Squats made me stronger! WTF?

2

Replies

  • getfitdiva
    getfitdiva Posts: 1,148 Member
    I like having a big butt and delicious thighs so I will keep on squatting 4EVER
  • Missjilly1025
    Missjilly1025 Posts: 146 Member
    Just watched the video's -- you are amazing! Well done!
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    Nice low bar. I nearly snapped my shoulders up working to get the bar nice and low.

    Actually I might be *too* low if there is such a thing. I've moved it up a couple of inches since then.

    I am by no means a trainer or a pro but I think your back is failing well before your legs. If you straighten your back and keep going *kitten* to gra$$ you look strong enough to do 135+. Just my humble opinion that I should keep to myself :)

    No worries. I took these videos and originally posted them for form checks. Most people said I was leaning over too far which might have been because my low-bar grip was too low, or my back too weak, or I just wasn't doing it right. I think I just wasn't doing it right. Since then I've been focusing on keeping my back more upright and that actually makes my *kitten* go lower. I could probably do the 135 but not for my 5x5. Soon though!
  • heylatimer
    heylatimer Posts: 60 Member
    Nice work!!!. That bar looks like it has little bends in it like an easy-curl? I have never seen something like that before.

    Anybody can leg press... Those who want results... Squat.

    No, it's a normal bar. I think what you are seeing is my hands. I just took stills from the videos (and those were taken on a cell phone) so the resolution is poor.

    Ah.. now I see it. Definitely your hands. Duh! dont I feel dumb.
  • fittiephd
    fittiephd Posts: 608 Member
    It's crazy that you started at 95 lbs!!! I was so happy that I got up to 95 lbs during stage 1 of NROLFW LOL! I think I started at 30 lbs bahaha. I wanna be able to squat my body weight...
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    It's crazy that you started at 95 lbs!!! I was so happy that I got up to 95 lbs during stage 1 of NROLFW LOL! I think I started at 30 lbs bahaha. I wanna be able to squat my body weight...

    Oh, no, that's just the first video I took. I think I started with the bar at 45lbs. 95lbs WAS then end of Stage 1 of New Rules. I was there forever too. I wasn't able to move up until I switched to Stronglifts 5x5. And then I was only able to go up to about 125lbs before stalling, I went all the way back to 95lbs switched to the low bar hold (noticed the difference in where the bar is) and now I'm up to 130lbs.
  • anastasiaBH
    anastasiaBH Posts: 268 Member
    bump.

    I just need this in my topics....
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    135# squats totally ruined my pear shaped booty:

    back1.jpg
  • ashreynolds09
    ashreynolds09 Posts: 257 Member
    :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: this!
  • ashreynolds09
    ashreynolds09 Posts: 257 Member
    135# squats totally ruined my pear shaped booty:

    back1.jpg

    sure did.


    now seriously - tips? programs you followed? please?
  • jamie1888
    jamie1888 Posts: 1,704 Member
    I :heart: that you posted this!! THANK YOU!! :happy:
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    I'm a big fat believer in NROL4W (new rules of lifting for women), that being said I've recently completed the program and decided to give Strong Lifts a go.
  • jenniejengin
    jenniejengin Posts: 784 Member
    bump
  • Emancipated_Tai
    Emancipated_Tai Posts: 751 Member
    You might stop getting your TOM if you do too many squats.

    and this is a bad thing?? Maybe I should squat and not get depo :laugh: :laugh:
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    Squats and lunges have made my thighs and hips so much sleeker and tighter! I also have a better butt. And although this side effect is not visible - my knees feel so much better because all the muscles supporting them are stronger thanks to squats and lunges.

