How long before you started enjoying leg workouts?

[FlintO]

Hi Guys. First post here.. wasn't sure where to put it so apologies if there's a more appropriate section for it.

Basically I've been training for about 6 months now and I just can't get into my leg workouts. I can pump myself up for them but when I'm actually working out my motivation is awful in comparison to when I work my upper body.

About a month ago I realised that I simply wasn't doing enough for my legs and I needed to stop avoiding exercises like squats if I wanted to make some proper gains. So I've been hitting legs twice a week now for about 4 weeks and I'm still not enjoying my workouts at all like I do with all my other workouts.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to stop working legs. I know it has to be done and I refuse to be one of those guys with chicken legs. Guess I just wanted to see if anyone had any similar experiences but reached a stage where working legs actually became something they looked forward to. Would be nice to know that there will come a point when leg days stop being a chore.

Cheers in advance for any replies

[SuicideGripMe]

Many love leg or squat training from day one, some learn to love it, some hate it forever. It's like training in general, a lot of people love it and others hate going to the gym completely. What motivates people also differs greatly.

[Jfern689]

It took me three months to enjoy my leg workouts. Once you see result in your legs kicking in you don't want to stop.

[jmmainvi]

Many love leg or squat training from day one, some learn to love it, some hate it forever. It's like training in general, a lot of people love it and others hate going to the gym completely. What motivates people also differs greatly.

This. I loved "leg days" from the first day that I had a real one - I think it had a lot to do with the attitudes of the people that got me into lifting. It always mattered to them more to be able to squat 405 below parallel, or pick up 600 from the floor than it did to have a certain size chest or bi's. It also helps if you have purpose in your leg training. As a rugby player, I know going in that the top five most important things I can do in the gym are squat, deadlift, clean & jerk, sprints, and sled drag/tire flip/prowler push (or any weighted conditioning). All legs/lower back focused. I get excited for legs day because I know it's where the results come from that get me to my goals. And because it's something I'm typically better at than everyone around me.

I don't think I know anyone who has a big squat or dead that doesn't get excited to work their lower body. Whether those people are just the only ones that make progress, or whether making progress gets you excited, I'm not sure. You decide.

[FlintO]

Yeah I played a lot of rugby at school a couple of years ago (played since I was 10). Used to have to do loads of leg training but I never enjoyed it and never really hit them that hard. I guess as Im taking my training a lot more seriously than I did then, when I start to see some real gains I might start to enjoy it more.

[Blackjack68]

I started enjoying them the very moment I dropped the "ego lifting", lowered the weight to a wimpy level I could handle with good form, and started making progress. Not implying that's you at all.

I'll admit, there are lifts I'd rather do than most leg excercises, but knowing that I'm making progress and looking better with every set fuels my leg workouts.

[zakatak333]

they're still grueling

can't really say i enjoy them, mostly just remind myself that if i give up i'm screwed and if i push on i'll feel accomplished and be one step closer to my goal

would be nice if its fun like pressing but the hardest thing i do is squat

[DJB25]

Hi Guys. First post here.. wasn't sure where to put it so apologies if there's a more appropriate section for it.

Basically I've been training for about 6 months now and I just can't get into my leg workouts. I can pump myself up for them but when I'm actually working out my motivation is awful in comparison to when I work my upper body.

About a month ago I realised that I simply wasn't doing enough for my legs and I needed to stop avoiding exercises like squats if I wanted to make some proper gains. So I've been hitting legs twice a week now for about 4 weeks and I'm still not enjoying my workouts at all like I do with all my other workouts.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to stop working legs. I know it has to be done and I refuse to be one of those guys with chicken legs. Guess I just wanted to see if anyone had any similar experiences but reached a stage where working legs actually became something they looked forward to. Would be nice to know that there will come a point when leg days stop being a chore.

Cheers in advance for any replies

personally i love the pain of squatting , FEEL THE BURN!

[repsandsets]

I go through stages of liking different exercises - a bit like liking different breakfast cereals. To keep your mind engaged, you want to give yourself variety, so it might just be you need to refresh your leg day program.

It also might be the way you're framing leg work in your mind. For example, if you think of squats as the stuff that "has to be done" then it's hardly very motivating. I'd focus instead on the fact that there's a real art to perfecting technique on squats. Its an Olympic lift. And good form on front and back squats is the hallmark of someone who is serious about the gym - that makes it far more motivating.

[Slay11]

When i first started lifting, during the beginning stages i would skip a leg day once in a while. I had to force my self to hit legs x2 a week, and during the time frame my squat has increase so much that i actually fell in love with leg day. Either way, hate it or love it bro get it done.

[ODoyle99]

they're still grueling

can't really say i enjoy them, mostly just remind myself that if i give up i'm screwed and if i push on i'll feel accomplished and be one step closer to my goal

would be nice if its fun like pressing but the hardest thing i do is squat

Same here^

[emaytee]

Are you training for strength or size? I started enjoying my leg days when I focused on strength.

[Spimman]

10 weeks in and I'm starting to like squats more, but it has been the biggest struggle for me. Dead lifts on the other hand are my favorite lift.

[cake05]

I hate leg day but I looove squats. Squats are one of my favorite excersises.

[orca23554]

Squatting 2X or 3X a week (heavy) requires some mental fortitude. Not sure of my body but my mind loves em for this very reason!

Another reason I love squats is that when you rep some heavy weight on the squats it's a signal to the other lifters around that this guy knows what he is doing. That way minimal chit chat or advice from jokers who think they've the right to go around correcting other people

[auntAuntieBea]

Leg Day is about as enjoyable as a visit to a dentist named Josef Stalin. That said, I do enjoy picking up heavy things and putting them back down -- the deadlift part is always satisfying.

[ForeignE]

At first i hated leg days but when i started squatting i cant wait for leg days. Just that feeling when you raised the weight is incredible, even if its only 2,5kg

[Rog447]

I love training and love training legs, but putting 315 on your back and squatting it 20 times is never fun! Lol

[ironwill2008]

Would be nice to know that there will come a point when leg days stop being a chore.

Not sure if "enjoy" is the right word, but I anticipated the benefits of leg training from my very first day.


The 'discomfort' experienced during an effective leg workout is simply a means to an end, and isn't something in and of itself to focus on. Concentrate instead on what you'll get back--you'll eventually have a set of wheels that you can be proud to have built, something that only a minority of trainees can claim.

[Linedriver]

I have always loved them. From the first day I attempted them, they were my favorite exercise. I was in high school, and I attended the football team's offseason workout program from time to time. After they have been lifting for months on end, they could only put 185 on the bar for a set of squats - I did 185 for my first lift and went up in weight easily on the next set.

I guess the fact that squats were naturally easy to me compared to others motivated me to want to do them more. Now, I look forward to squatting every week more than I do to benching like most people.

Once you start setting a specific squat weight goal for yourself, I think they become about five times mor enjoyable - being able to crush PRs.

[nealbha]

The first day i entered the gym. Idk leg days just make me feel like a boss lol...Its also one of the best muscle groups for me, im almost at 2x my BW on a lot of the lifts. But i don't enjoy going to practice sore as hell lol

[Denon]

I hate leg day. I always kicked leg day's ass, but I couldn't stand it.

I stopped doing legs for a while because my legs were getting just too big. Since that break, I've grown to hate leg day even more.