Stop Squatting?

[joedemarco]

Check out this video of Mike Boyle talking about why we should stop squatting. Personally, I disagree with him. I'm to old school to ever give up squatting!

http://www.functionalstrengthcoach3.com/squats.html

[buckimscl]

Amen Doc!!!

[Baldiewonkanobi]

I get a spasm in the lower lumbar on anything over 225. In my 40s I could rep 405. I have switched to HEAVY leg press and deadlifts. Legs are responding possible best ever as a Natural.

Baldie

[cook]

When they pry the squat bar from my cold dead hands

[fatbackgoal]

Interesting stuff. I just started doing squats again but have decided to let go of the ego, drop the weight and go for form. I have really felt it and may finally get my legs to grow. I am with Baldie, let the squats set up the heavy leg press.

[gman]

my back hurts worse when I do leg press than when I squat

[Baldiewonkanobi]

Turn around !!




Baldie

[gman]

Turn around !!




Baldie

oh shit, I wasn't supposed to lie face down...dammit.

[DBowden]

Never.

[bodyhard]

Fuck no, even after my car accident and the docs told me not to I didn't and I wont.

[HeavyDutyGuy]

Well. I usually don't have a problem with them. Although Mondays session setting a new PR and trying to force the bottom part of the ROM left me with a back spasm all week. (Fk the ass to grass shit, my torso and calves too long and thighs too short to do that without weight, let alone 600 lbs). Leg extensions supersetted with leg presses both done unilaterally finished the job. The back torque may have been as much from the unilateral leg press, I bring my knee about as far back as it will go, I have to wedge myself in, lol. The good part is my thighs are now my thickest bodypart proportonately. So yeah gonna keep squatting and supersetting. Deadlifts on back day work them pretty good too.

[joedemarco]

my back hurts worse when I do leg press than when I squat

I'm not surprised. Mechanically, your back is in a much more vulnerable position on a leg press then on a squat.

[Baldiewonkanobi]

I do agree that squats are the *Number One* Bodybuilding exercise....just that after 5 decades of doing them my lower back stops me from upping the necessary poundages I need to make my Gwenyth Paltroe sticks grow...I put on one of those large rubber velcro edged heat wraps plus my belt these days and still @ 225+ ZAP. So heavy leg press (going for 16 wheels tomorrow), dead lifts and good mornings are my new foundation builders. Like the rest of you I add in all the foo foo lunging, extensions and ham curls.


Baldie

Oh...Joe...I have had 3 Meniscus surgeries, 'was' scheduled for knee replacements 7 years ago and 3 years ago broke my Tibia, Fibia and Talus. Synvisc and BioCell technology baby....kept me in the game.

[Capt_lou]

Found out a little over a month ago that I have a bulging disk in my T12-L1, so not getting under a bar for awhile.

Leg Press, Extensions, Lunges, Glute/Ham raises are about as much as I can do at this time.

[Aaron Singerman]

Stop squatting and your legs will end up looking like many Master's class guys already do... Seems like leg size is the first thing to go.

[axioma]

Stop squatting and your legs will end up looking like many Master's class guys already do... Seems like leg size is the first thing to go.

I don't know if you have really looked at the master class guys lately, but most of the shows I have been to recently the masters divisions is deciding the open as well. That is a slam on Masters, bro. You might be talking 3 or 4 deep in a division, but the top guys will kick the shit out of any guy your age or younger. Mel, Stan, Robert...need wheels? The Masters are the true warriors in bodybuilding my friend. Anyone can juice and lift through the 30's, however most guys in the 40+ have had the ruptured disc, torn tendons and stress fractures. I know I have. I hope I am the exception to your observation at Master Nationals.

[axioma]

I'm not surprised. Mechanically, your back is in a much more vulnerable position on a leg press then on a squat.

I have difficulty finding the right leg press to get the feel in the legs and not the lower back. My gym doesn't have a good one, fight the machine instead of the weight. Any suggestions on setting up the press to work? Could I shorten the range since I go deep on squats? How do you feel about vertical press? I really can't go over 400 on squats for reps and 1000+ presses are tearing up the lower back more than the quads.

[bodimajestik]

Squats will just break your back and leg bones....you can get the size on leg presses and hack squats

[joedemarco]

I have difficulty finding the right leg press to get the feel in the legs and not the lower back. My gym doesn't have a good one, fight the machine instead of the weight. Any suggestions on setting up the press to work? Could I shorten the range since I go deep on squats? How do you feel about vertical press? I really can't go over 400 on squats for reps and 1000+ presses are tearing up the lower back more than the quads.

I like vertical presses. Are you saying that you don't squat? Is that why you are looking for an alternative?

[bodimajestik]

Have done squats like crazy....but lately good better mass and shape sticking with Leg Presses and Hack squats......I don't let my ego take over my bodybuilding goals...at least for legs

[joedemarco]

Squats will just break your back and leg bones....you can get the size on leg presses and hack squats

Thank you for sharing your lack of weight lifting knowledge with this forum.

