Why are my legs so big and weak?

**skelooth** · 02-12-2007, 08:39 PM

I don't get it. My legs are disproportionately large and are solid. Yet my squat sucks, and keeps getting worse. I tried to squat 275 the other day, and couldn't even do one rep. I had to do 5x5 of 225lbs.

But on the other hand I go very deep atg on my squats. But I don't understand though, that number is so low, and I have been lifting a long time now. There are other weak lifts too, but this one is puzzling, because my legs are big.

**DarkFalcon** · 02-12-2007, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skelooth

I don't get it. My legs are disproportionately large and are solid. Yet my squat sucks, and keeps getting worse. I tried to squat 275 the other day, and couldn't even do one rep. I had to do 5x5 of 225lbs.

But on the other hand I go very deep atg on my squats. But I don't understand though, that number is so low, and I have been lifting a long time now. There are other weak lifts too, but this one is puzzling, because my legs are big.

I'm guessing it has to do with your confidence level and possible form. Maybe at higher weight's you become tentative and change your form because you fear getting crushed or losing balance? You should video tape it and play it here so we can see what is cause the trouble.

**bubba g** · 02-12-2007, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skelooth

I don't get it. My legs are disproportionately large and are solid. Yet my squat sucks, and keeps getting worse. I tried to squat 275 the other day, and couldn't even do one rep. I had to do 5x5 of 225lbs.

But on the other hand I go very deep atg on my squats. But I don't understand though, that number is so low, and I have been lifting a long time now. There are other weak lifts too, but this one is puzzling, because my legs are big.

There is a big long answer I am sure, but I think it can pretty much be summed up to.. You are a pussy!!!!!! lol....j/k bro..

Are you sure your legs are the weak link in the chain? Could be your lower back, or hip flexors, etc. Could be your form... could be a lot of things... If you can leg press a lot of weight odds are your legs are not the problem..

**madman911** · 02-12-2007, 09:55 PM

I agree with DF that it could be largely a psychological thing. If I get intimidated by a new weight and feel that it's going to own me, then it will. You've got to psych yourself up and tell that weight that it is the one getting owned.

A couple of other pieces of advice: If you are typically squatting 225, then 275 is a big jump. You're better off attempting 230 or 235. Regular, but small incremental weight increases are the best way to ensure a long span of progress. I'd be suprised if you couldn't get at least a 2x5 or 3x5 with 235.

I am just starting to play with low volume, high frequency training. You may want to try only doing one or two sets of squats with a weight that limits you to 6-8 reps and do that three days a week (e.g., M-W-F).

Edit: To really answer your question though, size and strength are not always proportional. I've seen really tiny dudes lift amazing weights, and guys as big as oxes get crushed trying to bench 135.

**romanaz** · 02-12-2007, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madman911

Edit: To really answer your question though, size and strength are not always proportional. I've seen really tiny dudes lift amazing weights, and guys as big as oxes get crushed trying to bench 135.

hey, sounds like me almost! haha

I think its all in your head bro. tape it.

**DJSTARER** · 02-12-2007, 10:18 PM

do you DL skel? It may just be your core's inability to handle heavy weights. I know guys who do 200% walkouts in and out of the rack just to learn to handle heavy weights.

**Peaked_18** · 02-12-2007, 10:25 PM

...maybe you should train for strength rather than hypertrophy...

**skelooth** · 02-13-2007, 12:34 PM

I think my core might have sometime to do with it....

My form is good though, People are usually impressed with my form because I can physically squat atg

Vegeto · 02-14-2007, 08:58 PM

Are you cutting right now?

Also, big legs will only go so far if you are wasting them with biomechanically inefficient technique. Like others said, get a vid-cam and post it up here. Your form may not look like you think it does, and we may be able to see some things you can't. ATG=big fugg'n whoopty doo. There is more than that.

I can squat 245x1 at a bodyweight of only 145lbs (last summer) without even being conditioned into my maximum effort. And my legs aint' big for my size either. I know that's not much, but if you can't do 275x1 with your legs, then you are probably wasting energy by trying to muscle it. Once your muscles take too much of the load and close off the movement of the fascia sheaths surrounding them and the bones, it's pretty tough to issue power through the skeletal frame. I suggest trying to relax and increse your mind-intent focus, then, push with your entire skeletal frame. The key in keeping the muscles relaxed is being in the most biomechanical advantagous position throughout the squat, which allows the the weight to be held mostly by the body's structure, and moved with greater ease.

Now, I'm not sure I explained that well, but it's actually just a longer version of what others said above about being more confident with the weight. To put it simply, to gain the best biomechanical advantage, you MUST fully commit yourself to each phase of the movement, not hesitating and not holding back for fear of injury due to the greater weight. Sometimes when we do that, it is so subtle that we don't consiously notice it. When you hesitate or hold back, you tense up and can't move as freely like the above paragraph explaines. Of course, I don't mean for you to be wreckless, I just mean confidently committing yourself to the movement, even subconsiously. If you can't do that, then up the weight more slowly like madman suggested.

And seriously, put up a vid if you can!

**A.FreeRadical** · 02-14-2007, 09:52 PM

Just some thoughts from your comments, Skel:

If you are doing atg, you aren't going to lift as much as you would going to parallel.

Going atg doesn't mean you are doing good form. I think it is much more difficult to do good form while doing atg.

Since we are talking strength here, are you training like a powerlifter would train? Are you using a powerlifting routine? Do you use a 3 level squat box? Powerlifters are the masters of strength training. Train like one if you want strength.

Squatting is not just a leg exercise (as others have mentioned). Determine your weak points and work on them.

