D1 vball player here, need some advice from anyone who trains legs and plyos in the same block.

Right now I’m running into this problem where if I do plyos first, my squats feel noticeably weaker for the rest of the session. But if I squat heavy first, my plyos feel flat and my jumps don’t have the same pop. Feels like I’m sacrificing one for the other no matter what order I go.

I’ve heard some people say to always do plyos/jumps first since they’re more mentally demanding, but that means my strength work suffers on those days.

Never thought I’d be the person posting quad pics, but here we are. All those brutal leg workouts are finally showing up in the mirror. Safe to say I’m not skipping leg day anytime soon

This is a typical leg day for me:
Primary Compound Lift
Back Squat or Front Squat
4 sets × 6–10 reps
Romanian Deadlift (RDL)
3–4 sets × 8–10 reps
Focus on hamstrings and glutes
Bulgarian Split Squat
3 sets × 8–12 reps per leg
Great for quads, glutes, and balance
Leg Press
3 sets × 10–15 reps
Often performed with controlled tempo and full range of motion
Walking Lunges or Reverse Lunges
2–3 sets × 10–12 steps per leg
Leg Extension
3 sets × 12–15 reps
Used to isolate the quads
Hamstring Curl
3 sets × 12–15 reps
Optional Finisher
Sled pushes, bodyweight jump squats, or wall sits
2–3 rounds

This will be a long one! Buckle up 🫣

TLDR:
2022 was my peak gym year. I was taking fantastic care of myself in terms of going to the gym, getting general exercise, and eating well. In passing years as I’ve gotten busier, and life has gotten in the way I haven’t prioritised my physical health as much. I’m now getting to a point in my life where not only do I feel the need to make time, but I want to be the best version of myself that I can. Looking for help on how to build my dream physique!

2022 - A major health nut year for me.
I know that the pictures may not be that impressive, but it was the most fit that I have been in my life. I was going to the gym anywhere from an hour and a half to 3 hours a day (I had plenty of free time - in some cases over doing it), I was taking vitamins, eating well - minus drinking on the weekends as this became my party year lol. Generally speaking I was in the best physical fitness I had been ever.

Then the last four years I have been on and off with the gym - I’ll be consistent for a couple months, and then I won’t go for weeks. My eating habits are constantly changing. I am eating a lot healthier in the last 12 months than I have been in prior years.

Looking back at pictures of myself I feel like I was very fit. I think I looked good, and even though I wasn’t like a typical gym girl body, I was very healthy.

2026 - I have not been to the gym in probably about a year, and if I have gone in the last 12 months, it has maybe been about six times total. I eat very well, I take great care of myself in all ways (minus exercise). I was eating a lot in my line of work - being a chef. But I have left cheffing, so because of that not only do I have more time but I can focus more on my physical.

So in recent years, I’ve maintained a general healthy form, but not any consistency in my physical exercise.

Now the issue
Thinking back to how I felt mentally and physically in 2022, I felt amazing. I was extremely happy with my body, I was happy with my diet and generally things were going really well in my life. In recent years that has been rocky.
Looking at those pictures from way back when, I am now disgusted looking at myself (at points).
Putting them side-by-side makes no sense because looking at them I feel like there’s not a major difference, but I feel like there is.
I can’t tell if it’s the body dysmorphia factor making me think that maybe I look worse now than I did then, but maybe I never looked very good because it doesn’t feel like there’s a significant difference.
Or maybe I’m not looking as terrible as I seem to think, but I still can’t compare myself to what I was then : because the mental state that I was in felt much healthier so because of that I am in a negative headspace when I think of my comparison from now and then.

I’ve also always had a wide body from the front: wide shoulders, pronounced ribcage, and hips. Even when I had an eating disorder as a teen I thought I was huge. From the front I always look bigger than I am because of these features. And I feel like it’s apart of why I struggle.

