"Your legs are too small”

"Your legs are too small"

[@GVS]

I've noticed online comments that start with "with all due respect" are almost always followed but a massively disrespectful L take. The anonymity of the internet allows for idiots to be a-holes. There are some commenters I've noticed where literally every single comment is negative nitpicking and then when you call them out on it, they say they're just trying to help, but somehow nothing they say is constructive. They're also generally without a profile pic. I don't tend to block them, but they're hard to take seriously. They are undoubtedly people of little accomplishment in life, whether past, present or future.

[@joeleelillbitt7715]

Amen!

[@ProphetFear]

I really want them to go to the gym and show me how to actually do it. I would be happy to make a list of everything that I did not like in the comment section.

[@watsonkushmaster3067]

Idk man, i find myself writing "negative comments" more so because there dont need to be another "💯💯💯 amazing video geof really opened my eyes"...and details are important imo...but yeah, constructive criticism is kind of hard to define sometimes...also dont having profile pic probably has nothing to do with it

[@roycegarvin]

@@watsonkushmaster3067 it does though because you hide behind your anonymity. And you’d never say this to people face to face. That’s the point he’s making.

[@BasementBodybuilding]

Yeah I’ve kinda noticed that trend. Luckily I get very little of it, but it can be more prevalent on larger channels. Definitely a few people that leave disrespectful and seemingly envious comments though. It would take a lot for me to block someone too, I agree.

[@benamitchell]

I appreciate the rawness of this video. It's easy to forget the person behind the camera is a human being. Sure, maybe they're more resilient than average when it comes to receiving "negative" feedback (I think you have to be as a successful KZbinr) but that doesn't mean that nothing affects them. You're quite a self aware and honest guy.

[@BasementBodybuilding]

Thanks Ben, I appreciate that! And yeah if I’ve got a weakness, it’s all good. I prefer to be more transparent, I think it’s best for everyone. Better to have that than to hide my weaknesses for me to feel good about myself, while putting a false image to everyone else. Doesn’t sit right with me.

[@joeleelillbitt7715]

1st People on the internet suck. I posted a couple of videos when I lost 120lb and some people only focused on my loose skin. I decided it isn’t worth the time but I appreciate the great information GVS, you, NH and others provide. 2nd you look great and give fantastic advice and if people really don’t think so they shouldn’t be following or leaving comments. Being much older than you guys I have learned to focus on the positives in life. I hope to improve myself mentally and physically but I wish I started earlier in life. Keep up the great content!

[@hypertrophydisciple]

People are so used to looking at deep-fried photos on ig with perfect lighting that a man as built as BB is getting flamed for his legs. Body dysmorphia is insane.

[@BasementBodybuilding]

It’s pretty wild lol. I’ll admit my legs are my weakness, but yeah the photoshop and deep fried ig photos are ridiculous

[@markevans6764]

I like the way bald omniman phrased it, to choose what you're gonna suck at, because there will always be something that's low priority, but it's nice to know you have more choice in what that can be, I want bigger legs too, because I chose to leave them in favour of upper body gains like a lot of people do, here's to prioritising the weak points

[@RDbodybuildingreardelt]

Yes this is what we need in training community, transparency! This is one on the reasons I subbed to your channel almost a year ago, you shared your actual thoughts and viewpoint. Great video

[@BasementBodybuilding]

You’re an OG here my man. Thanks!

[@othonielmolina]

Bro, honestly even if you are advanced, for the average person, your legs are definitely big, like 99% of people who see your legs are going to think you have pretty damn big legs. I have barely 23 inch quads and everyone says I have “massive legs” and 15 inch arms and “massive arms”. Don’t let this body dysmorphia fueled by social media people let you down. I’m just being real.

[@nitolinilo9034]

I currently have 15” arms and this made me feel a bit better about myself. I gotta remember back to when I had like 9” arms even though I was a 18 year old lol. We’re all gonna make it

[@othonielmolina]

@@nitolinilo9034 yeah man, I used to have 9 inch arms too. Think about it this way. Open Bodybuilder have around 21 inch arms. That being said, 21 from 15 is 6 inches and 15 from 9 is also 6 inches. That means we’ve made as much progress as if we were to grow 21 inch arms from this point.

