If you’ve spent enough time in the gym, you should be well aware of the countless benefits of leg training. Today, I would like to focus mainly on one of the most important benefits and how it directly pertains to Bodybuilding. We hear all the time, how impressive someone’s bench press is, or how they can curl 90lb dumbbells for reps. I don’t care. Check your ego in at the front door, we’re training legs!
Are you still reading? Great, let’s cut the crap and jump right in… You want gains? Real gains?? Assuming your nutrition is on point, and you’re devoting the proper amount of effort into rest, recuperation, tracking your progress, etc., you must prioritize your leg training – period.
Let’s face it, leg training is brutal and this is why it separates the men from the boys, the doers from the talkers. It takes extreme focus and determination to complete a proper leg workout. The mental toughness and physical strength you gain from leg training is unmatched by any other workout.
The best leg exercise is obviously squats, which is where you should place the highest priority and let it form the foundation of your leg routine. You also have a large variety of exercises and machines that will target multiple areas of the lower body which must be incorporated into your leg workout to provide you with balanced results.
Don’t believe me? I have a simple test for you: Next time you train legs, add some extra weight (a safe amount) to each lift, but go for the same amount of reps from your previous workout. The increase could be something as little as 10lbs to each side of the squat bar, 25lbs to a leg press, or 10lbs to a leg curl, whatever – just do it. Add a little bit of weight throughout your entire leg workout, go balls-out, and make it the best leg workout you’ve had in a while. Now, pay very close attention to your next upper body workout(s)… you should easily get a couple extra reps on the bench press, add a few pounds to your bent-over row, a few extra reps of dumbbell curls, etc. Another variation would be to add more reps or sets to your overall leg workout if you choose not to add weight. Either way, the gains you make training legs will immediately impact all other exercises in your routine – this is no joke.
Want more proof as to the importance of leg training? Take a good look around… In most commercial gyms, you’ll typically see something like 6 bench presses to 1 squat rack. However, if you step foot into a real hardcore gym, you’ll notice the same number of bench presses as you do squat racks, leg presses, hacks, etc., and all of this equipment is being used equally. Think about that – there’s a reason for this.
If you’ve recently hit a plateau, or you’re ready to take your training to the next level, don’t sell yourself short by complicating matters. Focus your mental and physical energy on your leg workouts and watch what happens – you won’t be disappointed!