After reaching my fat loss goal I've still been dilligently working out, but not quite as intensly as when I was cutting. The one area where I've totally slacked off is my legs. I haven't worked them in over four weeks.

Honestly... I don't miss it at all. I could not care what my legs look like. My legs are NEVER exposed. Even when I'm wearing shorts they are long shorts and they go down past my knees. I have been genetically plagued with chicken legs and I'm just fine with that. The only benefit I can think of for someone in my position to work out legs is increased fat burning, since muscle burns fat and there's a ton of muscle in the legs. However, I'm not looking to burn any more fat, my upper body muscle is good, and my diet is in check.

At this point, I'm pretty close to thinking "Goodbye and good riddance". I absolutely hate legs day. I always feel like crap afterward.

So, somebody please convince me as to why I should keep working my legs, other than the whole "muscle burns fat" angle.

Because chicken legs and huge upper body is what I call the donkey kong syndrome.

The other reason is that squats are the single best all around exercise, deadlifts are 2nd or 3rd. Squats release the most natural GH into your body helping it put on more muscle elsewhere, too.

Chicken legs look funny, just ask John Stamos. He's got them bad and hates them.

I could not care what my legs look like. My legs are NEVER exposed. Even when I'm wearing shorts they are long shorts and they go down past my knees. I have been genetically plagued with chicken legs and I'm just fine with that.

So, somebody please convince me as to why I should keep working my legs, other than the whole "muscle burns fat" angle.

Because they are some of the largest muscles on your body. Their development and maintainance is important to that old "muscle burns fat" angle but if you do it right you won't have to hide those "chicken legs" you have accepted. Also a good leg workout with expanded breathing is good for building chest and ribcage, if that is not up to speed.

The only benefit I can think of for someone in my position to work out legs is increased fat burning, since muscle burns fat and there's a ton of muscle in the legs. However, I'm not looking to burn any more fat, my upper body muscle is good, and my diet is in check.

You stated the best reasons yourself. If that doesn't convince you... what can we do?

I have seen more than one guy in the gym, bench pressing away... never working on legs. Small legs look funny, period. They'll look funnier when you're naked. Not that you might spend that much time au natural, still...

You're neglecting the lower half of your body. I, for one, want an ass you can bounce a quarter on... therefore, I'll happily endure leg day. And while it's not the easiest workout of the week, I never come out of it feeling like crap. Re-evaluate your diet... if a good, hard workout does that to you, something's not right.

-R

WOW! you're right. I wear pants all day so I'm going to stop working legs too. Wait a minute, I wear a shirt all day too. I guess this mean I don't have to work my upper body either. This is great! You just saved me a lot of time and trouble.

I'm going to start a new website and call it "JohnStoneFattness" and you can be my first member. I just might be on to something big.

And here I thought that I was improving the quality of my life by working out. Who knew that the only reason to workout is so I can look good naked. Well I'm naked only a very small percentage of the time so what's the point?

Thank you "The Bied" thank you very much. I may even pick up smoking! :rolleyes:

I have been genetically plagued with chicken legs and I'm just fine with that.

That's a reason to not do legs???? I was not blessed with very good legs, but I decided to do something about it (that's the point of lifting, right?). When I first started squatting, 135x6 absolutely hurt like hell; physically and emotionally. After a few months of dedication, I'm almost at 300x6 and completing a full leg workout. I've grown to love leg day, the pain is addicting and throwing some big plates on the bar is motivation enough for me (yes, ego plays a part). I don't know about your gym, but not many people at my gym work legs, so the racks are always open... another benefit. Also, it's a good feeling when my shorts are baggy around the waist, but tighter around my upper legs. Don't forget your hamstrings and calves, either! Do it up. :tu:

You've already got your answer. You're happy with what you've got and you're maintaining -- there is no need for YOU to do legs. For everyone else, heck yeah, we'll be doing those squats.

It would be like trying to convince my marathon-running friend -- who looks like he just got out of a refugee camp to start weight training. He won't look at a weight for fear of picking up undo body weight. He's happy with what he looks like. He's happy that he can run 26 miles fast. You're happy, he's happy -- there's no convincing the satisfied.

I think that I will be equally jackassy in this reply.

No offense bro, but it sounds like you are being lazy and giving up. You state that you have chicken legs , well hell then do something about it! Do you also realize that compound exercises like squats (yay I can do these now, had the dr check something) and deads boost your natural test production thus giving you larger all around gains????

I for one do not particuarly care for leg day but I do it like clockwork EVERY WEEK.

#1 - I refuse to have, as it has been so eloquently put, Donkey Kong Syndrome after years of working out. I want an all around good body.

#2 - I want my nat test levels to stay as high as possible

#3 - I'm dont refuse to do somethign that will better my overall body and appearance b/c I simply do not care for it.

Reconsider your position man, reconsider your leg routine, and reconsider your overall goals.

I think that I will be equally jackassy in this reply.

No need to act like that, gents... I have been through enough message boards to know this'll get you nowhere and degrades the tone of the board. Don't be the cause of that happening here too.