[@lqcnfitnessmore4714]

I have 15" arms too but they look so small in mirror, my biggest insecure about my body

[@johntrains1317]

Same 😂

[@dynaspinner64]

Maybe you have massive shoulders that make them look smaller? Or you are being too hyper-critical of yourself.@@lqcnfitnessmore4714

[@soonahero]

I think it’s wrong to give credence to the “bad legs means you can’t give leg advice” anyone with a gifted body part will tell you, “don’t ask me about my great body part, ask me about my awful chest” because they actually had to try for it to not be even smaller. A lot of bodybuilders move heaven and earth to train their worst body part. What else would be the truth?

[@BasementBodybuilding]

Yeah, if someone brought up a muscle group that hasn’t responded well, or to much, and they refined things to get to a point where it started to grow, that’s someone I want to listen to.

[@istuff4137]

@@BasementBodybuilding I think we can also forget that how advanced someone is shouldn't be based solely on how big they are or how much they can lift, but rather what they have to do in order to still make gains. Someone who's been lifting for 10 years, is as big as a house, but is still making excellent progress from simple linear progression is not exactly an 'advanced' lifter.

[@popcornto6032]

Yeah, I got massive legs just doing heavy Squats and Deadlifts, extremely low volume, and I never got really strong either. 190Kg Low bar Squat for a Max, and 220Kg conventional Deadlift for a Max. I don't need to know much leg training. Anything works for me.

[@bobjenkins4925]

Imagine having a great physique then getting in a car crash and losing your gains and some Peewee says you can't give advice because your physique isn't currently good even though the advice is the same 😂

[@rico14]

@@popcornto6032I’m the same way. I don’t even do barbell lifts anymore. I mainly do single leg exercises or machine exercises for my legs. I definitely have to do a lot my delts and arms.

[@bigpicturegains]

This type of realness is one of the reasons I follow you and I’m sure many others. Keep it up, excited to see you continue to improve and share the wisdom you learn along the way 👍

[@professorartlifts1268]

Interestingly enough, there is a high correlation between the people who make comments like this and their reluctance to show their own physique.

[@andyjcoop]

Give a man a mask and he will show his true face.

[@GVS]

bingo!!!

[@slkalmuhairi]

Ahh yes my favorite arguments with unshakable logic: show physique

[@professorartlifts1268]

@@slkalmuhairi Hehehe . Often times this "unshakable logic" regarding bodybuilding is just powerlifting sentiments as it relates to what is considered beginner, intermediate or advanced. "Show physique " is the ultimate refutation because this is a visual art form; not a performance based hobby.

[@TheUniverseExists]

The whole “qualified” to give advice thing is so real. Not everyone has the same goals. Part of my bodybuilding goals are more “aesthetic” focused based on my goal body and that means I need certain parts developed but not huge. E.g If I’m trying to get my arms from 14 to 15 inches, I don’t need a person with massive arms to give me advice.

[@whitemakesright2177]

A great point. According to the fitness know-it-alls, Steve Reeves would not be qualified to give advice because of his "small" legs, even though he kept them that size on purpose.

[@zerrodefex]

​@@whitemakesright2177 or because of his small traps while ignoring that was the style back then and it's in more recent decades that being yoked became important.

[@whitemakesright2177]

@@zerrodefex Yep, another good example.

[@sturdyturk]

In truth I really don't think your legs are all that small, they look well developed to me. They're probably close to 25'. I think people are just getting too unrealistic about what it means to look big and jacked tbh.

[@TRoninYT]

Gonna try not to make a wall of text here. I subscribed around 6k, so your channel has more than doubled in size since (congrats, by the way). I didn't follow yiur channel because of your physique, because I might arguably be more advanced there. Also, out of the people I follow in the noble natty bodybuilding micro-niche I might have less to learn from you than others. With that said, my subscription, my view, likes and comments I knew would boost you in the algorithm so others less advanced than us could see you. As I see it, we need to push anyone we feel has valuable content and will be a net positive in the community to greater heights. Even IF throughout the entire history of your channel you never offer anything truly original or new, I can tell what you are providing (experience, advice, transperency) is ultimately congruent with what I believe will benefit younger lifters. We are already drowned out in the fitness community. Building a large army of even "average" but solid content creators in our space will do more, in my opinion, to revitalize natural bodybuilding than to only allow a few outstanding creators to flourish. And ironically, the most common way the "outstanding" creators come about is because they were creating content long before they were great.

