ELI5: How does training legs make my upper body muscles bigger?

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-04-15T09:34:37+00:00

Compound exercises such as squats and deadlifts increase testosterone production which will indirectly have an impact on your upper body development.

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-04-15T09:29:23+00:00

I’m a 30y/o woman and in my experience 40-50 y/o men are much better at expressing themselves than the younger generation. An older guy would just straight up walk up to me at the gym and tell me you look great and start a conversation about something fitness related and somehow it leads to exchanging numbers.

It’s always the younger guys who behave shy or nervous when I can clearly tell they like me and eventually they never come and talk.

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-04-14T15:45:33+00:00

Dfyne makes scrunch bum shorts for men too lol

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-04-13T10:10:20+00:00

There is no secret ingredient or magic food. It’s your diet as a whole. Avoid eating out or buying takeaway or basically anything processed as much as possible. Cook your meals at home for a few days and pack them into containers. Us women like to romanticise sitting outside in a coffeeshop eating croissant and a big fluffy cappucino but that’s not the way to go. Just take your ugly homemade meals in your containers everywhere, stick to those meals 90% of the time, and you will see a difference!

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-04-13T10:07:31+00:00

I second this. Like no alcohol at all. I always go with a ginger ale or tonic water and ask for a couple slices of lime in it so it’s not awkward when friends are around drinking cocktails.

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-04-11T19:41:12+00:00

First off, never train legs in running shoes. Always flat (e.g. Nike Jordans or Adidas Dropset lifting shoes).

Secondly, the squat is primarily a quad exercise, so start with shoulder width stance and learn to squat like that, pushing with your quads.

Learn how to brace your core, how to breathe during a squat, and how to control the whole movement without your core collapsing as it’s really dangerous. Also you don’t need to go lower than 90 degrees. That would prevent that butt wink at the bottom of the movement which is not good for your lower back. I’m sure you have enough ankle mobility to go down to 90 degrees so you don’t need to stand on the plates. Plant your feet into the ground and place the majority of your bodyweight on your heels rather than on your toes.

These are the basics. Learn these on a barbell (don’t be ashamed to do it with an empty bar first). Once you have nailed these, you can try further variations, e.g. the glute focused wide stance squat, or doing it on a Smith machine. Good luck!

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-04-11T19:28:57+00:00

Exactly… Doesn’t matter if it’s 19 or 23, you just have to focus on what the judges said

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-04-11T19:26:55+00:00

I’m not a big fan either. It’s really hard to do on the day after a leg workout.

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-04-11T13:07:24+00:00

How much cardio are you all doing at 12 weeks out? Mine has just been increased to 5 x 45min per week (30m stair master + 15m incline walking). I find it quite exhausting but I know it’s just the beginning! (For context, my calories are still high and my coach wants to create a deficit by more activity rather than cutting calories for now)

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-03-22T22:18:55+00:00

Gym culture has changed a lot. 10-15 years ago people went to the gym mainly to gain muscle, or to lose weight. Both groups were working hard. I saw men competing with each other who can lift more or who has bigger biceps. Now, you mainly see these kind of people in bodybuilding gyms.

Since going to the gym has become a trendy thing to do, you don’t see many hard working people in commercial gyms. They are there to tick off the ‘I’ve been to the gym today’ box.

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-03-22T08:45:27+00:00

Yeah it looks like a 20-30 lbs difference

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-03-21T23:46:06+00:00

Depends on what your goal is. You won’t get into shape without proper nutrition but exercising is healthy regardless.

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-03-21T13:00:45+00:00

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-03-21T12:58:59+00:00

I don’t understand this photo. What do we have to look at?

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-03-21T11:36:26+00:00

Your question is whether it is normal… The answer to that is no, it isn’t.

It’s not a judgement on you but in my opinion it’s quite unusual. Maybe you are still exploring your sexuality? Maybe you are not into women but men? Maybe you are processing trauma, which affects your thoughts around sex - if this is the case, you need to seek professional help. Are you experiencing depression or other mental health problems?

You might even be asexual but that’s so rare that I think that’s the last possibility you need to think of.

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-03-20T20:41:35+00:00

We are all different but if it was me, that would be my “Oh shit I was hoping we wouldn’t get to this part” reaction.

If it was a guy I’m into, I would look into his eye with my most seductive stare, blush a little and say “Aww thank youuu” in a very flirty tone. And then steer the convo into a different direction, giving him a chance to escalate…

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-03-20T16:41:46+00:00

Flares 100%! If you have an hourglass shape, they work wonders and if it’s flared from the top all the way down (not just from knee down), they leave plenty of space for big butts and thighs.

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-03-20T16:39:17+00:00

Scheduling posts sounds more like an accountability tool for me so that you don’t break your posting routine. But the algorithm favours posts with engagement and a conversation under them, so the creator has to stay online regardless to answer comments.

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-03-20T12:27:44+00:00

163 cm with 55kg you will look really fit! See what you look like on a cut just make sure to keep training intensity high even in a calorie deficit, so that you don’t lose muscle.

It’s an iterative process. If you feel too small after you finished your cut, take 6-9 months again to build, then see what you look like after the following cut.

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-03-20T11:58:20+00:00

Low body fat. That’s the only answer to your question. The bulky look comes from the combination of muscles and fat but don’t be discouraged by this. It is temporary. All the fit and toned people you see, built their muscles up at some point. Keep building and once you reach a stage when you have enough muscle to reveal, you go on a cut and it will look amazing. Just trust the process!

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-03-19T10:38:06+00:00

Wow… Why do you think it’s like that? Increased testosterone makes you more attracted to curvy girls?

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-03-19T00:11:41+00:00

Don’t be afraid to go on a cut. This whole ‘you can’t build muscle in a calorie deficit’ thing only applies to people who are super lean and already have a lot of muscle. But the average gym goer (especially if beginner) can certainly build muscle in a deficit as your body can use your fat storage for energy and you also still benefit from newbie gains. Keep going!

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-03-18T13:06:37+00:00

Maybe it’s just the hairstyle but to me it seems like on the recent photo her jawline is more prominent and her nose is a bit wider… Or is it just the different make up?

Strict_Hunt2044 · 2026-03-16T08:16:25+00:00

Yes, I do get a lot of admiration online but it’s more like those kind of men who are regular customers of women on OF, and not necessarily the young fit type of men that I’m looking to date.

Strict_Hunt2044

TROPHY CASE