Among fitness lovers today, a leg day workout can be a necessary evil. Go to any gym, and you will hear the saying, “Don’t skip leg day,” referring to the importance of training the lower body. In this guide, we discuss leg workouts and if you can skip leg day.
The Importance of Leg Day Workouts
Some of the biggest muscle groups in the body are utilized during leg workouts, including the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and calves. These muscles are important for athletic performance as well as general activities like walking, running, and climbing stairs. Many problems can develop from skipping leg day:
- Muscle Imbalance: With no lower body training, your upper body grows stronger than your lower body. When these muscles are weak, the upper body compensates, and that translates into poor posture and risk of injuries.
- Legs Help You Build Overall Strength: Part of the reason this one speaks for itself is that leg training is instrumental in total body strength development. If you have strong legs, you can do other exercises better because a lot of exercises, like squats and deadlifts, require you to use a lot of your lower body.
- Caloric Expenditure: Leg muscles are some of the largest in your body, so compound leg exercises, in general, will burn more calories than you may realize. These heavy compound lifts work huge muscle groups to spike heart rate and metabolism so that you continue burning extra calories long after the workout is over.
Benefits of a Leg Day Workout
- Increase Calorie Burn: Most leg or multi-joint exercises involve the use of big muscles, meaning a far greater energy expenditure and calorie burn.
- Build Muscle Strength: Leg resistance training builds muscle hypertrophy (growth) and strength. Exercises such as squats and lunges develop muscles of the legs, but they also help with the secretion of growth hormone, which is also important for overall muscle development.
- Improve Core Stability: Many leg exercises require core engagement. For instance, squats not only work the legs but also strengthen the core, contributing to better balance and stability.
- Enhance Athletic Performance: Strong legs improve speed, agility, and power output in sports and physical activities. This is particularly important for athletes who rely on explosive movements.
- Prevent Injuries: Strengthening leg muscles helps support joints and ligaments, reducing the likelihood of injuries in both the lower body and back.
- Boost Hormonal Response: Leg workouts stimulate the release of hormones like testosterone and growth hormone, which are essential for muscle recovery and growth.
- Promote Functional Fitness: Strong legs are vital for daily activities such as lifting heavy objects or climbing stairs, enhancing quality of life.
Is It OK to Skip Leg Day?
Although time constraints or discomfort may tempt you to skip leg day, this can have negative consequences:
- Enduring Effects: Consistently avoiding leg workouts can create lasting imbalances that could lead to injuries or diminished performance in the long run.
- Psychological Aversion: By constantly neglecting leg day, it builds a bad mentality towards the workout. This will create guilt or feeling like there is something wrong with you because you see others making legs their priority.
- Unorthodox Growth: If ignore any part of a well-balanced workout routine, progress in strength training goals are delayed.
There are, however, times a leg day skip may be warranted:
- Pain or Injury: If someone has pain or an injury in their legs or lower back, they should skip that particular workout, at least until they get better.
- Recovery Focus: You need to allow your muscles enough time to recover. If you work your legs hard, recovery would be beneficial.
Conclusion
Leg day is an important part of a balanced exercise program and you should never neglect it. The benefits of SQUATS extend well beyond their ability to create thunder thighs and rounder glutes; they include increased overall strength, metabolic health, injury prevention, and even athletic performance. Skipping the workout is OK for a reason, but regularly skipping it will have a serious impact, both physically and mentally.
Before you go, check the best leg workouts for men. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for even more fitness guides.
Sources:
- https://www.bicestergym.co.uk/importance-of-training-legs/
- https://www.trainheroic.com/blog/dont-let-friends-skip-leg-day/
- https://lakenonaperformanceclub.com/why-you-should-never-skip-leg-day-leg-day-benefits/
All images from pixabay.com
