Anybody built big legs without Squats?

[K1ngufk1ngs]

I honestly built my legs way more biking but I had a shitty bike that only had the most difficult gear and I had solid tires because of so many goathead thorns where I rode. So my bike was heavy as fuck and hard to ride. I legit put inches on my calf and ham/thigh.
Squats I think are overrated. Not bad to train them but they are far from the best overall for everyone

 

[Ridethelightningbarefoot]

Im sure you can. In my experience so far no. I have a herniated disc and cant squat or DL. My legs just arent as big as they were when I was hitting the compound lifts.

 

[JesterBOB]

I honestly built my legs way more biking but I had a shitty bike that only had the most difficult gear and I had solid tires because of so many goathead thorns where I rode. So my bike was heavy as fuck and hard to ride. I legit put inches on my calf and ham/thigh.
Squats I think are overrated. Not bad to train them but they are far from the best overall for everyone

I think it depends on how to squat, squat technique, anatomical angles of a person. Again, each person's body reacts to the load on the bike.

 

[JesterBOB]

Im sure you can. In my experience so far no. I have a herniated disc and cant squat or DL. My legs just arent as big as they were when I was hitting the compound lifts.

By the way, a common problem for those who once squatted their legs is getting smaller. But many find a replacement and begin to progress. Maybe you haven't found those exercises yet.

 

[K1ngufk1ngs]

I think it depends on how to squat, squat technique, anatomical angles of a person. Again, each person's body reacts to the load on the bike.

Yes and bikes also are more natural flow of motion for people. Depending on how tight my lower back is can change my squat performance dramatically. But very little could compromise me getting optimal stress from that bike.

 

[Jackripper]

Squats are so overrated to me, I initially built my leg size with just leg press, I dabbled in squats for a few years because I was of the belief I had to do them for legs, my best squat ever was 405 x 24 reps (w/ knee wraps) and my quads are better now from leg presses than they were when I could squat with 405 for all those reps. You don’t need to do them at all

405 x 24 I was proud when I got that as a single

 

[Demondosage]

405 x 24 I was proud when I got that as a single

Man, I was never really happy no matter what my lifts were. At the time I thought 315/15 on a bench press was weak, as was 405x24 reps on squats, now I look back at it all and I’m like “damn you were strong as fuck!!”

 

[K1ngufk1ngs]

Man, I was never really happy no matter what my lifts were. At the time I thought 315/15 on a bench press was weak, as was 405x24 reps on squats, now I look back at it all and I’m like “damn you were strong as fuck!!”

Yeah as a trainer I think us "hard-core" lifters forget that the average male struggles with 135 on bench. Legit in gyms that are not just hard-core a majority of lifters are "below average" it takes alot of mental power and will to even desire to put over 135lbs on your body for alot of people. We prob don't feel it but to most people the body stress of 135 is like some of us unracking 350 to 500lbs. Squating more or even 2 plates is uncommon in alot of gyms for overall user base too. I'd say your average gym goer (that co worker that says they workout but doesn't look like it) may bench 135 to 150 tops curl 50lbs...total not each arm. Squat 135 maybe 155 and deadlift 135. And that's honestly high if I'm counting anyone over the age of 35 to 40

 

[JesterBOB]

Yes and bikes also are more natural flow of motion for people. Depending on how tight my lower back is can change my squat performance dramatically. But very little could compromise me getting optimal stress from that bike.

Yes, I also liked the bike. But I have a lower back injury, and squats and back exercises help me feel better. And the bike, no matter how much I love it, my back starts to hurt if I often train on it.

 

[Inspired]

Incline treadmill walking will build your legs. The more you weigh, the better. You may develop shin splints though. If you do develop shin splints, then don't try to keep pushing through them or you can damage your legs/nerves and it becomes harder to use a treadmill.

But if you do it right, you'll build your legs. Incline levels? I always start at 2 regularly but for legs, I start at 4 and I increase up to 5, 6, 7 etc. The harder and faster and higher you go, the more you will build. The longer you do it, the more you will build.