[fitbody]

squatting is the most natural functional movement of our humanity
to give up squatting is ludicris
how the hell do you get to the toilet if you don't squat
how do you sit in a chair ?
now how you squat
and how heavy you squat
this is what needs to be addressed !

seeing we are discussing this on the masters thread
there is a little saying that holds so true here when it comes to us that are gettin a bit older

"IF YOU DON'T USE IT YOU LOSE IT"

now me...
i like to be fully self sufficient
and i wanna be taking care of myself to a ripe old age
so i will continue to squat in order to continue to stay healthy & functional
not to mention how i love to squat sitting on a man !
ha ha '
would never wanna lose the ability to do that !

[ob205]

I think a great solution to the load becoming to great in Back Squats is to switch to Front squats! You usually can only handle about 60-75% of what you do on back squats and it definitely recruits the quads more.

[gman]

i cannot do a front squat to save my life

[joedemarco]

Front squats are also a great exercise. You definitely feel it more in the quads on front squats.

[Baldiewonkanobi]

Bill Pearl told me that if you were stuck on a desert island and had only one piece of equipment pray that it is a squat rack. "Done right your ears will even grow".

I agree...wish my lower backdid. Avitar shows that my ecto body did sport some presentable wheels at one time. Squats. These days heavy pressing, 45 degree and vertical, and dead lifts must be my staple. The Nationl level Masters have fantastic legs right up to about age 65 max. After that its sad. I hope to be the best up there..even if its only bold separation and striation. Better than the baby smooth I saw earlier this year.

Baldie

[fitbody]

I think a great solution to the load becoming to great in Back Squats is to switch to Front squats! You usually can only handle about 60-75% of what you do on back squats and it definitely recruits the quads more.

i cannot do a front squat to save my life

i always put my clients on front squats first
otherwise people cheat too much

Gman you could if you had the right teacher
you gotta totally back of the weight !

[fitbody]

Bill Pearl told me that if you were stuck on a desert island and had only one piece of equipment pray that it is a squat rack. "Done right your ears will even grow".

I agree...wish my lower backdid. Avitar shows that my ecto body did sport some presentable wheels at one time. Squats. These days heavy pressing, 45 degree and vertical, and dead lifts must be my staple. The Nationl level Masters have fantastic legs right up to about age 65 max. After that its sad. I hope to be the best up there..even if its only bold separation and striation. Better than the baby smooth I saw earlier this year.

Baldie

yep
but the deadlift is the same movement as a squat except reverse
so really you don't need equip to train the squat
just hold onto something or someone of the ground
use proper form
and stand up and down and up and down
and there you go ~ squattin'

people say to me when i teach them Deads....
what does this work ?
EVERYTHING I SAY, from the tips of your toes to the top of your head
not to mention the oh so important pelvic floor muscles te he he...
if you could only pick 1 exercise i'd say Deadlifts
if you could pick 2 i'd say 1. deads 2. squats
and that'll hit every muscle in your freakin' body done right

[gman]

i always put my clients on front squats first
otherwise people cheat too much

Gman you could if you had the right teacher
you gotta totally back of the weight !

I think I was able to do it with 95 a few years back...gave up when I couldn't go heavier...

Maybe could do better now that I have a few front delts to rest the bar on!

[bodimajestik]

I do every thing heavy ass except for squats....I have done them in past as I won my state level powerlifting show by squating 410 pounds all natural when I was only 19 years old...I am 24 now....I have stopped squating like a year ago becz of my knee pain but I do very heavy leg presses and have got better results when I use to do squats a lot....The issue with me leaving squats or with squats is that we tend to go for ego and heavy weight...Good if you can keep your ego in control but was not the case with mine and it resulted in some cartilage issue so I just quit them.....

@fitbody....I agree with you that you make your clients do front so they cannot cheat but I think they train under your guidance and you know when to stop them when they try to lift too much heavy or with wrong form. Stubborn asses like me cannot be controlled...when I use to powerlift or do squats, if some other guy in the gym didh heavier then me then I had to beat him no matter what others say...so that is the main reason I've given up on them and due to my knee issue......Just wanted to clear here that I have done very heavy squating and been through that mindest of if you don't squat then you cannot be a bodybuilder

[fitbody]

I think I was able to do it with 95 a few years back...gave up when I couldn't go heavier...

Maybe could do better now that I have a few front delts to rest the bar on!

never give up
never give up
never give up

start in the smith machine...

then when you are stronger & more confident use fr wts

its all about mind set
mind over matter
when something is hard for me
i focus on that and make it my master

ADAPT & OVERCOME

[fitbody]

I do every thing heavy ass except for squats....I have done them in past as I won my state level powerlifting show by squating 410 pounds all natural when I was only 19 years old...I am 24 now....I have stopped squating like a year ago becz of my knee pain but I do very heavy leg presses and have got better results when I use to do squats a lot....The issue with me leaving squats or with squats is that we tend to go for ego and heavy weight...Good if you can keep your ego in control but was not the case with mine and it resulted in some cartilage issue so I just quit them.....

