Quarter Squat V.S Half Squat V.S ATG Squat

135

Replies

  • bcf7683
    bcf7683 Posts: 1,653 Member
    i use the smith machine. i dont have enough upper body strength to use a free barbell :(

    until this you really aren't squatting. I'm not disregarding your effort on the smith machine, it just isn't a real squat. There are no smith machine competitions, if you want to compete in the squat you need to squat.

    what should i do to be able to carry a barbell?

    This just smells all kinds of fishy.

    You shouldn't be worrying about what type of squat to be doing if you can't even hold a barbell. And it seems to me that with the knowledge your claiming to have about lifting that you don't know what exercises to do to be able to stand with a barbell across your shoulders? I'm not trying to sound like a d*ck, I'm just trying to wrap my head around what's going on here.

    If you're being serious, it really sounds like you have your priorities/goals all sorts of messed up.
  • 7opoundsin16weeks
    7opoundsin16weeks Posts: 211 Member
    i use the smith machine. i dont have enough upper body strength to use a free barbell :(

    until this you really aren't squatting. I'm not disregarding your effort on the smith machine, it just isn't a real squat. There are no smith machine competitions, if you want to compete in the squat you need to squat.

    what should i do to be able to carry a barbell?

    This just smells all kinds of fishy.

    You shouldn't be worrying about what type of squat to be doing if you can't even hold a barbell. And it seems to me that with the knowledge your claiming to have about lifting that you don't know what exercises to do to be able to stand with a barbell across your shoulders? I'm not trying to sound like a d*ck, I'm just trying to wrap my head around what's going on here.

    If you're being serious, it really sounds like you have your priorities/goals all sorts of messed up.

    I can hold a barbell, but i cant hold a 300+ barbell. to be honest i havent even tried holding that weight. i could bench 100 lbs the second try btw
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    Are you currently squatting using free barbells or a smith machine?

    i use the smith machine. i dont have enough upper body strength to use a free barbell :(

    So, you're saying that you can squat a HUGE number, but you can't hold a barbell across your shoulders?

    And, you're just going willy-nilly in the gym with no program?


    Hmm.......

    yes.. does it bother u?

    Well, yes, because it doesn't compute.

    And the goals on your page state you want to bench press 150lbs. How can you do that if you can't lift a 45lb barbell?
  • 7opoundsin16weeks
    7opoundsin16weeks Posts: 211 Member
    btw to those who don't believe my numbers.. just because u have chicken legs and my numbers are too good to be true doesnt have to mean theyre not true. i can put both u and yo mama on my shoulders and squat
  • 7opoundsin16weeks
    7opoundsin16weeks Posts: 211 Member
    Are you currently squatting using free barbells or a smith machine?

    i use the smith machine. i dont have enough upper body strength to use a free barbell :(

    So, you're saying that you can squat a HUGE number, but you can't hold a barbell across your shoulders?

    And, you're just going willy-nilly in the gym with no program?


    Hmm.......

    yes.. does it bother u?

    Well, yes, because it doesn't compute.

    And the goals on your page state you want to bench press 150lbs. How can you do that if you can't lift a 45lb barbell?


    please read what i said carefully. I CAN hold a bar, but not a 300+ one cause i havent tried yet. plus its called a "goal" for a reason..
  • NovemberJune
    NovemberJune Posts: 2,525 Member
    i use the smith machine. i dont have enough upper body strength to use a free barbell :(

    until this you really aren't squatting. I'm not disregarding your effort on the smith machine, it just isn't a real squat. There are no smith machine competitions, if you want to compete in the squat you need to squat.

    what should i do to be able to carry a barbell?

    This just smells all kinds of fishy.

    You shouldn't be worrying about what type of squat to be doing if you can't even hold a barbell. And it seems to me that with the knowledge your claiming to have about lifting that you don't know what exercises to do to be able to stand with a barbell across your shoulders? I'm not trying to sound like a d*ck, I'm just trying to wrap my head around what's going on here.

    If you're being serious, it really sounds like you have your priorities/goals all sorts of messed up.

    I can hold a barbell, but i cant hold a 300+ barbell. to be honest i havent even tried holding that weight. i could bench 100 lbs the second try btw

    Start with squatting the bar (45#) and go from there. I can't support a 200/300/400 lb barbell across my shoulders either...
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    Are you currently squatting using free barbells or a smith machine?

    i use the smith machine. i dont have enough upper body strength to use a free barbell :(

    So, you're saying that you can squat a HUGE number, but you can't hold a barbell across your shoulders?

