Big Legs

[trex74]

I have a question to toss out there:

Before I started weight training my legs were long 'n lean. OK they were skinny but with no definition.
Now, they have really thickened up, especially in the quads, and I am not enjoying this look so much, especially since my upper body puts on muscle much slower. Clearly I am not aiming for the female BB look or size. It's just not for me.
Also, I talked about my calves before, they are just naturally big, so I stopped doing direct calf work for a long time, and now they look better.
So my question is: Should I do less heavy leg work? I do not like how my legs bulk up so easily, and I was thinking of still doing some leg work, maybe just one exercise for the hams (like lying leg curl or sldls), one for the quads (lunges perhaps), and just bodyweight calf raises.
On the other hand I don't like to pussy out of a whole day of hard work, I love leg day but I am not sure what to do!!
I am open to any and all suggestions on how to get my legs still muscled, just smaller.

 

[DaBangEm]

I wouldn't neglect them especially exercises like squats and deads. They release so many hormones because of their size alone. My advise, I'd stick it out till your upperbody catches up. I can't see how that would make you look like a female body builder.

 

[Rebecca D]

My legs are naturally strong and when I started lifting seriously they responded quickly to squats. I was squatting 185 for 10-12 reps and 205 for 3 reps and my quads went from the 21-22 inch range to 24 inches (Over 3-5 years) My husband liked the "thick" look and thought my legs looked muscular. But like most women I only saw big. I cut my squatting to every other week. I do not use more than 135lbs but I still work my legs hard--nothing burns calories like a good leg workout. My legs are down to 23 inches (right) and 22.5 inches (left)--this took 2 years. Not where I would like them to be, but better. At 42 I think I have to accept that I am built thick in the lower half...at least it is mostly muscle and not fat.

Experiment a little with less weight and higher reps or only working legs every 10-14 days. And for the butt--my eternal battle--there are three words....diet, diet and diet.

Rebecca D

 

[RottenWillow]

IIRC you do a high volume of work. That's an especially effective method to add size to the quads and hams considering both those groups tend to be mixed fiber type. I never blew up so much in my life as when I was doing HST which is high volume work. Drop way back on the volume and you'll drop some of the swoldness, while retaining nice muscle shape.

 

[trex74]

IIRC you do a high volume of work. That's an especially effective method to add size to the quads and hams considering both those groups tend to be mixed fiber type. I never blew up so much in my life as when I was doing HST which is high volume work. Drop way back on the volume and you'll drop some of the swoldness, while retaining nice muscle shape.

Aha! Thank you RW.

 

[trex74]

My legs are naturally strong and when I started lifting seriously they responded quickly to squats. I was squatting 185 for 10-12 reps and 205 for 3 reps and my quads went from the 21-22 inch range to 24 inches (Over 3-5 years) My husband liked the "thick" look and thought my legs looked muscular. But like most women I only saw big. I cut my squatting to every other week. I do not use more than 135lbs but I still work my legs hard--nothing burns calories like a good leg workout. My legs are down to 23 inches (right) and 22.5 inches (left)--this took 2 years. Not where I would like them to be, but better. At 42 I think I have to accept that I am built thick in the lower half...at least it is mostly muscle and not fat.

Experiment a little with less weight and higher reps or only working legs every 10-14 days. And for the butt--my eternal battle--there are three words....diet, diet and diet.

Rebecca D

Thank you, I will try both reducing the weight, volume, and frequency.
My butt is small but a bit flat, so i'ma gonna continue with workin the glutes. Maybe someday I'll have a real badonkadonk

 

[superqt4u2nv]

Actually IMO your work them more light weight higher reps if you over train them they wont grow they will shrink if thats what your aiming for also the step mill will bring umm down in size as well.

 

[trex74]

Actually IMO your work them more light weight higher reps if you over train them they wont grow they will shrink if thats what your aiming for also the step mill will bring umm down in size as well.

yes that's exactly what i am aiming for, thanks!

 

[zedhed]

Well.....IMO legs that look like legs on a woman are sexy!
On the other hand legs that look like sticks are not sexy in any way!
Female legs with muscle and shape to them are sexy!
Women with calves are sexy!
Women with cankles aer not sexy!
There ya go Trex for what its worth.

 

[shanarama]

Well, I happen to like the "big" leg look on women (even more on men LOL), and am trying to grow me some big ole sexy legs. Luckily, I know from past experience that I can get those massive thighs I am aiming for, I was a sprinter in school Back then (don't ask when please) I was told that they looked "manly" and I spent a long time trying to shrink them...they shrank when I went to basic training and had to learn to run for distance rather than speed, and through the heavy conditioning they force on you Good luck getting your legs where you want them, and I agree that overtraining them will help break down the muscle fibers, but it won't happen overnight.

I don't know about everybody else, but when my thighs were only 2 inches smaller around than my waist I was very happy....and I wouldn't even mind them being even closer Small waist and massive thighs....yep, I want that.