@fitbody....I agree with you that you make your clients do front so they cannot cheat but I think they train under your guidance and you know when to stop them when they try to lift too much heavy or with wrong form. Stubborn asses like me cannot be controlled...when I use to powerlift or do squats, if some other guy in the gym didh heavier then me then I had to beat him no matter what others say...so that is the main reason I've given up on them and due to my knee issue......Just wanted to clear here that I have done very heavy squating and been through that mindest of if you don't squat then you cannot be a bodybuilder

467 lbs squat was my best in a meet at 167 lbs bodywt
i was good for a 485 actually
but circumstances i didn't get to take it
i was 1991 U.S. National Champ Powerlifter

[bodimajestik]

never give up
never give up
never give up

start in the smith machine...

then when you are stronger & more confident use fr wts

its all about mind set
mind over matter
when something is hard for me
i focus on that and make it my master

ADAPT & OVERCOME

You give me a kiss and I'll lift whatever you want me too....

[fitbody]

THE SQUAT

Down this road, in a gym far away,
a young man was heard to say,
"no matter what i do, my legs won't grow"
he tried leg extensions, leg curls, and leg presses , too
trying to cheat, these sissy workouts he'd do.

from the corner of the gym where the big men train,
through a cloud of chalk and the midst of pain
where the noise is made with big forty fives,
a deep voice bellowed as he wrapped his knees.
a very big man with legs like trees.

laughing as he snatched another plate from the stack
chalking his hands and monstrous back,
said, "boy, stop lying and don't say you've forgotten,
the trouble with you is you ain't been SQUATTIN'. "

[bodimajestik]

I get your word tough women....

[zander]

one day again ... maybe ..

[cook]

See if anyone agees with me here.I think squats are the most effective exercise for building quads so on a scale of 0-100 let`s give them 100.Leg presses let`s give a 93,leg extensions a 78 ,on down to walking around the block we give a 6.If you have bulging disks in your back and your risking paralysis doing squats then of course you have to do something else .This is bodybuilding not destroying so you do leg presses which are slightly less effective but you can still build alot of quad muscle.I have seen people who could only do leg extensions and these are farther down the scale.Hopefully we never get to the point where all we can do for quads is walk around the block but who knows?Now I`m 50yrs.old and have been squatting since 17 and my knees are probably the healthiest part on me.I guess the point I`m trying to make is we should do the most effective exercise we can safely do but I see many people simply making excuses to not do squats.Anyone agree?

[gman]

i feel squats more in my hams and ass.

[bodimajestik]

i feel squats more in my hams and ass.

Gman I agree with you....everybody has a different body type and different way to react to some exercises.....I can do incline presses way more heavy then Bench presses....when I did squats, the only pain I was feeling was in ass and hips... am 6.1 ft tall guys....Guys of Lee Priest's height can do them easily...I said that if you can build good muscles doing leg presses and Hack squats and if you are having issues while squatting then it is not necessary to squat.....Did Dorian Yates squat??? no stil he won the sandow 6 times and many other don't also....Guys who can do it..good for them but you can still build good thighs without them

[cook]

i feel squats more in my hams and ass.

You might be getting too far forward and be using your hips to pull the weight up.

[cook]

Gman I agree with you....everybody has a different body type and different way to react to some exercises.....I can do incline presses way more heavy then Bench presses....when I did squats, the only pain I was feeling was in ass and hips... am 6.1 ft tall guys....Guys of Lee Priest's height can do them easily...I said that if you can build good muscles doing leg presses and Hack squats and if you are having issues while squatting then it is not necessary to squat.....Did Dorian Yates squat??? no stil he won the sandow 6 times and many other don't also....Guys who can do it..good for them but you can still build good thighs without them

Yates did squats until he had a hip problem that forced him to stop So he found other exercises to replace them that didn`t aggravate this.Which is what I suggested in my post about squats.

[bodimajestik]

Whatever reason...Yates still had good thigh mass.....I am just in favor of doing more leg presses and hack squats then regular bone shattering squats....simply becz the pressure is more on hips and glutes rather then thighs no matter how much good form you use

[browny133]

i agree 100% with you cook...so many people have so many excuses for not doing them and its coz they're simply the most taxing exercise to do..i love squats and made my best progress from getting rid of my knee wraps,my ego and a plate off each end and doing deep higher reps.

[cook]

i agree 100% with you cook...so many people have so many excuses for not doing them and its coz they're simply the most taxing exercise to do..i love squats and made my best progress from getting rid of my knee wraps,my ego and a plate off each end and doing deep higher reps.

Excellent point on form.I see people squatting 405lbs all the time who could not do one proper squat with 225 and then wonder why their knees and hips are killing them.

[gman]

225 is about my rep out limit where I can actually do 10-12...feel like a pussy but I am a bodybuilder not a powerlifter.

looking strong vs being strong