    I know lots of people hate doing lunges... but they're actually my favorite exercise with weights.
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    135# squats totally ruined my pear shaped booty:

    back1.jpg

    Damn it Alla. You better start doing some endless cardio to flatten that sucker out.

    but I'm PEAR SHAPED!! There's no flattening out that bad boy, because I'm pear shaped! Psst: Jillian Michael's says that step aerobics (well really most aerobics) makes your *kitten* big . . . so you better watch out with that silly cardio talk!
  • Beeps2011
    Beeps2011 Posts: 12,163 Member
    I think even a 95 lb. squat is nothing to sneeze at!! So, good for you for progressing....better for you since you have learned the secrets to YOUR body's success!!

    A pleasure to behold, that's for sure. (and, I am daintily, but slowly, following in your footsteps.)
  • DG_Allen
    DG_Allen Posts: 219 Member
    Real question for you guys.

    My knees are prone to pain and I've been afraid of squats with weights. To prevent knee injury I've been trained to avoid letting my knees extend past my toes and using the squat as mostly a glute workout and sitting back with my butt. I do this w/o weights and it seems to work pretty well.

    Would you guys agree with that advice??

    Thanks for the tips. I want to add leg strength to improve my running speed and overall fitness.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    Real question for you guys.

    My knees are prone to pain and I've been afraid of squats with weights. To prevent knee injury I've been trained to avoid letting my knees extend past my toes and using the squat as mostly a glute workout and sitting back with my butt. I do this w/o weights and it seems to work pretty well.

    Would you guys agree with that advice??

    Thanks for the tips. I want to add leg strength to improve my running speed and overall fitness.

    Squats should work your butt, thighs, hips, quads, back, core, everything. If you do them wrong all they get is your quads and put stress on your knees. So yes, sit back, go down to the point where your upper legs are just past parallel to the floor (or lower), keep your knees pointed out and the pressure on your heels and outer edge of your foot.

    This is long but great:
    http://train.elitefts.com/instructional/so-you-think-you-can-squat-parts-1-5/
  • DG_Allen
    DG_Allen Posts: 219 Member

    Squats should work your butt, thighs, hips, quads, back, core, everything. If you do them wrong all they get is your quads and put stress on your knees. So yes, sit back, go down to the point where your upper legs are just past parallel to the floor (or lower), keep your knees pointed out and the pressure on your heels and outer edge of your foot.

    This is long but great:
    http://train.elitefts.com/instructional/so-you-think-you-can-squat-parts-1-5/

    Thanks! You seem to be the master of squatting disaster!

    I'll give it a shot with some dumbells in hand to start.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member

    Squats should work your butt, thighs, hips, quads, back, core, everything. If you do them wrong all they get is your quads and put stress on your knees. So yes, sit back, go down to the point where your upper legs are just past parallel to the floor (or lower), keep your knees pointed out and the pressure on your heels and outer edge of your foot.

    This is long but great:
    http://train.elitefts.com/instructional/so-you-think-you-can-squat-parts-1-5/

    Thanks! You seem to be the master of squatting disaster!

    I'll give it a shot with some dumbells in hand to start.

    I'd suggest the entire Stronglifts 5x5 program. It's great for beginners and those looking to build a really good base strength.
  • dane11235813
    dane11235813 Posts: 682 Member
    bump for later. can't see anything at work
  • DixiedoesMFP
    DixiedoesMFP Posts: 935 Member
    Real question for you guys.

    My knees are prone to pain and I've been afraid of squats with weights. To prevent knee injury I've been trained to avoid letting my knees extend past my toes and using the squat as mostly a glute workout and sitting back with my butt. I do this w/o weights and it seems to work pretty well.

    Would you guys agree with that advice??

    Thanks for the tips. I want to add leg strength to improve my running speed and overall fitness.

    Try to lift your toes up slightly when you squat to ensure you are sitting back. Increasing thigh strength will actually lend stability to your knees and is recommended by PT's for rehabbing weak knees.
  • M1chelles5
    M1chelles5 Posts: 107
    Real question for you guys.

    My knees are prone to pain and I've been afraid of squats with weights. To prevent knee injury I've been trained to avoid letting my knees extend past my toes and using the squat as mostly a glute workout and sitting back with my butt. I do this w/o weights and it seems to work pretty well.

