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If you're a bodybuilding enthusiast, you've probably heard of someone with perfect legs. Tom Platz, who peaked his career during the 70s and 80s, is an ideal example of a bodybuilder with excellent leg development. Because of his physique, the bodybuilding industry named him the Golden Eagle and Quad Father.
People can still see Tom Platz's strength even in his old age. The Quad Father is active on his social media accounts, where he still works out and stays in shape. According to him, what he can do today is the result of his healthy diet and commitment to his training regimen.
Read this article if you're new to the industry and want to know Tom Platz better, including his approach to bodybuilding. We'll talk about his background, training, nutrition, and how he achieved the legs that all bodybuilders dream of.
Because he trained with his childhood idol and was one of the most prominent bodybuilders in the industry, he had already landed first in his amateur competition. Tom received the 1978 IFBB World Amateur Championships and 1978 IFBB USA World Qualifier titles. His other accomplishments include:
Tom believes in the power of the law of attraction. He says you will succeed if you think about and visualize your success.
His leg workouts were intense–high intensities and high repetitions. He said he did eight reps of squats while lifting more than 600 lbs. of weight and 52 reps with more than 300 lbs. He undoubtedly had the most incredible legs in the bodybuilding industry.
Aside from squats, he also did high-intensity training with leg curls, leg extensions, and calf raises. He ensured that he stretched before workouts and gave all his strength to all exercises.
Additionally, he ensures that what he eats is farm-to-table food. These foods aren't processed or contain any preservatives that may affect his health. He also incorporates his diet with a lot of butter, believing this can help avoid joint problems.
Like other bodybuilders today, a considerable proportion of his meals contain protein. Usually, his protein sources are eggs, lean beef, and chicken. Unlike new bodybuilders, Tom Platz is not a fan of chicken breasts. Instead, he consumes everything–from chicken skin to the meat closest to the bones. Tom believes this part of chicken meat contains more nutrients than new bodybuilders consume.
Because there were no bodybuilding supplements during his time, most of his nutrients came from the food he consumed. There were protein shakes, but they were far from better than what bodybuilders consume today. The only available supplement was vitamins. He had desiccated liver and food extracts to support his protein intake.
Tom Platz always looks for the positive. Even when he loses, he sees it as an opportunity to improve. He values the importance of resilience and giving his all while training. His mindset focuses on pushing himself to his limits.
But he did not believe that a bodybuilder should always take the risk, especially in incorporating exercises into their routines. According to him, the benefits should always outweigh the risks.
The main exercise Tom Platz did for his legs was squats. Because it targets the major muscle groups, intense sets of this exercise rip a large amount of muscle mass, which leads to enormous muscle mass as they recover. It works on the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves.
Additionally, squats under high intensity can trigger the human growth hormone, an essential in building muscle mass. Because Tom uses the proper technique and form during squats, he maximizes their muscle-building benefits.
He continues his legacy in the bodybuilding industry by sharing knowledge and passion for bodybuilding. As an educator, his valuable insights about nutrition, high-intensity training, and mental approach to bodybuilding have inspired a lot of new bodybuilders.
People can still see Tom Platz's strength even in his old age. The Quad Father is active on his social media accounts, where he still works out and stays in shape. According to him, what he can do today is the result of his healthy diet and commitment to his training regimen.
Read this article if you're new to the industry and want to know Tom Platz better, including his approach to bodybuilding. We'll talk about his background, training, nutrition, and how he achieved the legs that all bodybuilders dream of.
Biographical Background of Tom Platz
Tom Platz was only ten years old when he started training for bodybuilding in 1965. The first time he handled bodybuilding equipment, he knew this sport was for him. A photo of Dave Draper made him pursue the career. He managed to train with Draper and was also a student of Arnold Schwarzenegger.Because he trained with his childhood idol and was one of the most prominent bodybuilders in the industry, he had already landed first in his amateur competition. Tom received the 1978 IFBB World Amateur Championships and 1978 IFBB USA World Qualifier titles. His other accomplishments include:
- 1979 IFBB Olympia (8th)
- 1980 IFBB World Pro (2nd)
- 1980 IFBB Grand Prix Pennsylvania (10th)
- 1980 IFBB Night of The Champions (12th)
- 1980 IFBB Olympia (9th)
- 1981 IFBB Olympia (3rd)
- 1982 IFBB Olympia (6th)
- 1984 IFBB Olympia (9th)
- 1985 IFBB Olympia (7th)
- 1986 IFBB Olympia (11th)
- 1987 IFBB Olympia (6th)
Tom believes in the power of the law of attraction. He says you will succeed if you think about and visualize your success.
