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I think I overdid it

Diana123 Posts: 135 Joined: 2003/02/03	2004/06/29, 11:42 AM I have been working out for a few years now, usually four times a week. Of these four, two are devoted to the lower body...legs,butts, etc inorder to get a shapely butt and legs. Well, I think it worked....a little too well... because the other day my bf told me that my butt sticks out too much compared to my legs. So I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not. I've been doing dealifts and squats to raise the butt a bit, but I dont want it to be out of porportion!! So question is, what should I do...do fewer sets (i've been doing 4 X 20 ) or reduce the number of lower body exercises??? I'm afraid that cutting back on these exercises will result in a flabby look....help!
bigandrew Posts: 5,146 Joined: 2002/10/21	2004/06/29, 04:56 PM depends on what YOU want, not what your boyfriend wants. Personally i'd rather be a lil bigger in certain areas and it be firm and hard, than be flabby. BUt you can try doing only one day a week lower body. -------------- .......adversity causes some to break, but others to break records! ......minds are not vessles to be filled, but fires to be enlightened ......Confucious once said ,DO NOT play leap frog with a unicorn
ursusarktos Posts: 346 Joined: 2004/01/18	2004/06/30, 09:32 AM Upgrade to a better bf?? I just turned in my older car for a new one and am much happier with it. Exercises that focus on the hamstrings like seated leg curls and standing leg curls will help the legs look fuller in relation to the butt. I don't recommend extensive use of lying leg curls since they tend to shorten the hamstrings.
hecdarec Posts: 2,457 Joined: 2003/12/16	2004/06/30, 09:37 AM Message deleted by moderator due to unsuitable content for this board.
bigandrew Posts: 5,146 Joined: 2002/10/21	2004/06/30, 10:00 AM what you say hec? or where you just saying that lol leg curls really shorten hams? never herd that before? -------------- .......adversity causes some to break, but others to break records! ......minds are not vessles to be filled, but fires to be enlightened ......Confucious once said ,DO NOT play leap frog with a unicorn
the_cupcake Posts: 348 Joined: 2004/06/16	2004/06/30, 10:01 AM ursusarktos: you got me wondering. I have a difficult time doing the deadlifts and other hamstring exercises, the lying leg curls are what I mostly do for them. why is this bad? ============ Quoting from ursusarktos: Upgrade to a better bf?? I just turned in my older car for a new one and am much happier with it. Exercises that focus on the hamstrings like seated leg curls and standing leg curls will help the legs look fuller in relation to the butt. I don't recommend extensive use of lying leg curls since they tend to shorten the hamstrings. ============= -------------- The best victories are won not by adversity and brute force. Learn the enemy and overcome it. -cupcake-
hecdarec Posts: 2,457 Joined: 2003/12/16	2004/06/30, 10:08 AM I don't remember, but I am sure it was offensive. -------------- Message deleted by moderator due to unsuitable content for this board.
nexus14 Posts: 23 Joined: 2004/04/28	2004/06/30, 01:17 PM hecdarec, How many posts you got deleted so far? You might be holding the record here.:big_smile:
ursusarktos Posts: 346 Joined: 2004/01/18	2004/06/30, 02:27 PM Well I'm limited for time right now, and I'm leaving on vacation for 10 days 1st thing in the morning. So for those of you who are wondering - your home work assignment is to try and figure out why consistently doing lying leg curls will tend to shorten hamstrings whereas seated leg curls will not. I'll check answers when I get back from canoeing.
hecdarec Posts: 2,457 Joined: 2003/12/16	2004/06/30, 02:59 PM Because it does. -------------- Message deleted by moderator due to unsuitable content for this board.
david_s81 Posts: 543 Joined: 2004/04/09	2004/06/30, 08:49 PM I like to see chicks doing the lying ham curls though. And they can't see you checkin' them out. It's a great situation. Not sure why they would shorten hamstrings though. -------------- Tuesday nights in the 80s? I was always in bed by 8. ...and home by 10. Oh!
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2004/06/30, 09:10 PM In a seated position, your hamstrings are stretched at the upper attachment point, over the back of your hip, sort of, so they don't get as tightly contracted as in the lying position, where you are working them in a more contarcted start position. That may be the point of ursusarktos position. Have a nice vacation - are you bringing back some bear meat? -------------- \"Inscribe this on the charm that dangles from your navel, girls. Guys, tattoo this on your biceps: Building muscle and might builds strong minds and character. Respect and humility come from lifting weights and feeding yourself with care. And from these distinguished qualities a great nation of people is built, by God. (Of course the God part is your choice, friend.)\" Dave Draper
ursusarktos Posts: 346 Joined: 2004/01/18	2004/06/30, 09:58 PM Yeah, yeah I know - am taking to long to post. LOL Anyway... Imagine doing arm curls for the elbow flexors wherein you limited your range of motion from 90 degrees of elbow flexion to full elbow back to 90 degrees and so on. If you did this every arm workout consistents it wont take a long time before your elbow flexors (mainly biceps brachii, brachialis & brachioradialis) shortened to the point where you had difficulty fully straightening your elbow. This is the effect that constant regimen of lying leg curls will have on the hamstrings unless alot of remedial work is done to prevent this.
