Do legs get bigger like arms/chest?

[D'light]

Hey guys....
I've been working out for about a month and a half now on my current cycle. I have realized something. I have gained ten pounds, but I think it is all in my upper body. I work my legs just as often, but they are not growing. They look more defined, and I have went up from around 200 to 255 on squats, but they havent gotten any larger. Is this just how legs are? they dont grow like upper body does i guess??

 

[Alex_L]

You probably work them as often , but you probably don't hit them with the same intensity or variety as you upper body.

Working your legs will help increase all mass over due too increased growth hormone you get from it.

Try some other leg exercises aswell as squats that might help your legs increase more.

 

[DJBen]

Yeah, legs dont grow. It's a shame how some guys are born with thighs bigger than their waist, isnt it?

Actually, you seem to be forgetting that they're a huge muscle group. If you're getting your legs 'more defined' then that would mean you're losing body fat. Otherwise they're getting larger.

Ten pounds in a month and a half equates to more than 65lbs of muscle in the first year. Thats not bad for newbie gains. If I were you I'd turn pro.

To measure muscle gain, you can do it the heigh tech way [whatever the hell that is.. I read something about it the other day]. OR you can measure your arms, chest and legs every now and then.

 

[JSH]

Because of the sports i do, such as hockey (english style) I have difficulty finding Jeans that fit as my thigh and calf muscles are so big. Either take up sports like fencing or field hockey or just squat (not with weights), just squat, like taking a **** standing up until failure. You can feel the muscles burn and it will bring them out. In kung fu its called horse stance, like horse riding.

 

[dockta]

Just take measurements to see how your travelling...

if your putting on size on your upper body, but not your legs... your not training them hard enough.. hit legs hard...

like DJBen said.... a lot of people have trouble puttin size on there legs. so... train them harder...

personally, i have naturally big legs... so i dont need to go too heavy, or else they just blow out.. and look silly compared to my upper body... my chest is what i have to train extra hard to keep up with everything else.

everyones different, each of us has bodyparts, that lag / excel other bodyparts.. its all part of it... establish where you stand, and train to suit.

cheers

 

[Alpine]

What rep range are you using on the legs?

Your legs are certainly getting stronger.

Someone told me mass gains come in spurts whereas strength gains are more linear. I don't know how true that is though.

 

[D'light]

heres what i do. I work every muscle group once a week. heres an example of a legs workout.
Squats: 12 Rep Set, 10 Rep Set, 8 Rep Set, 6 Rep Set; increase weight each set.
Leg Press: 12 Rep Set, 8 Rep set, immediantly lower weight/12 rep set
Lunges: 12, 10, 8, 6; increase weight each set
Deadlift: 12, 6+8 this is a super set, i do 6 for heavy weight, drop plates off and immediantly do the 8 without rest.
Calve Raise Machine: 12, 12, 12 Increase weight each set. 30 Rep Set which starts at 280lbs~do till failure...drop weight, do till failure....etc. until 30 reps are completed.
Whole workout takes 45mins-1 hour.
What do ya think?

Upper body muscles are worked in a similar fashion split over 2 days

 

[dockta]

Deadlifts - i pressume you are doin "stiff-legged" yeah?
Ditch lunges for Leg Extension..

Just a suggestion, but try this...

Squats - same as you mentioned
Leg Press - same as squats, dont super-set
Deadlifts - same as squats, dont super-set
Leg Extensions - Single legged, drop-sets, slow / controlled.. very strict.. drop weight by just less than half.. feel the burn.. and feel the pump.. excellent finisher.

You could also.. switch your reps around.. start with 6 finish in 12..
could also switch weight around.. start at your max (once warmed up) and then taper down the weight but increasing reps 6 start 12 finish etc.

Plentyof options and variences

Cheers

 

[MetalFortress]

Another idea is to simply increase squat sets. Volume is pretty much the best way to grow, so do, say, 8 sets instead of 4.

 

[D'light]

thanks guys...ill try those differences next tue and see how it feels

 

[Alpine]

...or ditch the lunges and just do 2 x balls out 20 rep squats with the weight you would do 10 with. A rest pause may be required towards the end

 

[Melvin]

Legs are one of the most stubborn body parts in the growing process, with calves being the most difficult. The reason being is that we use our legs constantly. Anytime you walk, sit down, get up, run, or even stand on them, you are using your legs. Because of this our legs are built to take a beating and need to be trained heavier than any other body part for maximum growth. I'm not sure how much you weigh but I'd be willing to bet you should be overloading them alot more than you are currently. I was 5'8 145 lbs. and my legs didn't start to grow noticably until I started doing 315 for reps of 10. Push yourself man, they'll come in, just be patient.