Make
your quads grow!
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Legs training for mass and strength
By Tony Meyer
No doubts that leg training is so vital for a bodybuilder as a good
nutrition. You know why? Yes! Right! A muscle mass. Heavy squats make your
body produce more testosterone that really increase muscle
growth. Leg workout is exhausting, painful and not everybody can complete
it thoroughly. But leg workouts made properly will not only add mass and
strength to your lower body but also increase your metabolic rate
and overall upper body mass. You can get your best gain working legs only
once a week but so hard that you don't need to train them more frequently.
Good advice: drink a little cup of coffee 15 minutes prior your legs workout.
It will stimulate your mental focus as well as increase your endurance.
Start your legs workout from the warming up for about 5 minutes. It
could be stationary bike ride or jogging. Then you can begin.
SQUATS
The basic barbell squat is one of the best exercises you can do but
it has to be done properly. Turn your toes out about twenty degrees
from the position where your feet are parallel to each other. Your
knees should always track above your feet. First set is warming up set
of 25 reps.
Feel every fiber of muscles which you have to prepare for a hard work.
Than chose a weight which is a challenge to perform for 8 reps, and
somehow do it 12 times. For the next set you have to take a weight you
can do 6 reps, and by any means force yourself to complete 10 reps.
Keep the form perfect on every repetition. The next exercise is Hack squats.
HACK SQUATS
This movement is good for front quadriceps and also brings the details
to the quads. Do 2 sets of 12 fully controlled repetitions and go on to
another exercise. If you feel it's not good for your knees you can
replace it by the Smith machine squats. The manner you have to set up your
feet and move is the same as for barbell squats.
LEG PRESSES
The last exercise for your front thighs workout is leg presses. You
have to stretch your thighs at the bottom in order to feel not only quadriceps
but also hamstrings tension. This exercise works good all of your
legs muscles. Don't forget: slow, controlled movement is the must. Do 2
sets of 15 reps.
STIFF LEGGED DEADLIFT
This exercises affects hamstrings and you should use light weights
to avoid an injury. Take a shoulder width grip and do the first warming
up set of 25 reps having a good form and keeping your lower back strict.
You have to feel your hamstrings rather than your lower back. Then use
a weight that allows you to make 15 reps having a good form. Flex
your lower back hard, feel a tight stretch in your hamstrings when
you move down and squeeze muscles at the top. Do not relax your back and
hamstrings at the top position. If you feel that stiff legged deadlift
is not comfortable for your knees or lower back, you can slightly bend
your knees. 3 sets of 15 reps - and that's it.
Notes:
-
I do not recommend to train other bodyparts in the same workout with legs
except calves.
-
To gain mass you have to increase your training weights if only for a few
pounds every workout or add at least one more rep in each set.
Train hard, eat more and grow!
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