Training Regimen
During his younger years, Tom only worked on floors, doing bench presses and other basic exercises. He even avoided leg exercises because of his back problem. Which, in contrast, became the turning point of his bodybuilding career. Here is a detailed exercise he did when he was already training during his career.Emphasizing Muscles on Legs
His leg muscles grew and developed when he moved to Detroit. He learned the correct form of squats as he trained with Olympic weightlifters. He adopted the perfect technique for this exercise from these people. They also knew it would be Tom's road to bodybuilding because of its length and size.His leg workouts were intense–high intensities and high repetitions. He said he did eight reps of squats while lifting more than 600 lbs. of weight and 52 reps with more than 300 lbs. He undoubtedly had the most incredible legs in the bodybuilding industry.
Aside from squats, he also did high-intensity training with leg curls, leg extensions, and calf raises. He ensured that he stretched before workouts and gave all his strength to all exercises.
Nutrition and Supplementation
What he ate during the peak of his career is what he still consumes today. One of his dietary habits is to look at the food's nutritional content. He eats fermented foods to aid his digestion since he believes probiotics are essential in maintaining gut health.Additionally, he ensures that what he eats is farm-to-table food. These foods aren't processed or contain any preservatives that may affect his health. He also incorporates his diet with a lot of butter, believing this can help avoid joint problems.
Like other bodybuilders today, a considerable proportion of his meals contain protein. Usually, his protein sources are eggs, lean beef, and chicken. Unlike new bodybuilders, Tom Platz is not a fan of chicken breasts. Instead, he consumes everything–from chicken skin to the meat closest to the bones. Tom believes this part of chicken meat contains more nutrients than new bodybuilders consume.
Because there were no bodybuilding supplements during his time, most of his nutrients came from the food he consumed. There were protein shakes, but they were far from better than what bodybuilders consume today. The only available supplement was vitamins. He had desiccated liver and food extracts to support his protein intake.
Mindset and Philosophy
Bodybuilding can be mentally draining. An athlete must learn how to stay focused and disciplined. Otherwise, it can lead to setbacks, injuries, and temptations. For him, mental strength is just as important as physical strength. This industry is often the target of social pressure that may affect a bodybuilder's commitment to the sport.Tom Platz always looks for the positive. Even when he loses, he sees it as an opportunity to improve. He values the importance of resilience and giving his all while training. His mindset focuses on pushing himself to his limits.
But he did not believe that a bodybuilder should always take the risk, especially in incorporating exercises into their routines. According to him, the benefits should always outweigh the risks.
The Science Behind Platz's Legs
Exercises are not the sole contributor to how Tom Platz's legs turned out during his peak days. Genetics also played a huge role since he already had good leg length and size. His fans and bodybuilding enthusiasts can still see this today, even if Tom is already 67 years old.The main exercise Tom Platz did for his legs was squats. Because it targets the major muscle groups, intense sets of this exercise rip a large amount of muscle mass, which leads to enormous muscle mass as they recover. It works on the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves.
Additionally, squats under high intensity can trigger the human growth hormone, an essential in building muscle mass. Because Tom uses the proper technique and form during squats, he maximizes their muscle-building benefits.
Legacy and Influence
Tom Platz is living proof that working hard and being optimistic helps achieve a goal. His training philosophy of pushing himself to absolute limits made his legs the inspiration of many bodybuilders today. Though he left competing many years ago, many new bodybuilders follow his leg workout routine since muscle in the lower body is hard to develop.He continues his legacy in the bodybuilding industry by sharing knowledge and passion for bodybuilding. As an educator, his valuable insights about nutrition, high-intensity training, and mental approach to bodybuilding have inspired a lot of new bodybuilders.