 

[JesterBOB]

Incline treadmill walking will build your legs. The more you weigh, the better. You may develop shin splints though. If you do develop shin splints, then don't try to keep pushing through them or you can damage your legs/nerves and it becomes harder to use a treadmill.

But if you do it right, you'll build your legs. Incline levels? I always start at 2 regularly but for legs, I start at 4 and I increase up to 5, 6, 7 etc. The harder and faster and higher you go, the more you will build. The longer you do it, the more you will build.

I would recommend instead of a track if you weigh a lot of ellipsoid. Less stress on the musculoskeletal system and knees. This can put pressure on your legs.

 

[bigtyivier2k2]

Unfortunately due to an injury I had to stop squatting years ago (same with deadlifts) but managed to build a lot of my leg size from them.

I still make great progress now without squatting which got me wondering if I could have built just as much mass without ever squatting.

I know it’s controversial to ask as some people act like training is completely pointless unless your squatting lol (which is just dumb) but has anybody else built big legs without squats?

For example, I know lots of people like to hate on the leg press but I have made some pretty decent gains with it.

Dante Trudel of Doggcrap fame from the mid 2,000 is an advicate of heavy weight deep leg presses for 30 reps rest paused. Says it can put legs on anybody in a few short weeks (8 i believe)

 

[bigtyivier2k2]

Incline treadmill walking will build your legs. The more you weigh, the better. You may develop shin splints though. If you do develop shin splints, then don't try to keep pushing through them or you can damage your legs/nerves and it becomes harder to use a treadmill.

But if you do it right, you'll build your legs. Incline levels? I always start at 2 regularly but for legs, I start at 4 and I increase up to 5, 6, 7 etc. The harder and faster and higher you go, the more you will build. The longer you do it, the more you will build.

I think In having this recently doing incline treadmill M. Does it feel like your ankle area has an annoying pump where it becomes more difficult to walk

 

[Evom1]

Unfortunately due to an injury I had to stop squatting years ago (same with deadlifts) but managed to build a lot of my leg size from them.

I still make great progress now without squatting which got me wondering if I could have built just as much mass without ever squatting.

I know it’s controversial to ask as some people act like training is completely pointless unless your squatting lol (which is just dumb) but has anybody else built big legs without squats?

For example, I know lots of people like to hate on the leg press but I have made some pretty decent gains with it.

I'm going to point out the irony that the person in your avi has said many times he built his legs without squats

 

[Evom1]

Dante Trudel of Doggcrap fame from the mid 2,000 is an advicate of heavy weight deep leg presses for 30 reps rest paused. Says it can put legs on anybody in a few short weeks (8 i believe)

This. DEEP slow controlled reps, get to a weight where you're dying around 16-18 and have to will yourself to grind out to 30

 

[K1ngufk1ngs]

Dante Trudel of Doggcrap fame from the mid 2,000 is an advicate of heavy weight deep leg presses for 30 reps rest paused. Says it can put legs on anybody in a few short weeks (8 i believe)

Get a heavy cheap bike. Lock it in the hardest gear. Get solid tires.
Gains are garunteed.

 

[K1ngufk1ngs]

Imho insisting on squats for legs is gatekeeping actual development by wrecking many people's joints and back. Who would bench press if it fucks with your knee joints? So why build legs fucking with your sciatic nerves

 

[JesterBOB]

Dante Trudel of Doggcrap fame from the mid 2,000 is an advicate of heavy weight deep leg presses for 30 reps rest paused. Says it can put legs on anybody in a few short weeks (8 i believe)

I love these leg workouts.

 

[JesterBOB]

This. DEEP slow controlled reps, get to a weight where you're dying around 16-18 and have to will yourself to grind out to 30

Deep and slow - it feels like some kind of hell.

 

[Deleted member 123722]

I don't think squatting is for everyone, especially if your biomechanics make it much harder for you. I vastly improved mine with full ROM leg presses and hack squats. You're going to have to lower the weight at first, since most people don't do full ROM and their knees aren't used to it, but once your knees get stronger, none of these movements will hurt at all. On my second leg day, I will trade leg presses for smith machine squats, where I go very slow and deep.