Welcome back! So happy you’re here. Today I want to incorporate an important aspect of fitness, which is gaining information.

As you are doing now, starting your fitness journey most likely stems from seeing what other people do. I started out following Pinterest boards and Youtube videos. We cannot start something without a little knowledge on the topic, so it is common for us gym-goers to seek out workouts and information from more advanced athletes.

Today I am going to be reflecting on the article titled The Best Bulking Leg Workouts: 10 Must-Do Exercises written by Mike Dewar.

Dewar’s post is super informational. As someone who feels like they know what to do in the gym, I still found myself learning new facts about different movements. I am always overjoyed when I learn about why things work the way they do, so I read the article multiple times.

Below, I am going to highlight the most important aspects of his article and follow with a reflection on finding workout information online.

Eye-opening Points

  • He begins the post by talking about bulking. This is a period of being in a calorie surplus in order to optimize training and muscle growth. I was simply happy to see this in there, as many people think working out is about eating less and dying in the gym. It is important for beginners to understand that muscle growth comes from both training and fueling your body.
  • I never understood the difference in bar placement while back squatting, so it was great to hear Dewar’s reasoning. He states, “High bar back squats are often used to maximize quadriceps growth as this allows for a more vertical torso positioning and deeper ranges of knee flexion… [and] is the ideal choice when looking to squat for bigger quads.” Just wanted to point this out, as it isn’t something you read about very often!
  • Walking lunges tip! I have struggled to figure out beneficial placement for my feet when completing walking lunges. I often find one of my steps to be short, and the other to feel like a stride. Thankfully, Dewar answered this in a simple way: “Short steps that allow for the knees to go over the toes result in deeper knee flexion angles (which target the quadriceps more). If you are looking to shift more loading the glutes (and a little hamstrings), bigger steps would be your go to.”
  • Not only does this article give tips and tricks, but Dewar goes as far as including 3 isolated leg workouts! When I was learning about training legs, it was hard for me to understand which workouts targeted my different leg muscles. Dewar includes a quad-focused workout, hamstring-focused workout, and glute-focused workout. This is really the answer to all my beginner leg training questions! Amen!

Finding Reputable Info Online

Clearly, as someone who is blogging about fitness with no certification, it is important for me to talk about how to find helpful workout information online.

All I post about is from my own personal experience and from what I have learned through reputable sources. I am no trainer and do not claim to be. Regardless, I want to help people.

So how should you know if you can trust the information you’re reading?

Well, for starters, see what the person says about themselves. Someone, such as Mike Dewar, will state their many credentials that clearly show they know what they’re talking about. Others, like myself, will mention that they are on their own journey, and just want to share what they have learned. This is great too! However, notice where they credit their information.

Do not trust someone who cannot back up a claim. That is a hard pass. Instead, find people you can relate to and who clearly share their knowledge for the benefit of others.

Overall, it definitely pays off to listen to a certified trainer. For instance, Mike Dewar “holds a Master’s in Exercise Physiology and a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science. He’s a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), USA Weightlifting Advanced Coach, and has over 10+ years of experience working with collegiate athletes, national level lifters, and beginners alike. “

*Mic Drop*

So yeah, it is safe to say he is a reputable source.

Trust people like him.

Read and question people like me.

The combination of the two will get you to where you need to be.