If you train in a commercial gym, you’ve probably noticed most gym go-ers don’t train their legs. You might be the only one using the Power Rack for Squats and maybe you’ve seen guys with a huge upper-body but toothpick legs.
Popular excuses: “I run for my legs”, “My legs are too big already”, “Squats hurt my knees”, … Whatever the story, not training your legs is the biggest training mistake you can make. Here are 5 reasons you should train them.
1. More Muscle. You can find studies showing that Squats & Deadlifts increase the release of Growth Hormone & Testosterone more than any other exercise. These are natural muscle building hormones.
2. Bigger Upper-body. Squats & Deadlifts work your whole body, not just your legs. Quick examples of how they stimulate upper-body growth too:
- Your arms squeeze the bar hard during heavy Squats & Deadlifts.
- Your abs work hard at stabilizing the weight during Squats.
- Your chest muscles tense hard during heavy Deadlifts.
If you can’t train your upper-body because of an injury, you can prevent muscle loss in your upper-body by doing heavy Squats & Deadlifts.
3. More Strength. Stronger legs and core muscles will increase your strength on upper-body lifts and thus help upper-body muscle development. Quick examples of how Squats & Deadlifts can cause strength gains on your other lifts:
- Leg drive matters on the Bench Press. Stronger legs means more leg drive and a bigger bench, and thus bigger muscles.
- Squats & Deadlifts strengthen your legs & lower back. These muscles help you stay strong during the Overhead Press.
4. Symmetry. I know I’m preaching all the time you shouldn’t care about what other people think, but a big upper-body with toothpick legs looks ridiculous. And it shows a lack of …
5. Mental Strength. Here’s the real reason why people don’t train their legs: it’s physically & mentally hard. That’s why doing Squats and Deadlifts will build your mental endurance & character like no other exercise.
Running Doesn’t Count! Running, cycling or soccer will never work your legs like Squats & Deadlifts do. Include both exercises in your routine and you’ll see how you’ll get better at sports and how your upper-body will improve.