*

**romanaz** · 02-14-2007, 10:06 PM

free rad is right, it could be anything, from your back, to your lats, to your legs.

squatting is more overall body, then it is just legs.

02-12-2007, 08:39 PM	#1
skelooth eh heh heh Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Posts: 8,041 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 160	Why are my legs so big and weak? I don't get it. My legs are disproportionately large and are solid. Yet my squat sucks, and keeps getting worse. I tried to squat 275 the other day, and couldn't even do one rep. I had to do 5x5 of 225lbs. But on the other hand I go very deep atg on my squats. But I don't understand though, that number is so low, and I have been lifting a long time now. There are other weak lifts too, but this one is puzzling, because my legs are big. __________________

02-12-2007, 09:55 PM	#4
madman911 Metamorphosizing Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston Area Posts: 1,523 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 60	I agree with DF that it could be largely a psychological thing. If I get intimidated by a new weight and feel that it's going to own me, then it will. You've got to psych yourself up and tell that weight that it is the one getting owned. A couple of other pieces of advice: If you are typically squatting 225, then 275 is a big jump. You're better off attempting 230 or 235. Regular, but small incremental weight increases are the best way to ensure a long span of progress. I'd be suprised if you couldn't get at least a 2x5 or 3x5 with 235. I am just starting to play with low volume, high frequency training. You may want to try only doing one or two sets of squats with a weight that limits you to 6-8 reps and do that three days a week (e.g., M-W-F). Edit: To really answer your question though, size and strength are not always proportional. I've seen really tiny dudes lift amazing weights, and guys as big as oxes get crushed trying to bench 135. __________________ Millennium Sport Technologies Sponsored Athlete http://www.millenniumsport.net IMPC 2006 Novice Division Champ IMPC 2007 Open Division Champ Never underestimate the power of the bandana.

02-12-2007, 10:18 PM	#6
DJSTARER eating more folate... Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: State College, PA Posts: 3,979 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 113	do you DL skel? It may just be your core's inability to handle heavy weights. I know guys who do 200% walkouts in and out of the rack just to learn to handle heavy weights. __________________ My philosophies on training: "Extreme training yields extreme results" "Just because you can, does not mean you should" "The best program is the one you are not doing" Penn State Powerlifting-181 lb weightclass PGA Professional of America Current Stats: 474 Squat 601 Deadlift 320 Bench Goals for next training cycle: 500lbs squat and a total over 1400 in competition

02-13-2007, 12:34 PM	#8
skelooth eh heh heh Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Posts: 8,041 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 160	I think my core might have sometime to do with it.... My form is good though, People are usually impressed with my form because I can physically squat atg __________________

02-14-2007, 08:58 PM	#9
Vegeto blameless sinner Join Date: May 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 804 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 15	^Sounds like the people impressed with your form have low standards.. Are you cutting right now? Also, big legs will only go so far if you are wasting them with biomechanically inefficient technique. Like others said, get a vid-cam and post it up here. Your form may not look like you think it does, and we may be able to see some things you can't. ATG=big fugg'n whoopty doo. There is more than that. I can squat 245x1 at a bodyweight of only 145lbs (last summer) without even being conditioned into my maximum effort. And my legs aint' big for my size either. I know that's not much, but if you can't do 275x1 with your legs, then you are probably wasting energy by trying to muscle it. Once your muscles take too much of the load and close off the movement of the fascia sheaths surrounding them and the bones, it's pretty tough to issue power through the skeletal frame. I suggest trying to relax and increse your mind-intent focus, then, push with your entire skeletal frame. The key in keeping the muscles relaxed is being in the most biomechanical advantagous position throughout the squat, which allows the the weight to be held mostly by the body's structure, and moved with greater ease. Now, I'm not sure I explained that well, but it's actually just a longer version of what others said above about being more confident with the weight. To put it simply, to gain the best biomechanical advantage, you MUST fully commit yourself to each phase of the movement, not hesitating and not holding back for fear of injury due to the greater weight. Sometimes when we do that, it is so subtle that we don't consiously notice it. When you hesitate or hold back, you tense up and can't move as freely like the above paragraph explaines. Of course, I don't mean for you to be wreckless, I just mean confidently committing yourself to the movement, even subconsiously. If you can't do that, then up the weight more slowly like madman suggested. And seriously, put up a vid if you can! __________________ ______________ ________________ ......Busy Training...... __________________ ________________ __________________

02-12-2007, 10:25 PM	#7
Peaked_18 a la commode Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,297 Recipes: 2 Rep Power: 96	...maybe you should train for strength rather than hypertrophy...

02-14-2007, 09:52 PM	#10
A.FreeRadical the Epicurean Bodybuilder Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,245 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 57	Just some thoughts from your comments, Skel: If you are doing atg, you aren't going to lift as much as you would going to parallel. Going atg doesn't mean you are doing good form. I think it is much more difficult to do good form while doing atg. Since we are talking strength here, are you training like a powerlifter would train? Are you using a powerlifting routine? Do you use a 3 level squat box? Powerlifters are the masters of strength training. Train like one if you want strength. Squatting is not just a leg exercise (as others have mentioned). Determine your weak points and work on them. * __________________ "Is it going to be the red pill or the blue pill, Neo? The red pill will answer the question 'What is the Matrix?' Choose carefully. Remember, all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more." Ron Paul for President, 2008 A.FreeRadical ...the Epicurean bodybuilder Height: 5'9", Age: 62, My last high on 2/1/2006 was 196 lbs. My last low on 8/08/2006 was 167.5 lbs. Cutting until I am lean Starting weight: 190 lbs. bodyfat: 19.7% November 27th: 183 lbs. bodyfat: 18.3% bodyfat Goal Weight: 176 lbs with no more than 10% bodyfat My recipe collection

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