[@leoerus]

Honestly. You saying you struggle with legs makes me want to watch you more. My injury history + longer femurs have made it extremely hard to grow my quads, but if someone else in similar conditions is finding success it tells me that there's a definite path, it's encouraging.

[@Frag1ty]

I have long femurs too. Elevate the heels so you can go nice and deep and always include some isolation too

[@Baan616]

"I treat my legs how I treat my girlfriends. Ignore them and let them disappear" - Dom Mazzetti I have stupid good leg genetics, whenever I train them seriously they just blow up, along with strength numbers. So much so that I instantly get an imbalanced, t-rex mode physique. It took a lot of detaching from dogma and severing emotional attachment to let go of squats and deads. Also encountered some shaming from the community. But it was soooo much worth it. I now have more time to train for what I actually started training for. It's ridiculous how much time a good squat session takes when you reach certain numbers. More recovery capacity for upper body training, and my legs just feel a lot better mobility-wise. Squats and deads (especially sumo) made me permanently semi-crippled. Now I just do a few sets of max ROM RDLs and leg presses, mostly for work capacity and stretching under weight.

[@goatleaks4986]

@Basement Bodybuilding Bro you're one of the realest dudes in youtube fitness. I respect how honest you are with everything and your videos help me love lifting like the way I did when I was a novice. Keep up the good work man!

[@BasementBodybuilding]

That’s huge, thanks a ton man. I try to let my passion show in my vids.

[@spbspb2413]

Tbh a smaller but muscular legs and big upper body is my goal. Also i have 16 inch calves without training them and they make the legs look big.

[@sonzai5162]

So far, I've gained over an inch on my calves just from distance running and walking for several months. My glutes are also following along the ride. I go hard on upper body than anything only to gain miniscule progress especially on arms. Life sucks

[@innovatixn99]

It's never the legs (quads and hams) if you have 70 inch quads but your calves are smol they will always say "your legs are small dude" it's time to make my calves bigger

[@bullinvginshop9011]

I started training again 2 years ago after 7 years off. I trained for 15 years before hand. The first 12 years very consistently. I have been exclusively training upper body for the last year. Mostly because my legs were my strong point and I train at home and with the work I do I average 20k steps a day. Love your content. Can’t wait to see you bring your legs up.

[@QuestionMarkKick360]

Why did you stop?

[@bullinvginshop9011]

@@QuestionMarkKick360 Shifted focus to family and work plus was sort of spinning my wheels a bit. I always knew I would go back to it just wanted/needed a break. I got up to 285lbs and was dying in my sleep. My wife recorded me not breathing and making awful noises so I figured it was time to start back up.

[@TheToilet-Man]

As a client of yours I would at least add that your advice on leg training has transformed my quads and hamstrings. I had the same problem with getting all that mass on the ass when squatting and hinging, lifting the heaviest weight I could in hope of growing my legs. Let us just say that I now have to buy new underwear and pants this summer when I already bought a bunch of it last year. So my point is that you probably know what you are talking about. Don´t need 30 inch (random number) legs to know how to train them, but knowing how to train them will get them huge anyways!

[@BasementBodybuilding]

You’re a very good example of someone who’s overcome the challenge of building mass with longer legs. Even just looking at your form clips from the side angle of your quad biased squats, your quads have beefed up quite a bit.

[@TheToilet-Man]

@@BasementBodybuilding Appreciate it!

[@domepiece11]

I stopped deadlifting and do hip thrusts and 45-degree hip hinges instead. I had to buy bigger shorts! A$$ got way juicier.

[@nationcraft4982]

Bro so much respect for you take critics as an opportunity to improve, a lot of people would just get mad and try to justify themselves. Im gonna take this as a good lesson.

[@tactech4114]

Haters are just haters ...Don't let them bother you just keep going!

