feeling like a wrung out dish rag. It takes some time to get into quads, buttox, and calves. But it's well worth the effort. By the way, I never pay any attention to what the hell anyone else in the gym is ever doing. Get in, get out, don't rest between sets more than a minute, and mind your own business. My commentary generally is reserved for how I look in the mirror. That is more than enough to keep me occupied.

I agree. Just make sure while you are looking at yourself in the mirror you are standing still. I was checking myself out while walking and...BANG. Right into a machine. needless to say that killed my mood but probably up the mood of everyone around.

[rpaul11]

I can remember reading/hearing someone say "Keep doing what you've always done and you'll get what you've always gotten."

words to live by there.

[BrotherWolf]

At the last commercial gym where I was a member, on my first day there, I was standing near the dumbbell rack, and an average-looking guy was doing Dumbbell curls with 25's, for a couple of 8 rep sets.

Move ahead two years, on my last day training there, and there was that same guy, curling the same weight, for the same reps. Needless to say, his arms (along with the rest of him) looked the same as before.

What if he is just toning ?? I bet you didn't think of that ........

[BergMuscle]

What if he is just toning ?? I bet you didn't think of that ........

I should have known that eventually someone would use the "t-word".

[BrotherWolf]

I should have known that eventually someone would use the "t-word".

Yeah .. sorry about that..

[bobbyt321]

My last leg day I did dumbell walking lunges for the first time in my life. Oh my eff-ing god - the doms didn't wait two days - the were sneaking in that night and in full blown motion by next morning. But these DOMS were in my butt worse than my legs, I hurt so bad I didn't even have a bowel movement for two days. I think even my turds didn't wanna get near my butt.

For some reason I had been under the impression that DWL's were a chick move -lol,call me a girl then cuz these will be a regular part of leg day from now on.

[BrotherWolf]

For some reason I had been under the impression that DWL's were a chick move -lol,call me a girl then cuz these will be a regular part of leg day from now on.

They are if you use the pink dumbell, if you walking with 120lb db you're a man

[StressMonkey]

My last leg day I did dumbell walking lunges for the first time in my life. Oh my eff-ing god - the doms didn't wait two days - the were sneaking in that night and in full blown motion by next morning. But these DOMS were in my butt worse than my legs, I hurt so bad I didn't even have a bowel movement for two days. I think even my turds didn't wanna get near my butt.

For some reason I had been under the impression that DWL's were a chick move -lol,call me a girl then cuz these will be a regular part of leg day from now on.

The first time my trainer had me do them I foolishly thought, "These will be kind of easy!" That thought lasted less than 30 seconds.

[bobbyt321]

They are if you use the pink dumbell, if you walking with 120lb db you're a man

They were the magenta dumbell's - so there!

[chodan9]

I like leg days, most of my workout partners didn't even do what I would term a leg day when we first started working out.
The claimed to do legs but it was basically quad extensions, some light ham curls, and light leg presses.
Now when we do legs I have em squatting, and the leg presses go heavy, I am introducing them to stiff leg dead's also.

Leg days are the days when I get to feel powerful and strong, my upper body is relatively weak by comparison, but on leg days I feel like the man.

btw my legs are probably weaker than most folks here, its just that I feel strong on leg day.

[Guff]

While on the topic of legs...I watched a couple of the Charles Glass vids and I changed my leg routine up drastically.

So far so good!

[tjwoody]

i never realized how much more work it was to push legs and have an appreciation to anyone that does push them hard. i am a long way off myself but get a bit better every time i push legs.

added lunges back to my workout. i am the only man there that does them and i do get looks but f them.

Me and a friend are gearing up to get squats going again and i look forward to them!

[Old Bob]

Legs are the most important of my workouts because they improve all other parts of my body. The harder I work on leg days the more weight and reps I do on all other body parts.

I do two legs days a week. Monday and Thursdays and wish I had time for more.

If you want a big chest work your legs. If you want big biceps work your legs. If you want big traps work your legs.

If you don't mind wearing long sweats in the gym and don't care to push the envelope then keep them chicken legs hidden and don't work 'em out.

Old Bob

[Bigshelbeachbum]

I am working out in the AM now with a new job so new set of folks in the gym. I squat three days a week and when I take time to notice they look at me like I’m lunatic kind of funny 5 people in the gym 4 doing curls and me squatting and grunting

[thor93]

Yeah .. sorry about that..

How about "Maintaining" ?

As in "Physique Maintenance".

If i would've been able to literally constantly progress,I'd be 700 lbs with 2% bodyfat.

[BrotherWolf]

How about "Maintaining" ?

As in "Physique Maintenance".

If i would've been able to literally constantly progress,I'd be 700 lbs with 2% bodyfat.

I don't believe in "maintaining" what's that ?

whether it's to get stronger, bigger, leaner etc..
I always try and progress, more weight , more reps, faster, higher etc..
there is no maintaining, that is just the state of mind of 99% of the folks you see in the gym, they are maintaining and toning..
you have to achieve something first if you want to maintain it and to maintain it you need to work like you're trying to beat yourself.

The fact that progress slows down and then might even stop does not mean one should stop trying to improve

[BazzaW]

I don't believe in "maintaining" what's that ?

whether it's to get stronger, bigger, leaner etc..
I always try and progress, more weight , more reps, faster, higher etc..
there is no maintaining, that is just the state of mind of 99% of the folks you see in the gym, they are maintaining and toning..
you have to achieve something first if you want to maintain it and to maintain it you need to work like you're trying to beat yourself.

The fact that progress slows down and then might even stop does not mean one should stop trying to improve

Well said.....even the greats have bodyparts they wish they could improve on.

[BrotherWolf]

Well said.....even the greats have bodyparts they wish they could improve on.

Absolutely... there's always someone ready to top you.
When I train I train with competing in mind even if I might never enter a PL meet , I still train with that goal in mind.
Maybe in a few years my point of view will be different but for now I am sticking to it

[SR800]

Legzzzzzzz, my favorite way to hate the start of the week