ursusarktos Posts: 346 Joined: 2004/01/18	2004/06/30, 10:13 PM Was supposed to read ' 90 degrees of elbow flexion to full elbow flexion back to 90...' A seated hamstring curl puts the hamstring in a pre-stretch (the extent varies among individuals) at the beginning of the movement because the hip is already flexed and the knee is extended. Once the knee is fully flexed the total length of the hamstrings is somewhere between mid-range to shortened (but nowhere near fully shortened). So this exercise also does not work the hamstring through a full range either. Exercises such as straight leg deadlifts and good mornings will also work the hams through a range similar to that of seated leg curls (stretched to mid length0. These 2 exercises will also activate other hip extensors such as the gluteus maximus (among others - which does not benefit Diana's current objectives).
howdiekat Posts: 1,345 Joined: 2003/05/22	2004/06/30, 10:22 PM firstly, a butt can never stick out too far, so tell your boyfriend he can go to hell diana. secondly, if i've had 2nd degree tears in both hamstrings should i stay away from the lying leg curls? this would seem to make sense, but right now my deductive reasoning is short circuiting. -------------- i wish you ill, ice-t.
ursusarktos Posts: 346 Joined: 2004/01/18	2004/06/30, 10:27 PM One exercise that does work the hamstrings seamlessly from a fully stretched to a fully contracted position is the glut-ham raise. There is an apparatus specifically for this exercise (which very few gyms have), although certain hyperextension apparati can be adapted for this exercise. The exercise movement involves lumbar extension much like a back hyper but also simultaneously involves knee flexion. This continues until the lower back has straightened and the knees have flexed to at least 90 degrees or more. This exercise does require a fair bit of initial hamstring strength so it is not appropriate for people new to strength training. Again this does not isolate the hams in that it also involves other hip extensors.
ursusarktos Posts: 346 Joined: 2004/01/18	2004/06/30, 10:35 PM Thanks, Will be just do the 2 F's - fishing & fotography You thought I was going to say something else (get your minds out of the gutter - all of you!). Spring bear season is over, fall season doesn't begin until the end of August. ============ Quoting from asimmer: Have a nice vacation - are you bringing back some bear meat? =============
ursusarktos Posts: 346 Joined: 2004/01/18	2004/06/30, 10:46 PM Agreed. There's something about a really muscular butt on a lady that, well.. (and I'm a br***t guy!). As for rehabing the hamstring tears, go very carefully as they do take alot of time and are very susceptible to reinjury. Working them through a full range of motion is important so that they are strong and therefore injury resitant at the end ranges. Hopefully you're working with a good physio or certified athletic trainer on this. Good luck, please keep me updated on how your doing. Anyway I gotta get going, I haven't started packing yet. You people are all great. Will talk to you when I get back. ============ Quoting from howdiekat: firstly, a butt can never stick out too far, so tell your boyfriend he can go to hell diana. secondly, if i've had 2nd degree tears in both hamstrings should i stay away from the lying leg curls? this would seem to make sense, but right now my deductive reasoning is short circuiting. =============
howdiekat Posts: 1,345 Joined: 2003/05/22	2004/06/30, 10:52 PM have fun on your trip ursusarktos, thanks for the info. i actually did rehab on these exstensively back in the day - they still give me trouble every now and again, but this is also the case with my shoulder. i've just learned to live with it. anyway chances are you won't even see this until you get back, so i guess i should be saying "welcome back, how was your trip?" anyway, we'll miss you while you're gone. :) -------------- i wish you ill, ice-t.
Diana123 Posts: 135 Joined: 2003/02/03	2004/07/01, 07:36 AM howdiekat, trust me, when he said my butt's out too far, I told him to go....well...you know, very far. He really made me angry. But I am over it now and will continue to do deadlifts etc, but I will take the other advice about doing leg curls. And if my bf doesn't like it, I'll just have to find someone who does!! Gracias for the advice/opinions!:big_smile:
gsdkain Posts: 53 Joined: 2004/02/23	2004/07/01, 09:30 AM Sorry, but I'm confused, are you guys saying that the hamstring muscle itselfs actually gets shorter or the range of motion of the hamstring is shorter? I did nt think a muscle could be shortened? I may be wrong (usually am). :big_smile:
howdiekat Posts: 1,345 Joined: 2003/05/22	2004/07/01, 03:32 PM diana i'm glad to know you told him where he could go. you're a beautiful woman and shouldn't be stuck with a man who's not going to appreciate everything about you. cheers to you. -------------- i wish you ill, ice-t.
david_s81 Posts: 543 Joined: 2004/04/09	2004/07/01, 06:10 PM yes'm. That's good stuff. Gotta keep him in check, or else he'll start commenting on all sortsa stuff. You know the whole "give him an inch..." theory. -------------- Tuesday nights in the 80s? I was always in bed by 8. ...and home by 10. Oh!
