I hate Deadlifts and Squats
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Is it that you hate them or they just don't light you up?
There's a big difference. I love squatting and deadlifting but bench is meh. I only bench because it's a competition lift. I just can't get amped up for bench day.
My only advice (from the person who for 6 years has yet to love bench), is keep doing it and find a mental way to get excited about them. Start hitting PRs and trying different variations to mix it up a bit.
I understand the difference between finding something hard and finding something meh. Hard, if it lights you up is good. Meh is boring.
ETA: I realize my picture is a bench shot - It's just a good picture.0 -
When I started weight training, I knew that the Big 3 compound lifts were important, and my trainer ensured that I did them. When I returned to the States and was not under the supervision of a trainer, I dropped deadlifts completely and moved from weighted squats to body weight squats. I justified this to myself by citing the potential for injury, but didn't really find suitable replacements.
I've since added them back into my routine (albeit for only the past week), but have not grown to love them any more than before. As weight lifting is about progression, I don't see these exercises getting any easier - and I'm going relatively light right now until I'm confident that I didn't lose my form.
Are there suitable alternatives? Will they get easier? Are they really that critical? I look forward to your input.
They are not supposed to get "easier" that is what a progressive program is for. Are you supposed to improve at them form-wise, yes, but easy is what you want in your prom date, not in your weight training program.
If you don't enjoy them, don't do them, see what happens. I'm sure you can find alternatives that will be more fun for you, like body pump, zumba or tae bo.0 -
what do you mean they don't get easier?
they never get easier?
working out shouldn't ever "get easier"
you just suck less.
Seriously. There is no magic bullet- you should always be pushing- which means it will ALWAYS be difficult.
I HATE chest day- I HATE benching. I don't like it- I need help- I require much biatching and moaning before I do it- and it's always my shortest least fulfilling workout.
But I still do it once a week. Because I must. It's a requirement.
legs on the other hand muah ha ha ha ah 2-3 times a week. YAY!!!! Legs are win.0 -
I appreciate (almost) all of the input. So far, only one a$$wipe with nothing more to do in her pathetic Internet life but to comment that the mere title of the discussion invoked nothing but pity from her. In person, I'm sure she's awesome. On the Interwebz, she comes off a bit in-your-face-b!tchy.
I will press on and progress through these lifts and I will ensure that my form is spot on before adding weight.
lots of butthurt there, champ.
Squat like a baby
OMG, I love this *LOL*0 -
This thread is making me teary eyed (for the last time I whined about this same thing and got told to suck it up)...I miss this guy:
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i'm going to just say... stick with it0
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Some of your comments confuse me...They should not get easier because you should be progressively increasing the load.
I am a fan of both lifts, but I'll just leave this here.
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/squat-versus-leg-press-for-big-legs.html0 -
+1 from the hating bench camp.
People are built differently and take (or don't take) to different things. If you hate back squatting, perhaps try a variation?
Perhaps you could try something like trap bar deadlifts (which is a little bit squat and a little bit deadlift).
If you have deadlifting, then perhaps something less taxing for more reps, like a RDL might suit you better? There's more than one way to skin a cat....0 -
As a guy whose bad back is the limiting factor in his squats and deadlifts, I can understand your hesitation.
If you really hate them, don't do them. Accept the compromise that you're making. Do leg extensions, leg curls, leg raises, and hip thrusts instead to hit most of the major muscles you won't be working.0 -
Hey OP :
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I do ALL the deadlifts at one point or another and rotate them. Actually doing rack pulls right now because I tweaked my lower back.
The challenge is in the difficulty. It should never be easy, but you can grow more comfortable and confident the more you do them. What you learn to love, if not the exercise, is the results. Don't give up, man.0 -
Why not add goblet squats, dumbbell lunges, and push presses to your routine. These hit the major muscle groups and are very doable.0
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I'll probably get flamed for this but the only people that have to do squats and deads are power lifters. Don't get me wrong...I love them...and I think you get the most bang for your buck doing them...and I think everyone should start off focusing on them as well as the other primary lifts...but that doesn't mean they are necessarily suitable to everyone for every goal and every situation.