    Would you guys agree with that advice??

    Thanks for the tips. I want to add leg strength to improve my running speed and overall fitness.

    Try to lift your toes up slightly when you squat to ensure you are sitting back. Increasing thigh strength will actually lend stability to your knees and is recommended by PT's for rehabbing weak knees.

    This is great advise!
    Bump!
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member
    Bumping for later since I can't see it at work.

    I bet you look awesome though!
  • Spanaval
    Spanaval Posts: 1,200 Member
    135# squats totally ruined my pear shaped booty:

    back1.jpg

    My two year old says she looks exactly like that. She has excellent taste in role models.
  • Shyloh1
    Shyloh1 Posts: 422 Member
    I went from this (95lbs):

    Squat95.jpg

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKKEfWsk9IE

    To this (125lbs)

    squat125.jpg

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSgfdxKjk9A



    You rock girl!

    You've got wicked form!:smile:
  • numindan
    numindan Posts: 163 Member
    Real question for you guys.

    My knees are prone to pain and I've been afraid of squats with weights. To prevent knee injury I've been trained to avoid letting my knees extend past my toes and using the squat as mostly a glute workout and sitting back with my butt. I do this w/o weights and it seems to work pretty well.

    Would you guys agree with that advice??

    Thanks for the tips. I want to add leg strength to improve my running speed and overall fitness.

    Try to lift your toes up slightly when you squat to ensure you are sitting back. Increasing thigh strength will actually lend stability to your knees and is recommended by PT's for rehabbing weak knees.

    I've been rehabbing a bad knee for eons and both my physiotherapist and PT had me squatting on a bosu ball (ball facing up) to help develop the muscles around my patella (it's misaligned, I'm a genetic freak) for weeks before we started squats on a flat surface. We did that with body weight for 2 weeks, moved up to low weights (10-20 lbs) for a few more weeks before moving on alternating to normal squats with a 45 lb bar and bench squats with 35 lb dumb bells (70 lbs total). Progress has been slow but my knee pain is significantly decreased and my patella tracking problem has greatly improved. I may never run again, but riding a bike seems like it could be in my future once again ;)

    Lunges started the same way, but I'm only managing 27.5 lb dumbbells for lunges at the moment.

    Both of the above exercises have done wonders for my knee. I only wish I'd started therapy sooner. Instead I'd been convinced for years that the pain was something normal and that I'd have to learn to live with it/manage with meds...

    YMMV, but it's worth talking to a PT or physiotherapist about squats and lunges and how they can help improve knee strength.
  • hiker282
    hiker282 Posts: 983 Member
    Real question for you guys.

    My knees are prone to pain and I've been afraid of squats with weights. To prevent knee injury I've been trained to avoid letting my knees extend past my toes and using the squat as mostly a glute workout and sitting back with my butt. I do this w/o weights and it seems to work pretty well.

    Would you guys agree with that advice??

    Thanks for the tips. I want to add leg strength to improve my running speed and overall fitness.

    Try to lift your toes up slightly when you squat to ensure you are sitting back. Increasing thigh strength will actually lend stability to your knees and is recommended by PT's for rehabbing weak knees.

    I've read that what you want to avoid to reduce knee stress is to not stop before your thighs are parallel to the floor and to not buckle your knees in or out. I think the thing about not letting your knees go over your toes is to make sure you're sitting back into the squat properly.
  • stormieweather
    stormieweather Posts: 2,549 Member
    In the last month, since I started SL 5x5, I put on an inch too...on my butt. Half an inch on my thighs too. Didn't lose any weight. But I am looking muuuuuch better, ladies and gentlemen. The jiggle is nearly gone, much of the cellulite is gone, love handles are smoothing out, as are the saddlebags. it's a wonderful thing :heart: :heart: :heart: :love:

    And increasing those lifts every workout!

    Looking good there, Rae!

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