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2004/07/02, 08:54 AM Using a shortened range of motion eventually leads to tightness (shortening) in that muscle. If you always work a muscle in a shortened position, it will become less flexible. It won't actaully reduce in length, and you could rebuild the flexibility in it with stretching and gradually incraesing the range of motion you are using. Did that answer your question or just make it more confusing? ============ Quoting from gsdkain: Sorry, but I'm confused, are you guys saying that the hamstring muscle itselfs actually gets shorter or the range of motion of the hamstring is shorter? I did nt think a muscle could be shortened? I may be wrong (usually am). :big_smile: ============= -------------- \"Inscribe this on the charm that dangles from your navel, girls. Guys, tattoo this on your biceps: Building muscle and might builds strong minds and character. Respect and humility come from lifting weights and feeding yourself with care. And from these distinguished qualities a great nation of people is built, by God. (Of course the God part is your choice, friend.)\" Dave Draper
ursusarktos Posts: 346 Joined: 2004/01/18	2004/07/11, 11:59 PM Howdiekat, thanks for the kind words, and yes, I had a very nice trip. Diana, hope things are well with you, any changes of note? ============ Quoting from howdiekat: have fun on your trip ursusarktos, thanks for the info. i actually did rehab on these exstensively back in the day - they still give me trouble every now and again, but this is also the case with my shoulder. i've just learned to live with it. anyway chances are you won't even see this until you get back, so i guess i should be saying "welcome back, how was your trip?" anyway, we'll miss you while you're gone. :) =============
ursusarktos Posts: 346 Joined: 2004/01/18	2004/07/12, 12:18 AM Both can occur. If the length of a whole muscle decreases, then the actual range in which the muscle can exert force will also decrease. Muscles have a natural tendency to shorten if they are not moved through their full range regularly. This is one of the big concerns with immobilizing a joint (typically casting) following a fracture or joint injury. If a muscle is immobilized in a shortened postion, its sarcomeres (the functional units of a muscle fiber) will shorten significantly within a few weeks. Regaining the original length requires determined effort (rehab) and takes much longer than losing it. This is why informed doctors are anxious to remove casts as soon as safely possible. Casting times today are much shorter than they were 30-40 years earlier for a similar injury situation. ============ Quoting from gsdkain: Sorry, but I'm confused, are you guys saying that the hamstring muscle itselfs actually gets shorter or the range of motion of the hamstring is shorter? I did nt think a muscle could be shortened? I may be wrong (usually am). :big_smile: =============
the_cupcake Posts: 348 Joined: 2004/06/16	2004/07/12, 10:17 AM thanks, ursusarktos :) man, i have difficulty spelling your nick right. I'll tag that as my knowledge for the day. Welcome back! :) -------------- The best victories are won not by adversity and brute force. Learn the enemy and overcome it. Now for the love of god...put the donut...DOWN!!! -cupcake-
jonathanweaver Posts: 576 Joined: 2004/06/14	2004/07/12, 10:47 AM Ursus - Is that why people say that after removing their cast, that arm or leg seems stronger? Is it because the muscle has shortened, and therefore is more comfortable when contracted? -------------- I will never grow up, just old. Jonathan
ursusarktos Posts: 346 Joined: 2004/01/18	2004/07/12, 03:09 PM Cupcake; Just call me Mark if that's any easier. LOL Jonathan; If people note that their ar or leg seems stronger following casting its more of a sensation than reality. The muscles involved will definitely be weaker. The sensation of being stronger may have more to do with the fact that those muscles will contiuously be under greater tension (because they are shorter - not stronger). This feeling could be best related to that of a mild sensation of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which often occurs a day or 2 after an unusual workout. The muscles aren't stronger (in fact they are a little weaker), but you are much more aware of their existence! BTW - What happened to the flame thrower?
jonathanweaver Posts: 576 Joined: 2004/06/14	2004/07/12, 03:45 PM ============ Quoting from ursusarktos: BTW - What happened to the flame thrower? ============= I switched it to the before picture. Now I have the WAY before pic and the at the beginning pic. The "flex" pic is after 2.5 weeks on the ft program. Now I'm a Professional member, so I'll add more pics as they seem "appropriate". I can add the flamethrower back in if you *really* want it. LOL -------------- I will never grow up, just old. Jonathan
the_cupcake Posts: 348 Joined: 2004/06/16	2004/07/12, 04:27 PM now see, -Mark- I can spell lol. my braincells are getting nuked at such an early age. woe is me... jonathan..I kinda liked the flame thrower too. LOL. -------------- The best victories are won not by adversity and brute force. Learn the enemy and overcome it. Now for the love of god...put the donut...DOWN!!! -cupcake-
jonathanweaver Posts: 576 Joined: 2004/06/14	2004/07/13, 10:37 AM Ok, ok! I'll add it back in, but not as the main two. Or are you saying that you'd rather see a pic of somebody else "shooting fire out of his @$$ than to see a pic of my ugly mug? :big_smile: -------------- I will never grow up, just old. Jonathan
JustinE22 Posts: 1,312 Joined: 2003/09/18	2005/03/11, 03:48 AM How'd this post get bumped?
ironmonga Posts: 185 Joined: 2005/02/09	2005/03/11, 05:45 AM What gives???