[@StandStrength]

Bro trust me, you’re huge in Japan

[@DUSHAN2504]

Great stuff man! Everyone should know about your channel, you are just a stand up dude. All respect for you! :)

[@Sirvalian]

Upper body is more important for aesthetics anyway.

[@Nobody91021]

legs are the hardest thing to become big l swear because they need so much stimulus to actually progress compared to arms, chest or back because we walk on them everyday. Gaining that teardrop quad is even harder that demands mass and leanness. Great video and opening up with honesty, definitely earned a new subscriber.

[@ParvParashar]

I highly appreciate you for reigniting my passion for bodybuilding! I want to thank you and natural hypertrophy for making me fall in love with bodybuilding once again. I’m truly dedicated to maximizing hypertrophy and getting as big as possible naturally while being at a healthy body fat level. Appreciate both of you guys immensely! 🙏

[@TeKn1qe]

Much respect for the transparency! There's so much BS in this industry and the people that talk down know it and probably do exactly what your talking about here. Keep doing your thing. Ignore the haters.

[@fitu_jack5901]

The comment is fine in so far as it rings true. The catch is it comes from a place of misunderstanding. Too many individuals don’t get that “ugly duckling syndrome” is a necessary component of achieving something great. Your hamstrings and glutes are sacrificing attention for the sake of allowing your upper body to truly thrive. This is admirable on their part. Anyone who wants glory before suffering will be left with perpetual suffering and no true glory.

[@yiago1]

it's totally okay to focus on whatever muscles you want to stand out. I totally neglect legs, abs and chest for example and want to over-develop arms and shoulders. that doesn't mean I don't know how to train the muscles I neglect. people need to understand that if you don't compete you can just specialize in certain muscles and ignore some others, and that's fine.

[@SergeyLifts]

Not necessarily related to the topic of "criticizing", but I would LOVE a roundtable episode (or maybe 2) between a couple of channel like yours, NH or Geoffrey which are on a more recreational, philosophical and non competitive aspect of natural bodybuilding, and the more "competitive side" of natural bodybuilding, like Revive Stronger and 3DMJ.

[@Poppinsocks24]

Drown out that noise from the peanut gallery (easier said than done). Being transparent about failures as well as success is what allows us to learn. Keep up the good work brother!

[@cromdevotee449]

Basement keeping it real as always

[@bobjenkins4925]

Side comment on your leg video - seeing the really good quad ROM was great to see

[@tobiash04]

would you ever do a video where you compare your powerlifting training to your current training in detail? i think it would be interesting how you got that strong while not gaining a lot of size

[@BasementBodybuilding]

This is super interesting, I’ll consider this for sure.

[@jbdmb]

The more appropriate title for this video would have been "basement bodybuilding DESTROYS ignant KZbin commentor!!!" Lol

[@jjmuti3979]

My quads are my biggest strong point. I'm sure as hell not the best person to give quad advice because of that. Mostly I've just done high bar atg squats and it's easy for me to say that it's the only thing someone would need when my bone structure is ideal for them. Now I'm experimenting with machines just to limit lower back fatique but it's not giving me any special benefit because my quads will keep growing regardless of what the stimulus is.

[@sep69]

I love how you are being transparent and real. Also I already learned a lot from you from watching about 20-30 videos so have a big thanks from the Netherlands. You have said so many things that just resonate with me. Thanks again !

[@strategicallywild]

Your legs are just fine. People find it way too easy to criticize online.

[@lucasjay1000]

I went through something similar where I followed the just get strong in the big 3 fallacy. I got an enormous lower body and an upperbody that you could barely tell I lifted. I also got a lot of lower body injuries. I started training more like a body builder with more exercise variety and a lot more upperbody isolation and holy gains.

[@learntoswim2777]

I thank you for making this video. I have always had to alternate certain bodyparts more in order make progress. It's just hard to recover when trying to push everything at once. At least I know I am not the only one that has had to do this.

[@MohamedNaas2005]

Bro you got arms the size of my legs so I think your doing just fine

[@schmolzz]

for me personally leg training just isnt as important ,we all have goals and ideas of what we want to achieve while working out, i have weak but bigish legs. since i started lifting ive already grown out of 2 of my favorite jeans and i dont plan on adding anymore to the list. iam a simple bro ,i just want a big back and big arms.

