Men strong upper body weaker legs?
Seekerman
Posts: 58 Member
I joined a fitness class (kind of entry cross fit) The class had 6 women and 2 men. The other man and myself were over fifty, the women between 30 and 45 and good fitness. In our class the men had the weakest legs but by far the strongest upper bodies. Wondering how common this is.
The other man had a similar training a history as myself. He had big arms and a powerful looking guy but legs kind of thin for his upper body. Most of the women were very weak in the upper body. Interesting and a bit surprising to find out their legs were stronger.
I have focus on my upper body for years so it is strong, muscular and healthy looking. My legs look ok but could use some more muscle and strength. I used to run and bike but rarely lifted weights for my lower body. Now as I am older I see the mistake of my ways. Knee and hips issues. With this class I had been adding some lower body strength training. Unfortunately, I injured my hip trying to do too much. Any gain I had are gone and I start from ground zero. Seems like I have weak hamstrings and stiff and weak hip flexors, my core is Ok but not great. My quads strength in the leg extension seems ok but I hear this is a poor exercise for someone with knee trouble.I struggle in yoga when lower body strength and stamina is put to the test. Wall sit test my legs give out earlier then the woman. Partly due to poor flexibility I think. After my injury I want to take a slow careful approach. Any suggestions to ease back in
The other man had a similar training a history as myself. He had big arms and a powerful looking guy but legs kind of thin for his upper body. Most of the women were very weak in the upper body. Interesting and a bit surprising to find out their legs were stronger.
I have focus on my upper body for years so it is strong, muscular and healthy looking. My legs look ok but could use some more muscle and strength. I used to run and bike but rarely lifted weights for my lower body. Now as I am older I see the mistake of my ways. Knee and hips issues. With this class I had been adding some lower body strength training. Unfortunately, I injured my hip trying to do too much. Any gain I had are gone and I start from ground zero. Seems like I have weak hamstrings and stiff and weak hip flexors, my core is Ok but not great. My quads strength in the leg extension seems ok but I hear this is a poor exercise for someone with knee trouble.I struggle in yoga when lower body strength and stamina is put to the test. Wall sit test my legs give out earlier then the woman. Partly due to poor flexibility I think. After my injury I want to take a slow careful approach. Any suggestions to ease back in
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Replies
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Ha, yeah this isn't uncommon but generally not for the right reasons. The hormonal difference between men and women automatically puts women at a disadvantage when it comes to muscle development. Women aren't typically afraid to train everything and spend more time focusing on form than weight progression (generally speaking of course). Although their individual strength may not increase as fast as men they are generally more well-rounded. Men on the other hand tend to focus so much time on upper body that it's not uncommon to see disproportionately built men. The next time you're at the gym take a look at the men working out and see how many are busting their *kitten* on the bench press, hammer strength bench press, super heavy shoulder shrugs, arm curls, etc. Then kind of keep your eye out over the week and see if you ever find them busting their *kitten* the same way on legs. Typically you see some leg presses, maybe some RDL's, and some calf raises and that's it. Most men simply don't take the time to really work their legs. That's why we have an epidemic of men wearing skinny jeans in this country. Show me a man that busts his *kitten* in the squat rack and doing deadlifts and I'll show you a man that can't pull skinny jeans past his knees.0
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Every day is upper body day!0
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What I've seen is a lot of guys in a hurry to go heavy before getting their technique down. They usually get injured, but at our age you take too long to heal up. You need to get a good trainer who actually knows strength training beyond the low-intensity hypertrophy work of your average gym trainer. Then you have to be patient and work it over a multi-year timeframe. And because of your knee issues, you have to be extra careful and listen to your body and go slower.
I actually rehabilitated a back injury while working on core and back strength, but it took caution and rest and persistence over years. I'm hoping to hit a 500 lb deadlift and 450 squat next year, at 51. That isn't really very much for a young powerlifter, but for an old geezer it's almost respectable.
Keep the yoga. Learn some workouts on foam rollers. And work in stretching in your rest intervals.0 -
What I've seen is a lot of guys in a hurry to go heavy before getting their technique down. They usually get injured, but at our age you take too long to heal up. You need to get a good trainer who actually knows strength training beyond the low-intensity hypertrophy work of your average gym trainer. Then you have to be patient and work it over a multi-year timeframe. And because of your knee issues, you have to be extra careful and listen to your body and go slower.
I actually rehabilitated a back injury while working on core and back strength, but it took caution and rest and persistence over years. I'm hoping to hit a 500 lb deadlift and 450 squat next year, at 51. That isn't really very much for a young powerlifter, but for an old geezer it's almost respectable.
Keep the yoga. Learn some workouts on foam rollers. And work in stretching in your rest intervals.
I'm in the same boat, back injuries will slow you down a bit; but I guess I'm still semi-young. LOL. A raw 500lb deadlift and 450lb squat is respectable at any age sir, nice work. Unless you weighed 500lbs, then maybe not. LOL0 -
There is one guy at my gym that literally looks like the cartoon weightlifter. Big upper body, but tiny legs.