Personally, I know plenty of guys in my gym who have strong legs and plenty of size who haven't set foot in a power rack in ages...they do a lot of leg press, extensions, curls, etc to try to hit all of those muscles. They seem to be doing just fine for themselves.
I personally am a big fan of Starting Strength as that's what got me back into the weight room...and I'm a big fan of Wendler's 5/3/1 program...but ultimately I'm not a power lifter. I like being strong and I like lifting and I like the gains I've made with those programs...but I like doing other things too. When I'm training for a century ride or 1/2 marathon or a triathlon I can't squat like a power lifter squats...my legs just aren't going to take that kind of abuse, especially as I push 40 here. My lifting routine changes dramatically when I'm training for these things...then I spend the "off season" focusing on the strength. I know that ultimately I'm compromising the strength gains that power lifters treasure...but like I said, I'm not a power lifter...I like being strong, but I don't need to squat 500 Lbs.
TL/DR - I guess it really depends ultimately on your goals and how various routines fit into that..squats and deads are awesome, but they aren't the be all end all of everything.0 -
Hey OP :
Awwwww yyeeaahhhh.0 -
I guess some of you missed where I said I do them, I have done them, and I'm going to continue to do them. Just because I don't like them doesn't mean I'm looking for an excuse to stop. Just made the effort to seek advice on additional or alternative exercises and form.
No one said it was easy. When I say that after returning to them after a hiatus that I didn't enjoy them anymore goes back to the root of my query: why don't I enjoy them as much as I enjoy the bench press?
Anyway, most have been helpful, some have been snarky, and a few have been a$$es. Thank goodness for the internet; otherwise you'd have to act civilized all the time.0 -
Try good mornings! I had horrible deadlift form that I just couldn't get right, so I tried these and they force you into the right position. I've seen HUGE progress in my hamstrings since I've been doing them. I think you might like them better than deadlifts, and not because they're easier ('cause they're not).
As for squats: Just gotta power through them. Leg days suck but I'd never skip 'em!
^^ This advice is worth trying. No substitute, but they were the first thing I thought of wrt deadlift.
I heart good mornings! Also, maybe try weighted step-ups wrt squats.
General advice, if there is something you don't enjoy but ought to do anyway: choose great music and then just get on with it.0 -
Am I the only one who loves deadlifts, and squats? Now lunges..... I hate those SOB's!!!0
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I've since added them back into my routine (albeit for only the past week), but have not grown to love them any more than before. As weight lifting is about progression, I don't see these exercises getting any easier - and I'm going relatively light right now until I'm confident that I didn't lose my form.
Are there suitable alternatives? Will they get easier? Are they really that critical? I look forward to your input.
Most people don't do Deadlifts & Squats because they're HARD, and if you're progressively increasing the weight, they're definitely not going to get any easier. Deadlift & Squats are the 2 exercise that work the most muscles, that said, there are NO substitutes.
Ditto this ^^^^
They aren't supposed to be easy.0 -
No one said it was easy. When I say that after returning to them after a hiatus that I didn't enjoy them anymore goes back to the root of my query: why don't I enjoy them as much as I enjoy the bench press?
For whatever reason, you don't. I'm not trying to be an *kitten*, but stop trying to analyze why you don't like it, and work at finding a way to make it better for you. Switch up your program so you can see better progression, work with a trainer to fine tune your form if you need to, or even find some different music to listen to that jacks you up a little more (worked for me for OHP since I'm not a fan of it)0 -
You aren't going to LOVE everything all the time.
I'm another who loathes chest/bench day. I just don't like it...I find it boring and uninspiring. I don't get pumped thinking about bench press of any form. I still do it each week and give it my best.
Now....squats and deadlifts....those are what keep me coming back to the gym!0
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