[@ManicMoe]

I just went back to the last video and saw the exact comment😂

[@BasementBodybuilding]

Lmao

[@watsonkushmaster3067]

I feel the new movement rising #justgetweaker

[@BasementBodybuilding]

😂😂

[@carlanthonyholmes2162]

Is your gym in the basement, as the title says? Just wondering as at 22 sseconds into the vid it looks very much like a bird flying in the top rightt of screen.

[@jakezaragoza6091]

I love the transparency you bring to the Channel always being humble with great integrity.As you lift you will get stronger but if we get caught up chasing numbers we can fall into the just get stronger trap!I also have ok genetics but will not let that be the defining factor of what I can accomplish with my physique.I have been training about 5 years consistently with ups & downs and can relate to a lot of topics you cover on this Channel.in the 5 years of lifting I have seen great gains but being a natural the process is slow but I would not have it any other way.respect BB💪🏽

[@soots-stayingoutofthespotl5495]

How do you think I feel; the other day I overheard some 15-year-old kid in the gym telling his teen mates - within earshot - that I didn't have any legs! One of them (they were newbies, he's been around for a while and thinks he knows-it-all because his 18-19 year-old brother has really beefy legs but carries much more fat than I would ever want to) obviously complimented my physique, and he went 'Nah...' as they all stared at me. What is the world coming-to when people aren't just saying this sh*t online or from a distance, but from where you can actually hear it? My upper legs *are* lacking a bit in all honesty, and I do struggle to build them, but I wear long shorts and you can't really tell from my experience of seeing other people around that I know have good leg development. But come on, I'm not a bodybuilder I'm just a middle-aged guy trying keep fit and look good. And anyway, it's not like I have NO legs and I often catch people doing a double-take if I kneel down to stretch (again, it's the shorts throwing them off). What have I got to do, wear Speedos around the gym just to show-off that I do actually have some upper/ inner thighs and moderate quad development?! For the record, I don't want huge legs that would mean I'd have to wear trackie bottoms for the rest of my life and won't fit-in to my jeans or trousers quite frankly.

[@hotdogint]

My leg training is pretty much a gym girl's routine. Higher reps while focusing on form, the stretch, and exercise selection. It's not crazy CNS taxing and I can progress the upper body just fine. I don't dread leg days either so that's always a plus.

[@thecalisthenicsman7415]

What's your results been

[@hotdogint]

@@thecalisthenicsman7415 Getting doms in my hamstrings and glutes opposed to lower back. Able to grow without tanking my energy for the rest of the day (I train in the morning)

[@learntoswim2777]

I increased volume for my legs, but decreased it for my chest and triceps

[@MHM452]

I've been following your channel for around half a year now and I've learnt a lot from you. Your channel not only projects bodybuilding externally, but also building oneself up inside, the key concepts of integrity and honour, which you demonstrate very well, and these are qualities significantly lacking in our society today. I work as a Dr and I am left frustrated at society when I have to deal with so many toxic patients, but then I see individuals like yourself and am reminded that there is still hope for humanity. People forget you've only recently started hypertrophy focused training and that you've spent so much time focused on strength. I guess it's the TikTok generation that don't realise the time and effort it takes to build one's physique, as you alluded to. Mike Tyson was a better boxer than his coach, but without his coach he wouldn't have gotten to that level. So the idea that your advice is invalid because your legs aren't 'huge' is a flawed one & only further reinforces the cognitive dissonance of many individuals, which hopefully your channel & similar channels can help remedy. Keep up the good work, you're doing a huge service to the community at large.

[@Rakyr]

I have the same issue, my legs are smaller compared to my upper body because I mostly hit them once a week with about 8 hard sets for quads/hasmtrings. This allowed me to make great upper body gains however now as I start bulking I am focused on the arms/legs and the chest and back are not a priority this time round.

[@soonahero]

That’s why I like when these KZbinrs compete. Because they get destroyed. Because you can’t lie to the judges.

