30 DAY SQUAT CHALLENGES DO NOT WORK!

Jacqson84

I apologise. I wasn't aware we're not supposed to discuss the pros and cons of various exercises on this fitness and exercise forum. My bad.

I challenge everyone to stop complaining about the exercise programs of other people for 30 days.

Jacqson84

Thank you.

The 30 day squat challenge does allow for rest days and the actual challenge allows for about 5 days of rest per month. You can also split them up which would reduce the likelihood of bad form. It's a great thing to add to a current workout and it's no different than following a video workout regimen as it is just repetitive moves.

There isn't a need to do up to 290 squats in a day (unless one is trying to just build muscle endurance in the leg). Better off doing a good leg resistance program with multiple exercises and rep ranges between 6-20 for 3-4 sets.
As mentioned using time to do 290 squats in a day could be more efficient if applied to other body parts.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

sophfudge

I think that it does work, I am doing the 30 day "guns, buns and abs challenge", everyone Ive spoken to about it says it does not work. I don't think im going to have the *kitten* of KK, but for me its doing what I want by toning. Don't get me wrong it's a hard work out, but I have been horse riding for 10 years and 100 squats does not phase me or hurt at all. If you do it carefully and make sure you have a good diet then it is going to work. Just don't think that its going to work miracles.

kistockman

I've done the squat challenge and the plank challenge as well as another one. These are all added to my existing 6-days/week exercise routine. I found that each of them provided a focus that did in fact enhance my workout and diet. It's added push for me.

I'm currently on a maintenance plan so not trying to lose weight. It's really easy to find myself doing teh same thing over and over again. And while it works (I'm not gaining weight and I am getting stronger), these challenges provide just a bit more to rev things up elsewhere.

This month I decided to do another plank challenge and I can immediately feel my other workouts aerobic and weights are just much better....much more focused so more effective. In fact, deciding to do the plank challenge again just got me back on my yoga mat that I put away a couple of weeks ago for no reason except time.

Again, the challenges work for me as a way to enhance my workout. So I return to them every few months just for the challenge.

Myhaloslipped

What's the deal with these 30 day squat challenges?Do they even work? If so, what happens on day 31, 32, 33...?! And surely, 290 squats a day can only lead to injury!

I was always under the impression that fitness is a lifestyle, not something you do over a course of a few days and expect to see results. Please don't fall for these passing fads. Devise an effective workout plan that targets all your muscle groups, learn the right form and eat right. It's a lifestyle, people!;)

I'm going to go with the method I normally go with on this site as far as taking advice, and it has worked pretty well so far. You have the *kitten* I am trying to get, so I figure you probably know what you're talking about regarding this subject!

Myhaloslipped

I challenge everyone to stop complaining about the exercise programs of other people for 30 days.

:laugh:

tigersword

I've always thought of them as to be basically a pointless waste of time. It's good to challenge yourself and set goals, but you can do so without wasting your valuable time. Unweighted squats are basically just a nice calisthenic warm-up exercise anyway...you're not going to really do a whole lot except warm your muscles up.

Someone who is not used to doing squats at all - like I was - can benefit from body weight squats and get the form down before adding weight. Especially if you do them prison-style with your hands behind your head. My balance was terrible when I started, but it helped me learn, and now I am comfortable adding the oly bar because I know my form is solid. ATG squats are no joke, especially if you are significantly overweight.

Not that great an idea, as body weight squats and barbell squats have completely different form.

Tarawitch2eyes

...and has anyone else had good/OK results since?

ninav1980

What's the deal with these 30 day squat challenges?Do they even work? If so, what happens on day 31, 32, 33...?! And surely, 290 squats a day can only lead to injury!

I was always under the impression that fitness is a lifestyle, not something you do over a course of a few days and expect to see results. Please don't fall for these passing fads. Devise an effective workout plan that targets all your muscle groups, learn the right form and eat right. It's a lifestyle, people!;)

These challenges are a great way for some people to kick start their new fitness lifestyle. Sometimes you need something different to keep you motivated. Whats the problem with that? I did this a year ago, and while I dont do 250 a day, I still do a quick 100 squats after my 3 miles run. No injuries here......

iPlatano

What's the deal with these 30 day squat challenges?Do they even work? If so, what happens on day 31, 32, 33...?! And surely, 290 squats a day can only lead to injury!

Who gets injured doing body weigh squats? I need proves.

By the way it build a little and work as cardio.

Tarawitch2eyes

Agreed to both replies above, and since I haven't been going to the gym, only working out at home, I was curious to see how others added the squats to their routine. I use kettlebells and a weighted vest, and will do timed sets, work with whatcha got I guess, and the body weight ones do the trick when I'm pressed for time. I won't really count how many I'm doing, but I will sometimes do a Tabata squat workout.

astronomicals

while I'm not a fan, they do progressively add volume and get your body used to doing more work. I think they could be a good induction phase for a lot of people. They may not have optimal progression, but, they arent necessarily a bad stepping stone and could be a good gateway into consistent exercise. In the same vein, doing a ton of different 30 day routines indefinitely seems a bit silly to me.

Long story short, doing a ton of body weight squats WILL aide in doing heavier squats. Increased volume/work over a duration adapts your body to the stresses and will reduce the chance of injury.

"DO NOT WORK" to do what? Id argue they definitely do what I just outlined.

susannamarie

Depends on what you're looking for. I started doing them in large quantities a few years ago because I wanted to build up my ability to take ukemi (falls) quickly and jump back up again over the course of a several-hour training period. For this, I wasn't looking for strength or size, but solely for muscular endurance/cardio. I built up to 500 at a time and stopped there -- it improved my training immensely, and my knee pain during/after practice reduced.

But I didn't start out overweight and very unfit and say 'hey I'm gonna start doing massive quantities of squats'. I started with 10 and trained them every other day. I think the 30 day challenge is too aggressive for beginners.

dixiewhiskey

Wow where was this thread like... last week?

bacamacho

I did it just to do it. It actually helped strengthen my lower body quite a bit and it was evident in my soccer game, and cycling.

Tanya949

I go to physio 3x per week and work out with a kinesiologist. I often come away after having done 200 squats, lunges etc in one session. I started with 10, so there has been a definite progression, quite similar to a challenge. I was actually thinking of doing a pushup challenge that progresses from knees to real ones in 4 steps. I can only do 4 or 5 real ones. I do incline push ups at physio.