If you want those gains you better not neglect your squats.

As a bodybuilder, it’s common knowledge that you can’t neglect any of your body parts. If you’re looking to have not only a well defined physique but a symmetrical form as well then you better be diligent and work every one of your limbs. In particular working your legs are paramount to getting the gains you seek in the gym. Even if you’ve blasted your arms, ripped apart your chest, and crushed your abs during the week, it’s no excuse for skipping leg day. Here’s why.

Squats are the daddy of all exercises – the cream of the crop when it comes to gains. If you want the key to thicker, more muscular legs, squats are the way to go. Whether you’re trying to build up your legs or strengthen your core, squats are the ideal exercise when hitting the gym. It’s the one workout that should never be neglected in your weekly schedule. Squats generate three times the energy throughout the body when compared to other exercises like bench pressing and lat pulldowns.

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If you skip out on squats then you’re skipping out on the chance to make big gains in muscle mass and lower your overall body fat percentage. Sure, squatting builds up the legs, but that’s not all. It promotes over all muscle growth throughout the body. Squatting properly creates an anabolic environment in the body and also has the potential to release testosterone and human growth hormones in the body. Do you get it yet? Squats are the way to go. There’s a reason it’s been dubbed the king of all exercises.

Need another reason to stop skipping leg day? How about preventing injury. Working out your legs builds strong knee, hip and ankle joints. You’re not getting any younger – and avoiding injury means you get more time in the gym. The very last thing you need is an injury preventing you from lifting iron and grabbing gains.

The biggest mistake people make at the gym is to tack on leg exercises towards the end of a workout. Legs should not be an after thought. It’s not secondary. Seriously, stop skipping your leg workouts.

Just check out this pic of Tom Platz, Branch Warren and Jay Cutler:

You think any of these guys skip out on leg day during the week? They utilized their great leg muscles to push their bodies to new limits of muscle growth.

So go ahead and skip leg day, no one’s going to stop you. Just remember that you’re missing out on major gains throughout your entire body and really, for the bodybuilder, that’s just poor judgment.
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How important do you think leg day is? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.