No really, how important is it to do legs?

[WOLFCRAFT]

Yeah, I just needed to hear all that as motivation really because I absolutely hate leg day.
I've started working them again the last two weeks and just need to stay on top of it.

And no I've never heard the phrase "squat for big arms".

And yes I do back.

Now do I need to squat or can I get the same effect from the leg press?

[AdamGH]

squats and sex... boost your testosterone naturally

[SmittyTheOX]

And no I've never heard the phrase "squat for big arms".

Heres just 1 of many examples:

There's a saying, "if you want big arms, squat!" How can this be? Squats are for legs! A group of scientists in Denmark (Hansen et al. 2001) conducted an interesting study of arm strength. First, the scientists tested the arm strength in a group of subjects and then divided them into two groups: One group trained only their arms and the other group trained their arms and legs. Both groups trained their arms the same amount of time, however, the second group performed additional leg exercises. At the end of the experiment the group that trained arms only increased their strength by 9%. The group that trained arms and legs increased arm strength by 37%!!!

How did this happen? Lifting heavy weights releases large amounts of testosterone and growth hormone. Since the legs are a large muscle group, you can lift much more weight than you can with only your arms. You'll never be able to use the same amount of weight and release the most testosterone on a biceps curl than you do on squats or even the leg press. So, the key point here is to use exercises that recruit large amounts of muscle, compound movements such as squats, deadlifts, bench presses, and pull/chin ups to get your ticket to the gun show!


Reference: Hansen, S., T. Kvornign, M. Kajaer, and G. Sjogaard. 2001. The effect of short-term strength training on human skeletal muscle: The importance of physiologically elevated hormone levels. Scandanavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports 11:347-354.

[MuscleScience]

Heres just 1 of many examples:

Hanson has done some pretty good work in this area. He has a study similar in the journal of strength and conditioning and I also remember seeing one like this in J of Applied Phys if I am thinking of the same Dr. Hanson.


This paper of his and others is pretty bad ace, if your into this kinda stuff that is....LOL

Physiological hypertrophy of the heart and atrial natriuretic peptide during rest and exercise.
J Svanegaard, K Angelo-Nielsen, J S Hansen

Department of Clinical Chemistry, Svendborg Hospital, Denmark.