It's very funny to look at him. His legs look like that of a paraplegic (I don't even think I'm exaggerating). When I first saw him, I thought that he may have been recovering from a lower body injury, but he looks like he walks just fine and I have seen him on the treadmill running. No limp, no slowness...
He looks so strange. Never seen him work the lower half, but have only seen him a handful of times when I don't go at my usual time.
I love squats.0 -
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I see guys even bigger up top them me with legs like mine all the time too. In the past the woman I have seen in the gym don't lift much weight upper or lower body but they usually go on a very casual basis. These women in the class are more dedicated but admit to working out 80 to 90 percent lower body. They got nice toned legs. A few I would say have very muscular legs but all except one had very weak looking (and in reality) upper bodies. I think it looks good for woman to be this way. My first time trying to push the walking lunges was comical. My legs were wobbling, shaking near the end and I went down for the count. I used the same weight as my partner but should have used less. One woman kidded with me calling me the muscle man with weak legs. I was making process and too bad I got to start again.0
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I can say as a woman who has lifted regularly for more than a decade, I always notice men's legs and butts.
Grabbing a nice hard *kitten* in the sack is so much better than some flabby one.
My PR for the back squat is only 200 pounds, but it seams to me that the average guy can't do that. The sad part ( to me) is that almost any man (barring any medical issues) should be able to surpass that with a minimal amount of training.
The lack of men in the squat rack makes me sad. But an open rack is good, so I'm conflicted.0 -
I don't think men have weaker legs by nature. I think, as others already mentioned, its because they don't equally train their legs0
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Don't skip legs day.
I used to hate working my lower half, and often would work half arsed not putting much effort in. The awaking moment is when I saw a guy who goes to the gym often, wore shorts instead of his usual jogging bottoms, his arms and chest are hench and I mean hench but it looked like I could have broke his leg with a decent kick. They are completly out of proportion to the rest of his body, and at that moment swore to work my lower body just are hard and as much as my upper body.0 -
I always though man should have and usually do have stronger legs. The focus these woman had was opposite of mine. The female instructor has since told me woman often have similar leg strength on a pound for pound basis and not uncommon to find women train legs more then men. She added men will increase their advantage with equal training and time. She was not surprised their legs were stronger based on my age and history. Men don't walk around in short shorts anymore like in the seventies while woman do so I think this contributes to mens lack of focus in this area and why women make the legs the priority.0
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Eugene Runner
200 pound squats is excellent very impressive. I think you are right the average guy in the gym can't squat 200 because they are not training legs or doing squats at all (me included) Most do half or quarter squats like you say.0 -
Skips leg day:
.. or does he..0 -
I always though man should have and usually do have stronger legs. The focus these woman had was opposite of mine. The female instructor has since told me woman often have similar leg strength on a pound for pound basis and not uncommon to find women train legs more then men. She added men will increase their advantage with equal training and time. She was not surprised their legs were stronger based on my age and history. .
Yeah, all things being equal between a man and woman the man's leg's should be stronger. Any imbalance in favor of the woman most likely is the result of poor training and or diet, possibly injury but likely due to training.Men don't walk around in short shorts anymore like in the seventies while woman do so I think this contributes to mens lack of focus in this area and why women make the legs the priority
Those shorts needed to go away anyway but that's a good point. You can also point to the fact that modern male fashion has embraced skinny jeans which advocates having skeleton legs.0 -
Men don't walk around in short shorts anymore like in the seventies while woman do so I think this contributes to mens lack of focus in this area and why women make the legs the priority.
People (I won't even say men- because women are totally guilty) of training "mirror muscles"
meaning- when you look at yourself - and the muscle you can easily see- that's what they train- so a lot of chest and arms and calves.
I had a kid tell me "I hate leg day" I was like WHY it's FABULOUS. He goes nah this stuff is for girls...t hey are the ones who are supposed to have nice butts and stuff.
I was like... really because I love a guy with a nice *kitten*. He pretty much dismissed me. Hysterical given that as a highschool/college freshman kid- he should have been honestly thrilled that I bothered to talk to him and give him advice- I'm attractive and clearly have a nice butt. Seriously. great source for information!!!!
I'm giving you sound advice young pup... listen to me. I know what I'm talking about.
wasn't having it- he was to concerned about how difficult the hack squat was and how bad his legs were going to hurt. LOL0 -
I can say as a woman who has lifted regularly for more than a decade, I always notice men's legs and butts.
Grabbing a nice hard *kitten* in the sack is so much better than some flabby one.
My PR for the back squat is only 200 pounds, but it seams to me that the average guy can't do that. The sad part ( to me) is that almost any man (barring any medical issues) should be able to surpass that with a minimal amount of training.
The lack of men in the squat rack makes me sad. But an open rack is good, so I'm conflicted.
girlyman...my max squat is more than that!0 -
I'm giving you sound advice young pup... listen to me. I know what I'm talking about.
wasn't having it- he was to concerned about how difficult the hack squat was and how bad his legs were going to hurt. LOL
Ha, that is some of the best advice a young man, or any man for that matter. Your conversation is just further proof that most men don't want to work that hard. Your comment regarding women train "mirror muscles" too is well put and maybe that's why they tend to train legs so much. Legs and butt are very visible in most women's clothing, especially "going-out" clothing.0 -
I enjoy leg day cause nobody takes up the machines.. they are all too busy talking bro science and doing curls.