[@BasementBodybuilding]

It’s funny when the photoshoppers compete. It’s like they trick themselves into actually thinking they’re bigger than they are

[@ExecutiveCounsel]

I have gifted legs. They're my only truly good body part. Although I train them fairly hard, my legs have always responded quickly. Some people just have natural weak points, and natural strengths. There's no way to get around it. Genetics really is a massive factor in bodybuilding.

[@jamesgreenwood6997]

RDLs are not the only way to train your hamstrings. How come you did not train you glutes and hams with other exercises that are less fatiguing than squats and deadlifts?

[@Adamsfamily1990]

By this logic I could give people great advice on leg training(which I can't). People who have great genetics for certain body parts can't give advice on training it, because it comes for them naturally. They never had to make an effort to research the topic.

[@oscarswider]

Dude I thought this notification was someone commenting that to me (they would be correct 😿💔)

[@BasementBodybuilding]

You can’t say anything to a full body 600+ day enjoyer 😿

[@RossLemon]

My quads went from 22 to 25 inches in the first 3 months of lifting and all I did was 3 sets of squats. According to that guy I should be an expert on leg training lmfao.

[@victorprokop9343]

squats and milk dude. That should fix it

[@suedx.]

W

[@adonosssi]

Comment is good example of difference between people that dont understand programming and people who understand it or maby im wrong if he decides to anwser with video and have alot better legs to show for well see

[@GDoggy-em2xc]

Your legs ain’t small.

[@swordguy1243]

I had to sacrifice arms and chest for more legs

[@johnlopez9014]

To b fair. The guy who did the comment, he did it in a nice way. Probably his intention was in a good place. So no hating on his observation. But he missed the point. It’s a journey, and we ALL are in the journey. U never claimed u reached ur final result. As natty we need to understand that it’s a never ending process of learning and development.

[@fepethepenguin8287]

Hoo be looking at another guys legs want ways #AlwaysSkipLegDay

[@franciscojuan4551]

Do a John meadows program when you are done they will be bigger

[@LXRD-SUPREME-]

But why not mix it up ? 405 squats with reps for Strength. And 315-225 with higher reps for hypertrophy?

[@idihcerebe]

Funny; In the greater-scheme of things you have most guy’s goal physique; but in this small internet sub-section of exercise, you’re a bad-guy because you choose not to deadlift often. Don’t listen to that narrative, bro; it’s ridiculous.

[@sangheiliwarrior86]

Maybe irrelevant but the average 2000s forum dweller says that someone 250lbs (obviously relatively lean) at 6'3 cannot expect to be big with those stats. Things haven't really changed much.

[@freakied0550]

In

[@BasementBodybuilding]

Mogging me in strength, mogging everyone else in comment speed

[@BasementBodybuilding]

Common freakieD W

[@freakied0550]

@@BasementBodybuilding both of lower bodies have gotten a wee bit smaller as of late. Mogging ourselves 😂

[@josemryou]

Sorry BB. Not sure what you "Sacrificed" by changing your training. Was it "Top end Strength?" Are you Less strong today than you were back then (ie can't rep 405 anymore)

[@johnnymikes3926]

He claims you don’t train legs but have hit 4+ plates on hack squats. I’d like to see what numbers he puts up

[@MEAT-BASED-VEGAN]

You are still young maybe you dont get it It's very hard to build big legs naturally with low bf when you train bodybuilding even in the pro scene there are very few people who have low bf bodies are muscular and have huge oversized legs Most of the time legs are not much bigger than arms it looks quite different in power lifting where there is a large percentage of bf or in those who take steroids there it is easy doable

[@ew-zd1th]

Your legs look 100 percent that you trained them

[@MonkeyBarsEveryday]

My legs aren't small enough ♿️

[@djjankov6667]

I think a Big squat with the right technique gets you big legs....

[@ranjansapkota7572]

Comment for the algorithm

[@U.F.O_0908]

Just my two cents: Your NECK is looking thick and jacked AF. Yes, legs are important, but a jacked neck is just badass and looks good.

