Squats! Help!

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WDEvy
WDEvy Posts: 814 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I seriously have a problem with squats. Every time I try to do them, I end up either hurting my back or falling on my butt. wether it's with weights or without.

I have looked at multiple videos on proper form and I'm going down right but once I hit the lowest point of the squat it's like I'm falling backwards.

I have really strong legs from hiking so it's not that... Could it be because I'm too heavy? I see other "fat: folks able to do them though.

Help!
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Replies

  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,565 Member
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    I seriously have a problem with squats. Every time I try to do them, I end up either hurting my back or falling on my butt. wether it's with weights or without.

    I have looked at multiple videos on proper form and I'm going down right but once I hit the lowest point of the squat it's like I'm falling backwards.

    I have really strong legs from hiking so it's not that... Could it be because I'm too heavy? I see other "fat: folks able to do them though.

    Help!

    Form video?
    Can you post one plz?
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
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    Try goblet squats with a light-weight dumbbell. The weight, held in front of your chest, forces you to use good form, and would probably help prevent that tipping backwards.
  • WDEvy
    WDEvy Posts: 814 Member
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    Form video?
    Can you post one plz?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyjpz4jkjSQ < with barbell

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDdSZmWNYQI <- without

    There's a lot of videos when you search " squats proper form" on Youtube
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
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    Form video?
    Can you post one plz?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyjpz4jkjSQ < with barbell

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDdSZmWNYQI <- without

    There's a lot of videos when you search " squats proper form" on Youtube

    I believe he meant a video of yourself doing a squat, so he could critique your form.
  • WDEvy
    WDEvy Posts: 814 Member
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    Form video?
    Can you post one plz?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyjpz4jkjSQ < with barbell

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDdSZmWNYQI <- without

    There's a lot of videos when you search " squats proper form" on Youtube

    I believe he meant a video of yourself doing a squat, so he could critique your form.

    Can we go ahead and forget I'm an idiot? :)
  • WDEvy
    WDEvy Posts: 814 Member
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    Form video?
    Can you post one plz?

    I'll try to film it this week. Pretty hard to do so by yourself without a tripod though.
  • jnp96
    jnp96 Posts: 163
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    Squats take time. To help me with my balance, I imagined I was getting ready to sit down in a chair. Once I mastered that they came easier.
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
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    Have you tried doing them against a wall? Slide your butt down the wall until you are in a 'sitting' position and hold yourself there for as long as you can.

    My other thought is that if you have a lot of weight in your tummy (like I do) you might need to have your feet further apart than a traditional squat to give your tummy room.

    I'm obese and I can squat with a 100kgs on my back, so it's not because you are too fat. Trust me. :)
  • Rynatat
    Rynatat Posts: 807 Member
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    Squats take time. To help me with my balance, I imagined I was getting ready to sit down in a chair. Once I mastered that they came easier.

    That's the gist. Also, start with light weight shallow squats & work deeper as time goes by. As a suggestion, add in yoga or pilates at least once a week to help with stretching & flexibility; you will find that many weight training exercises become more fluid. Since I added yoga back in to my routines, my limits have been pushed beyond what I thought possible.
  • toddis
    toddis Posts: 941 Member
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    Have you tried box squats to get the feel for it?
  • Crazy4Healthy
    Crazy4Healthy Posts: 626 Member
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    Have you tried box squats to get the feel for it?

    I was going to suggest this, it helped my husband.
  • WDEvy
    WDEvy Posts: 814 Member
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    Have you tried doing them against a wall? Slide your butt down the wall until you are in a 'sitting' position and hold yourself there for as long as you can.

    My other thought is that if you have a lot of weight in your tummy (like I do) you might need to have your feet further apart than a traditional squat to give your tummy room.

    I'm obese and I can squat with a 100kgs on my back, so it's not because you are too fat. Trust me. :)

    OOh!! Good Idea!, I will be trying those.

    Nope, I'm definitely carrying my weight in my hips and butt. Tummy is the only almost flat place place of my body. I guess I just lack balance.
  • WDEvy
    WDEvy Posts: 814 Member
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    Have you tried box squats to get the feel for it?

    I was going to suggest this, it helped my husband.

    I'll look into those. I'm still pretty new to lifting and everything that goes with it ( Started about 4 weeks ago) . Not sure that I was aware of different kinds of squats.:blushing:
  • Cathy7794
    Cathy7794 Posts: 223 Member
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    Have you tried box squats to get the feel for it?

    ^^^^
    This, or put a chair behind you and just barely touch it before coming back up to a standing position. Also, wear the flattest shoes possible or no shoes at all. I can't do squats with shoes on, it messes up my balance.
  • morah29
    morah29 Posts: 107
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    I am heavy and do squats.. I do them with a futon behind me... so if I fall I don't fall far lol I have yet to fall... but try spreading your legs apart more... . .
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,326 Member
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    are you squatting with your feet too close together? i had balance issue as well because i lacked flexibility in my ankle and hip joints, so i compensated by standing a bit wider. eventually mobility increases and i could stand with feet closer together. besides that, at one point my belly was very large so i HAD to take a wider stance to have room for all that to fit in the down position :laugh:

    also remember to keep your core tight, especially as you squat down this will help stabilize you to keep you from falling backwards
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,565 Member
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    Form video?
    Can you post one plz?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyjpz4jkjSQ < with barbell

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDdSZmWNYQI <- without

    There's a lot of videos when you search " squats proper form" on Youtube

    I believe he meant a video of yourself doing a squat, so he could critique your form.

    Can we go ahead and forget I'm an idiot? :)


    Lol I love this thread!
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,835 Member
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    try goblet squats onto a box. http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/most.../goblet_squats_101

    they're the best for beginners IMO.
  • ravengirl1611
    ravengirl1611 Posts: 285 Member
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    first - if you go to a gym - get a trainer to help you find the correct form

    2nd - when I do squats I actually have a chair / step behind me and I actually do sit down for a moment when I'm down then come right back up - partly this is done because I have knee issues

    3rd - the more you do them (assuming you're form is good) the better you're balance will become.

    Good Luck
  • Jynus
    Jynus Posts: 519 Member
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    box squats.

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