If this is his wishes, so be it. He's asked the question... so it's clear to me that he's got self-doubt as to whether or not this is a good idea. He'll either fix it now or pay later. Period.

-R

What rtestes said. (..and everyone else )

I know what you mean, I've got the chicken leg thing going on too, but it's really the most efficient way, because of their size, to keep that metalbolism going and adding muscle.

Ever notice how hard your HR is going after just a few reps....well try that with your biceps, you'll be there all day trying to get that kind of stimulation.

I hear what you're saying, loathing those days, but heck, you could think of it as "cardio day" . Doing legs definitely gets you into the fat burning range.

I hate em, but I do em.

Heck, maybe some day I'll get promoted to turkey legs

:lol:

I was telling the truth that I haven't done legs in about four weeks, but I wasn't actually thinking about giving up on them altogether. I just needed to get a little motivation from my support group here so I could get back into nailing them with the fire and desire that I had a month ago. You guys have now given me that motivation, so thanks. Of course, there's always gotta be comments like this, though:

I'm going to start a new website and call it "JohnStoneFattness" and you can be my first member.

:rolleyes:

:lol:

I was telling the truth that I haven't done legs in about four weeks, but I wasn't actually thinking about giving up on them altogether. I just needed to get a little motivation from my support group here so I could get back into nailing them with the fire and desire that I had a month ago. You guys have now given me that motivation, so thanks. Of course, there's always gotta be comments like this, though:



:rolleyes:

Sorry dude, I didn't mean to be such an ass. It comes very naturally for me for some reason. Probably some baggage, but that's another thread. Dont give up on those legs!

I was telling the truth that I haven't done legs in about four weeks, but I wasn't actually thinking about giving up on them altogether.

I haven't done legs in about two months due to planar fascitis (aggrevation of tendons in my feet causing them to swell painfully). I did a light leg workout last week to remind my leg muscles what working out was... and I could barely lift 75% of the weight I could 8 weeks ago. Hopefully I make up that lost time on SGX.

-R

Sorry if I was an ass also in my inital statement, I just set an assy tone in my response but did try to offer something constructive. Sometimes it's hard to read emotion in the written word and my inital assumption was that you just assumed working legs served no purpose. Sorry bro.

my inital assumption was that you just assumed working legs served no purpose.

Nah, not at all. Just been away from them for a while and needed a kick in the ass to get back into it hardcore. Sorry if I was misleading.

When you lift you release a number of different hormons/other stuff (im not entirely sure) but it will increase the more you lift, and makes your ability to grow and lift more better, therefor since your legs house some of your biggest muscles they contribute to the largest release, Ive read on a number of sites that using an inclined squat machine is one of the best exercises to do this on because it focuses so much on those huge quad muscles, which will release hormons and endorphines maybe

I dont know its something along those lines, aside from looking good!!

I haven't done legs in about two months due to planar fascitis (aggrevation of tendons in my feet causing them to swell painfully). I did a light leg workout last week to remind my leg muscles what working out was... and I could barely lift 75% of the weight I could 8 weeks ago. Hopefully I make up that lost time on SGX.

-R

Man that sucks - I have bone spurs and walking can be very paintful. I think I reaggrevated the injury by not stretching my calves before my workout. Anyways..if its in the heel - check out heelthepain.com. I bought a couple of heel inserts and it seems to have helped. Good luck.

You will regret not doing legs a year or two from now when you see how good your upper body looks and you are still sporting chicken legs. You can do something about those legs if you want to.

Anyways..if its in the heel - check out heelthepain.com. I bought a couple of heel inserts and it seems to have helped. Good luck.

It's where the tendon attaches to the front of the heel. The tendon is too short and inflexible, so continual stress aggravates the daylights out of it. I have custom orthotics for my shoes now that support that portion of my foot properly. I haven't had any problems since, and that was about six weeks ago. I'll let you know tomorrow... tonight is my first SGX leg day.

-R

You want motivation? Start doing squats and deads now or I'll come over and bitch-slap you!

...did that work? :p

Seriously...I have the exact opposite problem...I love leg day, but I have to be careful not growing much cause that'll completely throw me outta symmetry...

...maybe one day you get legs like this as well (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=6643) ?

Personally, I dont lift for my legs... eeek I know donkey kong syndrome, but my reasoning stems from the amount I run and bike. My legs aren't that big but they are rock solid. When I lift for them, I am too beat to do the level of cardio I enjoy doing. I am not shooting for a huge upper body so I don't think I'll look dissprotionate... but ehh if it gets noticable I will start.

I have the opposite problem. I'm a pretty skinny dude and really just starting out...but I've always had large strong legs and a weak upper body.

I still work my legs since so many people point out the benefits it will have to your upper body as well, but I really don't push them that hard and do it almost as an afterthought.

Annoyingly, I've made most of my quickest gains in my legs from a half assed workout. :rolleyes:

How about make leg day your last workout of the week and get 2 days rest after doing them. Do light cardio for 1/2 hour on those days just a brisk walk to help the blood flow and recovery of the workout. Check your diet make sure you are getting enough carbs post workout to refill those muscles, that goes for all of those workouts.

hey just show us a pic of your chicken legs!! :drool: i'm hungry now!!