Why You Shouldn't Be Skipping Leg Day

We all know that one guy in the gym who looks like he hasn't hit legs in the past year. Broad shouldered and top heavy, this guy lives in fear of the leg machines. It's a pretty universal gym stereotype at this point. We make fun of the guys who skip leg day because it's pretty obvious their only concern is those upper body muscles, but deep down, a lot of us would love to take leg day out of the equation. Yes, leg day isn't much fun, but there are more reasons for keeping your leg workouts going than just looks.

• For starters, you're not just hurting your legs when you don't work them like the rest of your body. Squats and deadlifts have been shown to increase the production of natural muscle building hormones more than any other exercise. What you also might be forgetting is that squats and deadlifts work more than just your legs. Your arms, abs, chest, and back are all getting worked to some degree when you perform these exercises. Working small muscle groups in your upper body is fine, but squats and deadlifts improve strength in exercises directly related to these muscles.

• You also need to understand that the larger the muscle being worked out, the more fat loss will occur. The largest muscles in the body are the quads and glutes, and working them out on leg day burns more fat in the upper body than just crunches and treadmills. While burning fat, leg workouts improve core strength, which means better overall posture, flexibility, and athletic performance. Some people skip leg day because it's more difficult, or doesn't look as impressive as throwing up weight on the bench. Regardless, if you want to increase strength and look your best, routinely working out your lower body is essential.

• Speaking of athletic performance, nearly every sport you enjoyed growing up involved running. Having a strong lower body is critical to performing well in athletics, whether it's a game of pickup basketball with your friends, or just kicking the soccer ball around with your kid. A well-rounded workout will provide you with better endurance, power, and balance. If you want to perform better in just about any athletic endeavor, skipping leg day isn't doing you any favors.

• Oh, and leg day isn't just about squats and deadlifts. Leg day can also include sprint training. Sprint training is great, because it serves as an excellent way to increase cardiovascular fitness without sacrificing hard-earned muscle gains. You might say that you only doing strength training, but ignoring your cardiovascular health is pretty much the same as skipping leg day. In both cases you're missing out on a much-needed portion of your workout.

We know it isn't the most fun or impressive workout, but skipping leg day hurts your overall health, and keeps you from reaching your potential. And if you need some recovery for after your next leg day, head on over to Promax and check out our full line of protein bars!