My big o' legs

[TNeuf]

I looove this site. So glad to have found you all!!

I'm hoping to get some ideas, advice...whatever..on my leg situation. I'm 5'9" which should mean I have problems putting on muscle, but no way - I just look at a squat rack and my legs grow (wish it was that way with the treadmill and my bodyfat dripping off) . Anyway, I love muscle which makes it hard to lose some, but I've gotta' do something. My jeans are all SKIN-TIGHT on my thighs. I have good definition - could stand to lose some fat though. I've thought about increasing my reps (usually do 12,10,8,6 but lately have been doing 12 or 15 for legs) and thereby decreasing my weight - a little, but everytime I get in that gym, I just can't seem to do it. I've also read that increased reps for reducing the size of legs is just a myth.

Aye, I'm confused. Any suggestions?
Thanks so much,
Tara

 

[Daisy_Girl]

I wouldn't increase reps of traditional weight workouts (squats, leg press). It won't do much for BF reduction OR reducing the size of your legs. It might help you lose some muscle, but with that muscle loss comes a reduction in metabolism which will make gaining fat EASIER. And since fat takes up more room than muscle, well, your legs might end up bigger.

My legs are naturally muscular too, I can stop working them and they remain relatively firm. I do notice though that when I don't do weights for them, the 'top' section of my thigh is larger and I see much less definition than normal. Nobody else notices the difference, but I do. I don't do traditional leg workouts either though.

I do a LOT of lunges - all kinds, walking, stationary, reverse, one leg squat (back leg elavated), etc. I also do some plyometrics (box jumps, etc). Plus, my cardio is traditionally leg intensive - HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) on the Stepmill or Running on the treadmill.

 

[The Shadow]

Lunges and stiff deads

 

[TNeuf]

my cardio is traditionally leg intensive - HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) on the Stepmill or Running on the treadmill.

Daisy_Girl, when you do HIIT on the treadmill (running) what kind of intervals do you do? I do a few minutes warmup then just increase the speed every minute for 3 minutes (last minute I'm running my heart out) then recover for a couple of minutes. I've also tried one minute on (sprint), one off. Just wondering what you do.

Lunges and stiff deads

Hi Shadow, Oh Lord knows I do my lunges and deadlifts. I've lunged my butt off - literally! I have good muscle, maybe just too thick. Would you suggest cutting back on the squats then??

Thanks for the advice guys.
I really appreciate it.

 

[The Shadow]

Hi Shadow, Oh Lord knows I do my lunges and deadlifts. I've lunged my butt off - literally! I have good muscle, maybe just too thick. Would you suggest cutting back on the squats then??

Thanks for the advice guys.
I really appreciate it.

this goes against conventional thinking...but yes...I would for a while at least.



http://www.elitefitness.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3034&password=&sort=1&cat=500&page=1



I squat maybe once 3-4 weeks

 

[Daisy_Girl]

My HIIT training, both on tread and stepmill are 5 min warm up, 1 min hard, 1 min recovery.

Another thing though, sprinting is like a leg workout - have you SEEN sprinters legs? They are muscular as hell. Sprinting may not be a good idea for YOU....if you are trying to reduce leg size. Maybe try moderate distance running, steady state.

 

[FitFossil]

Here's a good thread on this subject.

http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237550&highlight=thigh

Wilson6 brings up a very good point regarding legs that are "too big/muscular":"Need to know what your thigh skinfold is. If it is more than 15 mm, your problem isn't muscle."

 

[Daisy_Girl]

Here's a good thread on this subject.

http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237550&highlight=thigh

Wilson6 brings up a very good point regarding legs that are "too big/muscular":"Need to know what your thigh skinfold is. If it is more than 15 mm, your problem isn't muscle."

I ALWAYS remember that advice. Whenever I start to think my legs are too big, I remember that...and realize that it is still FAT that is making my legs larger than I want. Excellent point FF, one that all of us should remember.

 

[TNeuf]

One day I decided if my legs were meant to be big, then I'd make them into the biggest baddest most muscular legs ever

I read that thread and loved what you said FitFossil!!! Ya!! This is exactly how I was thinking a couple of months ago - somehow I've let doubt creep in where once there was confidence. I need some good, strong women in my gym to motivate me. All we got are senior citizens and army dudes that don't even know what to do with a weight. Glad to have found y'all!

That thread totally motivated and reassured me. I'm going back to my heavy leg workouts and I'm going to zero in on my shoulders and arms so I can balance things a little. Hell, I'm Slovak, I'm supposed to have big legs.

Oh, and I'm going to measure the fat too. Awesome point, thanks for all the great tips.

Tara