May try 'spinning' to help build legs

Cusp of Carabelli · May 2nd, 2006, 10:37 PM

What do you guys think? I want to build my legs. I squat and squat and squat. Seeing great results and my strength has increased a lot.

I may add 'spinning' once a week to my regime. What do you guys think?

**haphakhung** · May 3rd, 2006, 12:28 PM

Stick with strength training for now. I know some friends into spinning and they have said they have found good results (they technically didn't say in what though) Anyway, those friends of mine are veterans in weight training and have built great big legs with the weights, I think if you are a newbie and trying to gain size and strength, stick with the the weights until a little longer till you feel you are getting bigger. If you want to bike it up yourself to as cardio or to semi-exhaust your legs, go for it. I know a lot of my friends take the spin classes to exhaust their legs before or after working out, but to be honest, I don't think they do it for size, more for the psychological stimulation that they are going through some torture and succeeding. Plus, the usual spin class is way too long imho. Anything more than 30 minutes spinning crazily on a bike mike hurt your size gains. It is up to you in the end. I say do a trial and error. You know your progress of your legs from your weight training right now because of your log books and measurements, take a week or two and incorporate spinning and see what happens, if you see results, keep doing it. Good luck. Oh by the way, if you are going to spin before or after weight trianing may I advise you take something in to replenish yourself. Good luck.

Hap

**FitnessPhotos** · May 3rd, 2006, 01:07 PM

I love spinning - excellent cardio workout and an excellent workout for your legs, as long as you work on doing it right and not cheating your way through the class.

Face it, weights only do so much - repeated movements that usually follow the same paths of resistance. For a total leg workout you need to variables that spinning, running or other forms of cardio offer that weights do not. What good are legs like tree trunks if you can't run for shit or can't peddle a bike for more than a couple miles? I know guys that can squat 400 pounds but wouldn't last 20 minutes in a spin class.

While I respect the opinions above me here; the truth is when you take a spin class you aren't necessary just throwing your legs in circles for an hour - you change positions to work your quads and your hamstrings. You ride slow, you ride fast - you stand, you sit. You need 30-60 minutes of cardio for the sustained heartrate increases necessary to burn calories - regardless of weather your goals are to bulk up or lean out. Combining spin with a lifting routinue can only improve your results - not hinder them.

I believe that to achieve better overall symmetry and overall better phyiscal fitness you need to include exercises outside of the weight room to stimulate your muscles in ways that don't happen when doing repeated and predictible lifts.

**JoeBAR** · May 3rd, 2006, 02:12 PM

Totally agree with FitnessPhotos. You wouldn't believe how calves grow when jogging! Any 250 lbs+ around struggling with calf size should try a 15 miles jog

I'm only 180 sumthin, and it sure werks for me.

Cycling to work has also helped me reach new highs in squats and to a less extend in deadlifts.

**FitnessPhotos** · May 3rd, 2006, 02:17 PM

My friends from the gym (gals) tell me I have the nicest legs. All this running, spinning and leg routinue makes my calves pop when I walk.

BAM!

**PowerHouse** · May 3rd, 2006, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeBAR

Totally agree with FitnessPhotos. You wouldn't believe how calves grow when jogging! Any 250 lbs+ around struggling with calf size should try a 15 miles jog

I'm only 180 sumthin, and it sure werks for me.

Cycling to work has also helped me reach new highs in squats and to a less extend in deadlifts.

15 mile jog to build your calf size up? I would pass out from that.

Hell just push a car uphill for 50 yards works for me.

**JoeBAR** · May 3rd, 2006, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerHouse

15 mile jog to build your calf size up? I would pass out from that.

Hell just push a car uphill for 50 yards works for me.

It ain't that hard, just a bit of training

I think I prefer the jog to the 50 yards push. But then agin, it's lack of training too