[@BasementBodybuilding]

Thanks bro. Just a side effect of building my traps really

[@jamesgreenwood6997]

How exactly were you squatting when you were able to rep out 405 lbs? Was it a hip hinge type of squat or was it a really deep knee dominant squat? When I squat, I go very low and I get a lot of forward knee travel. This biases my quads to a great degree. Do you have any photos of you when you were that strong? I am going to bet you were not small compared to the average lifter in most commercial gyms. I am skeptical that you were that small. Only small compared to the steroid freaks on Instagram and KZbin.

[@spencerschubert5001]

You skipped “glutes, lower back, and hamstrings” for 9 months! So zero hack squats, zero squats, zero hinge movements, zero ham curls, zero back extensions… etc??? Why not just do a measly three sets of any of those things per week rather than skip it entirely. I’m confused at the logic behind that

[@BasementBodybuilding]

Mostly a time issue, I had two full time jobs the last 9 months. No other logic behind it lol. It’s just a low priority for me, and I can rebuild that area pretty quickly anyways.

[@David-lu4th]

I wouldn't say you have average normal genetics, I strength trained for years at a low body weight and never hit the numbers you did, I'd say you have above average genetics. I'm pretty convinced I have average genetics, or even slightly below average genetics. I've trained for 7 years and look good physique wise, but I see so many transformations of 2-3 years of training with great physiques and those types of gains have taken me close to a decade to achieve So either I have dog water doo doo genetics, or theres way less natties nowadays. But I seriously doubt you have average genetics, or it's just that my genetics suck so bad that you really do have average genetics and I'm on the low end of the spectrum

[@BasementBodybuilding]

I definitely think I’m gifted in terms of strength, definitely not size though. It hasn’t been a total struggle but I’m not gifted. From my experience I’m pretty average there. How would you compare your physique to mine since we’ve been lifting for a similar amount of time?

[@ProphetFear]

Devil's advocate: if you didn't hit a goal, you have more credibility on saying what _doesn't work._ People conversely who didn't achieve something have less credibility on saying what _does work._ Realistically speaking information is much faster and easier to access than build large amounts of muscle mass so theoretically most people would have cerebral punching power above their weight, but that doesn't stop them from saying things that they only think but do not grasp and assuming the ship will reach its destination. Oh yeah real tawk the RDL/stiff leg deadlift amalgamation is arguably the best _upper body_ builder because it increases movement at the shoulder and scapula and uses much more thoracic extension. The spectrum is so broad, some work the lats a lot, some lats and rear delts. I was getting a lot of teres major throughout and probably can still, just didn't feel it for once and now I'm considering adding pullovers again. I'm worried that I didn't do enough reps to limit them or even the rear delts much and once I ramp up and get my motor coordination back they'll be getting stringed two days in a row. It could also be a loading thing and keeping it light enough to physically move the shoulder around a very erect spine ala _row pullover_ style.

[@BaldOmniMan]

The Side and Rear Delt DOMS you can get on so many things is kinda funny lol. Got some from reverse lunges that I did on Sunday, that only just subsided today

[@ProphetFear]

@@BaldOmniMan Working my upper chest works my side delts. Don't think it's a reason to be upset.

[@raymondjblaze7761]

Cool Canadian accent

[@BasementBodybuilding]

I have no idea why I have one, I’m not even Canadian

[@kapoioBCS]

You are not a hard gainer… 🤦‍♂️

[@ShortSideSniper17]

It’s not too much of an unfair comment when you admittedly sacrificed leg gains for upper body gains. Someone who doesn’t care/prioritize muscle gain in legs and struggled with putting on leg size(probably because you trained them wrong, don’t make genetics excuse) is not a good person to take advice from for legs

[@ronroyce6]

Mate all due respect it's quite a cope to say that you made your upper body gains *because* you neglected your posterior chain. It's more about proper load management than anything. Specialisation has its place but you don't make gains in one part simply because you ignored the other. I can bet that you would've made worst case 90% of the upper body gains while still hinging regularly. If it was RDL your upper body could've been better than it is now considering the extra upper back stimulus.

[@BasementBodybuilding]

Hmm I wouldn’t say it’s a cope, since I actively chose not to train that muscle group/s and I’m perfectly ok with the results. But I definitely agree, I can train lower body and still make great upper body gains. With my previous time constraints, this made the most sense.

