30 Day Squat Challenge – Excessive Body Weight Reps

randrews0407

What is the point of excessive reps with body weight squats? I’m curious.

For the 30 day squat challenge, I can understand how a novice would benefit by building proper form and increasing reps. Perhaps having a set schedule can offer encouragement. Maybe there is something I don’t understand … I’ve always been under the impression body weight squats can only get you so far, so why doesn’t it suggest you gradually increase weight and difficulty, incorporate some lunges or squat variations, single-leg squats etc.

After hearing so many people rave about this challenge I decided to give it a go but I can do 50, 60, 100, 150 body weight squats fairly easily and there would be no need to break them up throughout the day ... its not a "challenge" (for me at least). So I wonder; getting in 200+ body weight squats per day accomplishes what exactly?

LisaUlrey

How far down are you going with the squats? they should be at least to the point in which your thights are horizontal with the floor. You should not be able to do a 150 of these easily unless you are very very fit. Make sure you are using proper form to benefit from this exercise. Otherwise, you will just be wasting your time.

GetSoda

It's cardio.
if you want to build leg strength, grab a barbell and work up to your weight on the barbell.

randrews0407

How far down are you going with the squats? they should be at least to the point in which your thights are horizontal with the floor. You should not be able to do a 150 of these easily unless you are very very fit. Make sure you are using proper form to benefit from this exercise. Otherwise, you will just be wasting your time.

I am able to get through them just fine and yes ... I sit all the way into the squat. When I did Insanity, there were squat jacks, basketball drills and a gang of other exercises that incorporate the squat - same holds true with Focus T-25. I do squats with weight ... I just notice that doing them w/o weight does nothing for me, was curious about the benefit.

I guess it could make a good warm up since my HRM shows I get into the 130-140s while doing them.

randrews0407

It's cardio.
if you want to build leg strength, grab a barbell and work up to your weight on the barbell.

Yeah, I figured as much - I'll just grab the weights and do less reps.

callie006

If you want a 30-day bodyweight challenge for the glutes that's a little more intense, you could try the 30 day glute challenge Bret Contreras has on his site: http://bretcontreras.com/30-day-glute-challenge/