Upper versus lower body strength imbalance

[StandingO]

I realize your lower body is supposed to be stronger then your upper. To a greater extent for women compared to guys but is it that unusual for a guy to have a stronger upper body?

 

I have been fighting this loosing battle for sometime. Bad knees, a hip injury, hernia all contribute to me having less muscle and strength in my lower half. I find I can't go to heavy on squats or the leg press before it bothers me so i have been trying body weight exercises for my lower body.

 

I have been running some, doing jump squats and attempting pistol squats (with little success). Anyone have a good leg workout? My GF is into the weights and can squat a ton so body weight exercises is not her source of knowledge. I have no problem with loading up my upper body and it is very muscular and strong but my legs could sure use some help. When i go to the gym i find I am one the stronger guys in the gym in the upperbody but one of the weaker in the lower body and I often can't handle as much weight as the more fit women (my GF being one one them).

 

I am thinking of going more for leg strength endurance. I think my days of raw lower body pushing power are over. Any advice or exercises would be appreciated.

[Dust]

You have injuries so work within your means. If you weren’t injured of course you’d be able to leg press at least double what you could bench press.

 

A squat involves the entire body.

[lawlz_xD]

My friend has had a hernia and a couple surgeries in the quad area. He was never able to deadlift conventionally again but has switched over to sumo deadlifts and has had GREAT success, even surpassing his old conventional stance deadlifts. As you may/may not know, deadlifts are a great lower-body exercise. Perhaps try sumos?

[StandingO]

I was never a body builder and never messed with weights on a serious level so I am guilty of bad habbits and lack of knowledge.

Yes, a few people have told me I should do dead lifts. I have not done much of these but it is never too late to start again.

 

I can leg press abit more than I can bench but not near double. Comfortably 270lb on the 45 deg press machines but 360 has become risky (and can feel the strain on something inside). My squat to bench ratio is ass backwards. Now I don't dare squat more than 135 for reps in fear of rupturing something. A couple of months ago found my max squat was down to only 175 pounds. Is not my GF ratio a bit the other way (115 bench, 245 squat) If I had her ratio I should be squating 600 pounds.

[StandingO]

Ok, is she out of balance. My GF is much like this (current avatar). I think she is hot but others do not. Powerful legs, tone arms and shoulders but still much smaller compared to lower body. I think she still looks very womanly. Some of my guy and girl friends think my GF is out of balance because her lower body is much bigger and more muscular then her upper and I am out of balance upper over lower. I think they are just jealous of her development that came from years of hard work.

[cerridwen]

Ok, is she out of balance. My GF is much like this (current avatar). I think she is hot but others do not. Powerful legs, tone arms and shoulders but still much smaller compared to lower body. I think she still looks very womanly. Some of my guy and girl friends think my GF is out of balance because her lower body is much bigger and more muscular then her upper and I am out of balance upper over lower. I think they are just jealous of her development that came from years of hard work.

 

It's possible they're jealous. They can also just not be into this look.

Who cares though. You'll never get totally agreement on any woman.

 

Personally, I think she looks good and isn't particularly out of balance. Her thighs are thick and because she's lean, there's not a lot of breast to balance her upper half but overall, she should take great pride in herself. And you should too.

[StandingO]

Oh, i am proud of her. For myself upper is ripped but my legs suck. Genetics and too many injuries.

[Star Gazer]

Oh, i am proud of her. For myself upper is ripped but my legs suck. Genetics and too many injuries.

 

I know plenty of women (and men) who appear as ripped as she is, who aren't even a fraction as strong - I see them at the gym all the time. If you're worried about appearance, you shouldn't be.

[Star Gazer]

I have no idea how much you weigh, but this chart gives a good idea of where you should be at each level: http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/SquatStandards.html

[StandingO]

I weigh 190lbs. According to that chart my leg strength in the squat is between untrained and Novice while my GF is elite. Not sure how accurate the chart is.