[@Nick-ge7ug]

Having massive legs isn't very aesthetic and could actually ruin your physique if you have long limbs and a smaller torso, you'd look like a Dinosaur...

[@DaLordIsBack1]

I don't understand how it is physiologically possible to be "squatting 405 for high reps" and not have jacked upper legs. Even if you used a ton of equipment and did the powerlifting ROM, it still sounds humanly impossible tbh

[@BaldOmniMan]

I have also squatted 405+ for high reps and it all comes down to forward knee travel and how strong your back is. (I’m a strong conventional and stiff leg deadlifter, so it’s very easy to make my squats essentially quad assisted good mornings) I can get a better leg workout with 2.5-3 plates on a quad biased variation, than I can with 4+ plates using back dominant form I get an even better workout from hack squats, lunges, pendulum squats etc . I think you’re envisioning a fella with short legs squatting with good forward knee travel, which would 100% get ya big quads. For fellas with longer legs that’s a position you have to consciously fight to get into, and it’s very easy to fudge your form

[@BasementBodybuilding]

Good point made by BOM, it does come down to individual leverages. This is why I primarily train with machines. Not that you can’t optimize a freeweight squat for quads, because you can, it just take a lot of mental focus that a machine can eliminate. Here’s a couple good clips that show different leverages: Matt vena, longer legs, strong af squat, but let’s be real we’d expect bigger quads from those numbers: kzbin.infoXCNwKYaBCUA?feature=share And Tom platz, the quads speak for themselves here. Check his leverages. His back squat looks like a front squat. Pure quads. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGjaaKOZnL50adE

[@moonmerchant7148]

Noob lifter here compared to you guys, I was squatting 210 lbs for 6 reps by my 7th week of squatting (I did two sessions per week, ATG and Paused btw). You will be surprised how easy it is to subconsciously subtract the quads from the equation and use your back and glutes to lift the weight up. I never felt bad about it during the lifts, since everybody was mirin' the new guy lifting relatively heavyass weights. But I knew I was doing something wrong but couldn't figure out because I couldn't afford a coach. Fast forward to my 17th week, I now squat 200 lbs for 8 reps (still ATG and paused) but I make sure that I'm engaging my quads. The moment I forgot about the weight and people mirin', and I concentrated on working my quads, especially on that last rep where I used to roll forward a bit before but not anymore - man oh man my quads responded like hell. And I have naturally big quads, hams, glutes and calves. Thighs measure 24 inches and calves 17 inches. And this circles back to the point that BH was discussing, if having "small legs" should be equated with being eligible to give advice. Personally, if someone saw my legs and thought I'd be eligible for leg training advice - they'd be so wrong it's not even funny. Thanks for the video BH and the reply BOM, you both helped me understand that moving weights doesn't equal size. I'm so glad you both exist.

[@DaLordIsBack1]

Wow, thank you to both for replying. I've taken your points into consideration. But I still maintain that a person that squats 405 for high reps MUST have something jacked. Maybe not quads, as you both explained, but then glutes? Back? Yet from my understanding of your bodybuilding journey, you did not achieve any meaningful hypertrophy in any of the muscles, which are worked by squats? And you're not even short, so I guess you have elite powerlifting genetics or very efficient neurons or something to be lifting so much weight for high reps with so little muscular development.

[@BaldOmniMan]

@@DaLordIsBack1 I won’t speak for basement but I definitely got a bigger posterior chain

[@THEMMAN3232]

l get massive quads by doing weighted one legs squats ass to the grass I had a 500 lbs squat before starting to do this and after doing a few sets I couldn't walk for a week so that means squats aren't always good for quads

[@cumquat8320]

My quads are 25’ at 15, 165, 1.25 or so yrs training most of my leg growth was from below parallel box squats with a some what wide stance I’m now doing atg pause squats and the abductor machine as well as some hinges and leg extensions and that’s about all tbh though my volume has decreased from 18 to 12 sets but Ive still made gains

[@professorartlifts1268]

My quads and calves aren't my best muscle groups but after training them for quite some time, I'm seeing results but this is after applying the law of individuality to my disposition and disregarding the traditional "squat 4 plates brah" rhetoric.