I wear shorts in the summer almost all the time.. Nothing better than some defined big calf muscles!0 -
I'm in the same boat, I rarely exercised my legs in the past. I just started doing squats at home with dumbbells just to get started and after just three sets a couple days ago my legs were sore like crazy, and still sore quite a bit today! So I plan on doing more of those in the future to build up my leg strength. It's easy to skip legs because generally its more fun to do upper body type workouts, but the reality is your legs have the largest muscles, so why not develop those as well?0
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As a % of lifts women's legs are usually much stronger relative to their uppers. Men can typically lift more than a woman with legs, and the upper body lifts are also a higher % of the lower body lifts. In other words a man can usually squat more than a woman, and their bench is a higher % of their squat than women's.0
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I just alternate Lower Body and Upper Body days. A lot of guys at the Gym seem to have Shoulder days, Tricep days, Bicep days....etc etc.....you can always tell who they are....stork legs :laugh:0
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God I love this photo...0 -
I enjoy leg day cause nobody takes up the machines.. they are all too busy talking bro science and doing curls.
I wear shorts in the summer almost all the time.. Nothing better than some defined big calf muscles!
That's why I love leg day. I'm in shorts all summer long and I get more compliments from strangers on my calves than anything else. It's fun to catch someone looking down at them.
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I enjoy leg day cause nobody takes up the machines.. they are all too busy talking bro science and doing curls.
I wear shorts in the summer almost all the time.. Nothing better than some defined big calf muscles!
That's why I love leg day. I'm in shorts all summer long and I get more compliments from strangers on my calves than anything else. It's fun to catch someone looking down at them.
One thing I'll say about calves I do see men train the hell out of their calves for some reason. Seems like common leg training is maybe some leg pressing, curls, extensions, and then multiple sets of calf raises. I haven't touched a calf machine in well over a year and my calves develop nicely just from squats and deadlifts, plus interval sprints. I think most men can keep it simple with some hard work and get great results. I guess the hard work is the key there though.0 -
I'm the complete opposite. Very strong legs, weak and flabby upper body. lol0
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One thing I'll say about calves I do see men train the hell out of their calves for some reason. Seems like common leg training is maybe some leg pressing, curls, extensions, and then multiple sets of calf raises. I haven't touched a calf machine in well over a year and my calves develop nicely just from squats and deadlifts, plus interval sprints. I think most men can keep it simple with some hard work and get great results. I guess the hard work is the key there though.
Calves are massively influenced by genetics. Some people develop, and some just don't. The photo I linked earlier is an Olympic 200M sprinter with over 2.5x bodyweight squat. Works legs hard, but has a lot more "go" than "show". Too bad for him.0 -
The Squat photo seems to represent many woman training lower body but apparently not upper other for toning. I say who cares cause she looks fantastic. Two of the woman in the class were similar to this build. They had trouble benching the bar but on the leg press were pressing 450 for reps and I was struggling with 270. In fact I tried 360 and got caught deep and pulled my ribs struggling to get the weight back up. My max squat was only 145 and it was their warm up. My consolation is I can still bench 315.0
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I just alternate Lower Body and Upper Body days. A lot of guys at the Gym seem to have Shoulder days, Tricep days, Bicep days....etc etc.....you can always tell who they are....stork legs :laugh:
Ha! I am a girl who has Legs days, Glute days, and Legs and Glute days. I do alternate Upper Body (2x a week there), but I also do quads those days
In fairness, I do have a bad back problem that doesn't let me do my UB like I'd like at all, but I still thought that was funny.0 -
...I have focus on my upper body for years so it is strong, muscular and healthy looking. My legs look ok but could use some more muscle and strength. I used to run and bike but rarely lifted weights for my lower body. Now as I am older I see the mistake of my ways. Knee and hips issues. With this class I had been adding some lower body strength training. Unfortunately, I injured my hip trying to do too much. Any gain I had are gone and I start from ground zero. Seems like I have weak hamstrings and stiff and weak hip flexors, my core is Ok but not great. My quads strength in the leg extension seems ok but I hear this is a poor exercise for someone with knee trouble.I struggle in yoga when lower body strength and stamina is put to the test. Wall sit test my legs give out earlier then the woman. Partly due to poor flexibility I think. After my injury I want to take a slow careful approach. Any suggestions to ease back in
(eta: dammit, my links are screwed up. Do hip holds with no weights at first, hip pulses with weight in sets, and the stretch for the stretch)
Do these with no weights at first:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHoAFpVJqMM
Do these weighted in sets and reps (you can do just these):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glYCXgdvzOY
Always stretch them after:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOlX41i1evo
The yoga holding issue is probably quads. Maybe look up knee PT exercises that also work it? I work mine with bodyweight lifts, but what I do is really rough for most knee problems. It just happens to work with my particular knee limitations
I can't do the leg extension myself because of the way it bends the knee/moves my kneecap, yeah. 0
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