Leg day. Two words that strike fear into the heart of every guy who trains upper body three times a week. The truth is, most men can find a way to work chest day into their busiest weeks, but somehow, leg day is often forgotten. Sometimes it’s an inconsistent schedule for legs (once every other week, once a month, once in awhile), sometimes it’s just not really done to it’s full potential.
The thing is, in order to achieve your fitness goals, you need to keep in mind that your body is a system, all of the pieces need to work together. What many don’t realize is that by neglecting a certain area of your body, your whole body suffers. Ignoring legs means, ignoring half of your body’s ability to burn fat and gain muscle.
For Power
There is no major sport where you aren’t using your legs. Whether you’re throwing around a frisbee or playing baseball, the stronger your lower body is, the faster you can move. Training legs means you jump higher and run faster, beneficial to playing sports and moving around.
Those heavy weight-bearing exercises (squats and deadlifts) release high levels of natural testosterone and growth hormone, strengthening your entire body and making it easier to build muscle. Those exercises strengthen the entire body in their movements, working core, upper body and even grip strength. With stronger legs, you can exert more force in your upper body, particularly in exercises like the bench press, where you’re pressing with your entire body.
For Looks
Aesthetically speaking, it doesn’t look good to have skinny legs and a large upper body. Strengthening your posterior chain means that your largest muscle groups are burning more fat off of your entire body. Your glutes, hamstrings, quads and calves can go a long way in helping you achieve your aesthetic goals, guiding your upper body in the right direction and providing much-needed balance.
If you need a little guidance training legs, Future Fitness has personal trainers on staff that can help at our gyms in Cherry Hill, NJ, and across South Jersey. Stop in today to learn more or inquire about what our trainers can do for you.