Legs stubborn af, legs every other day?

[BrandonIron]

So I’ve recently began to really focus on my legs more than anything.
I’m 6’2” and my legs are just a bit more than half my body, meaning they’re really long.

I’ve been training for years, and my quads grow large, but way up high, to where when I wear shorts it still looks like I have no leg muscle, and looks off balance because my chest, arms, shoulders, and back are very large (for me).

My calves won’t budge on growth. Stretch in my quads, hams, and calves has gone up significantly, but even with AAS, they will not grow in size.

I’ve been thinking about doing legs every other day, which would be 3-4 times per week.

Any thoughts on this, or other advice to get these things to grow?

 

[NeuroRN]

Personally I feel like EOD would be a lot. Probably counter productive, leading to over-training. I train the twice a week. At 6’1 I feel your pain. Make sure you are loading the weight differently (narrow, wide, top of leg press, bottom of leg press) my upper quads grow the easiest as well. Had to move to narrow squats to get the inner quad growing.

 

[BrandonIron]

Awesome, that’s actually one that I don’t do

 

[NeuroRN]

Front squats too! I have to keep my legs guessing or else it’s just my upper quads growing.

 

[Outlawthing]

I agree if you wanna focus twice a week is plenty squats is king if you want mass I hate to say but heavy weight singles doubles triples pause squats chains bands car pushes . Another really forgotten exercise is lunges I wouldn’t say super heavy on these but nice form slow control there are several different ways you have side reverse skater lunges
Do your leg extensions and leg curls on Machine really slow , the negative too squeeze at top also you can do partials with machines but do heavy weight with high reps say 15-20 Another one I like but you need a spot to help face down on bench put a Dumbell between your feet and do leg curls that way those are my favorite

 

[Youts]

I love hack squats for lower leg development. I found if I put my feet to far down on the leg press my knees take a beating and they suck as it is.

If you do cardio, do stair work, walking up and down stairs is killer for your calves. Also calf presses and calf raises, I always stay away from seated calf raises, I don’t know what it is but they don’t do shit for me.

Want to see some great calves, look at a mailman’s calves, huge! Stairs all day very day.

I’ve also noticed keeping my feet perfectly straight on squats and deadlifts, rather than pointing toes out gives me more power and also works that tear drop better.

If I do narrow stance leg work, sometimes I’ll put a 45 plate on the floor and stand on that, forces me to keep my stance narrow.

 

[Dirtnasty]

Ha I just moved legs down on leg press to hity quads more. I have no quad developement and it hurts my squat big time

 

[Youts]

Also on stair work, forcefully push with the balls of your feet when stepping up, will hit the inner quads good too.

I always look at the body makeup of different professions. Mechanics have the best forearms and grip strength from turning wrenches all day. Mailmen have the best leg development, pipefitters get that forearm and shoulder muscle development.

 

[Outlawthing]

Usually I’m a mechanic and my grip is horrible now not from forearm strength but from nerve damage and carpal tunnel from years of it and chemicals like brake cleaner on the skin arthritis like a moe Foe and they could mix your shakes like a blender as bad as they shake sometimes from it

 

[Youts]

Damn that sucks! Now I know why a lot of mechanics wear those black gloves!

 

[vetvso]

All of these exercises are great. However genetics does play a role and for some of us our elongated calfs really piss us off. I have two sons one 5’11 and the other 6’4 the shorter has his Mom’s calves. My wife and him have perfect calves that a body builder dreams of having.

I have found if I shock them very hard lifting as heavy and as long as possible the muscle responds but only so much.

 

[NeuroRN]

That’s definitely fair. I don’t have real wide calves but the seem to fit with the rest of my legs so I cannot complain.

My wife always threatens to start a large Bore IV in my calf when I get an attitude.

 

[Dirtnasty]

Those are some great calves. Mine were never great but post ankle break man the left is shitty

 

[BrandonIron]

Yeah those are great calves @NeuroRN!

Thanks for all tips guys, there’s about 3 different things in all these replies that I haven’t tried, gonna give it a shot :+1:t2:

 

[Dirtnasty]

It’s funny strength training I’ve been told train more days but less on each day hypertrophy I’ve been told sometimes train them less CSU’s the parts not growing need more
Recovery

 

[JB_rD81]

You’re on your legs all day long, they could easily be trained E.O.D, check out DUP (Daily Undulating Periodization). You will squat every workout day on a DUP program, however your sets, reps and weights will always change to accommodate your recovery and rest… as far as calves, go heavy, just keep in mind that the Achilles has a much higher risk of injury in men the older you get.

 

[Islandswole]

I used to have the same issue, what I did was started experimenting with foot placement primarily on stuff like hack squat using light weight and focusing on that mind muscle connection. Once I I figured exactly how to feel the different parts of the quad in the movement then I gradually upped the weight and it worked wonders. Also for overall leg development make sure you are hitting adductors and abductors plus it’ll help protect against injury.

 

[Rusty]

Ya the stairs thing sounds right. I am 6’1 also and my brothers use to tell me I had Mike Tyson legs. All chicken until you got to the top. Then I became an electrician and up and down the ladder all day. My calves got and maintained good girth just from work. I also use the leg press to do calf raises. Put the balls of my feet on the bottom of the plate and go below perpendicular and push up all the way. I use 400 pounds and go to fail five sets twice per week.

 

[thejerk]

Legs are resilient, they carry out bodies around all day so it can be hard to coax growth. Calves included.

 

[TG1]

Also don’t underestimate a good 15 mins stretching legs daily to help with growth and recovery. Not a warm up but a deep stretch.