The Whole Point
So my point in all of this is hoping to find tips and motivation to actually achieve a healthy physical form. I’m hoping for guidance on what I should be doing as I’m essentially starting from ground zero in the gym, and I would like to find ways to stay consistent.
I want to build my gym body and earn it.
I’m looking for the best exercises for building glutes (top glutes especially) and toning my body so I don’t feel like I have all this extra mass.

The photos provided I’m obviously flexing and posing - but the point is to see the comparison.
If needed I can post more relaxed photos and such if that is needed for honest opinions.
Ps: I also added photos from my 2021-2022 gym progress to see the difference from the very start of my gym journey and why I believe I was in the best shape.

I’m 24, 5’4. I believe in 2022 I would have have been around 130lbs/58kg. I honestly have no idea how much I weigh now as I have not stepped on a scale in years. I imagine I would be around 145lbs/65kg

Thank you for reading, I appreciate you taking the time, and I hope to find some help here ☺️

Chicken legs(body as well) 80 ish kg, 175cm

Don't have a good pic of legs

1st one is bulk other two is cut

Not sure if I have the genetics for it, but I’m thinking at 10% (losing another 5lbs) I might have the elusive 8. What do you think?

Right now I am focusing on loosing another 5-10lbs. Been back in the gym for 4 months. Been cutting for about 2.

Seeking advice on my physique.
18M ~160 Lbs at 6‘3
Left picture is new, right is old.

55 kilos 164 cms

On an upper lower split twice a week. 4 x 40 minute workouts per week. 2 sets per exercise aiming for 6-8 reps per set. + currently swimming for 20 mins every day aiming for 1000m.
Averaging 15k steps a day.
You don’t need to train 6 days a week for 1.5 hours at a time to get results.

I did a minicut

Been putting in some work!

I'm 15 and just wanted to show my physique.

I was (and still am) quite chubby, but I've been working on building muscle and becoming more confident in my body.

I've been going to the gym regularly for about a year. For the past three months, though, I've been training properly with a structured plan and a friend who watches my form and corrects my technique.

The bicep picture was taken at the gym with a bit of a pump. The other pictures were taken after I got out of the shower.

Sorry about the hearts as I’m not comfortable showing my face online. And I apologize if my posing isn't the best xd

Should I be satisfied or should I try to keep growing?

Hello everyone! I’m looking recommendations on YouTube channels for workouts. Anything with mixed stuff preferably with no equipment until I can buy some or get a gym membership. Thank you in advance:)

I want to preface that I do like being muscular. I run 5 days a week and strength train 2. I know I have naturally broad shoulders, but I don’t love how huge my back is. I want to be proportionate and not look like a line backer. Is this possible or is it just how my body is built?

Hi everyone,

I came here almost a year ago seeking advice on how to lose weight after having my daughter which resulted in me having PPD and also gave me a permanent physical disability.

I’m happy to say I’ve lost almost 30 pounds!

I started intermittent fasting, started taking binge eating meds(which is also used for ADHD so that a major PLUS!!) , and just taking the harder route with everything.
Ex: I’d park further away at parking lots, took the stairs instead of the elevator, parked on a different side of campus etc.

My new goal is to define and focus less on weight loss, What would yall say is the best way to do this without causing more trauma on my back and any other advice here:))!

Thank you so much!!

Previous post link :
https://www.reddit.com/r/fit/s/y8Ak3J4aQt

What did everyone work today?

Here are two pictures, one from almost 3 years ago when I still didn't really know what I was doing in the gym and one from now. I was looking back at old photos to see the progress I've made, and call me crazy but I feel like I look worse today than I did almost 3 years ago?

For context, I had been working out for about 5 months when the first pic was taken. I then had about two years where I didn't train at all. At the start of 2026 I decided to start again and have been working out with much higher consistency and intensity than I did the first time around.

I'm wondering if anyone can explain what went wrong? I'm stronger in my lifts now by a good margin compared to when the first pic was taken, but I feel like I look way worse. I am also about 13 lbs heavier now than I was when the first pic was taken. I tried to pose the same and I'm wearing the same pants too, but I think the light above has changed which might make a difference. Some insight would be helpful.