    And, you're just going willy-nilly in the gym with no program?


    Hmm.......

    yes.. does it bother u?

    Well, yes, because it doesn't compute.

    And the goals on your page state you want to bench press 150lbs. How can you do that if you can't lift a 45lb barbell?


    please read what i said carefully. I CAN hold a bar, but not a 300+ one cause i havent tried yet.

    But the whole point of a squat is to be able to support that kind of weight.

    That's why a squat is a compound lift. It's not just working your legs. It's working your entire body.
  • thecakelocker
    thecakelocker Posts: 407 Member
    Lmao
  • Linli_Anne
    Linli_Anne Posts: 1,360 Member
    I am trying to work on my mobility a bit more to get to ATG, but, I always go parallel with my barbell squats. My PR is 2 sets of 6X175 pounds. Not quite my body weight.

    I've since dropped that weight back down some and am focusing more on getting a deeper squat. I am almost ATG on bodyweight squats, and can drop just below parallel for my barbel squats. My butt is better for it!
  • bcf7683
    bcf7683 Posts: 1,653 Member
    btw to those who don't believe my numbers.. just because u have chicken legs and my numbers are too good to be true doesnt have to mean theyre not true. i can put both u and yo mama on my shoulders and squat

    :huh: .......................:laugh:
  • CristinaL1983
    CristinaL1983 Posts: 1,119 Member
    i use the smith machine. i dont have enough upper body strength to use a free barbell :(

    until this you really aren't squatting. I'm not disregarding your effort on the smith machine, it just isn't a real squat. There are no smith machine competitions, if you want to compete in the squat you need to squat.

    what should i do to be able to carry a barbell?

    This just smells all kinds of fishy.

    You shouldn't be worrying about what type of squat to be doing if you can't even hold a barbell. And it seems to me that with the knowledge your claiming to have about lifting that you don't know what exercises to do to be able to stand with a barbell across your shoulders? I'm not trying to sound like a d*ck, I'm just trying to wrap my head around what's going on here.

    If you're being serious, it really sounds like you have your priorities/goals all sorts of messed up.

    I can hold a barbell, but i cant hold a 300+ barbell. to be honest i havent even tried holding that weight. i could bench 100 lbs the second try btw

    So I just switched from a Smith to a power rack (my old gym didn't have any power racks only Smith machines) and I had to drop the weight. I was squatting 220 in the smith and now I'm doing reps of 145 to work on form and stabilizing muscles. I used to do nothing but free weights so this is my first time transitioning from Smith to free weights. Back when I hit a max of 270, I had started with free weights and that was my max after I had been lifting free weights for 8 years. I suggest just start with the power rack and a bare bar and see what you can add with good form. I can leg press double what I'm squatting because they really aren't the same thing. All the stability and control that you need in a squat is given to you in a leg press (and even a Smith machine) because there isn't as much freedom of movement.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    i use the smith machine. i dont have enough upper body strength to use a free barbell :(

    until this you really aren't squatting. I'm not disregarding your effort on the smith machine, it just isn't a real squat. There are no smith machine competitions, if you want to compete in the squat you need to squat.

    what should i do to be able to carry a barbell?

    Start squatting with a barbell.

    You will find your numbers are a lot less than with a smith.
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    btw to those who don't believe my numbers.. just because u have chicken legs and my numbers are too good to be true doesnt have to mean theyre not true. i can put both u and yo mama on my shoulders and squat

    :huh: .......................:laugh:

    As long as we're attached to the smith machine so it can do half the work for you.

    Seriously, OP, I'm not trying to be mean here. But a squat is a squat BECAUSE you're supporting that kind of weight on your shoulders. The lift is awesome because it works your whole body, and it's made even more awesome by going at least parallel - but preferrably ATG.

    I take my squats seriously. They have done amazing things for my body. My current 1 rep max is 225 - of free weights. I go ATG with that number. It took me a long time to get that weight - and I have very strong, well developed legs. So, you come here and claim to be squatting a huge number (a number that my heavy lifting husband puts up, btw) but you're doing it wrong. You're using a smith machine and not going all the way down. That ain't a squat.

    My advice: Get on a program. Check out Strong Lifts, Starting Strength, NROLFW, or something. Get a trainer who can show you correct form.

    I know it's cool to talk about weight lifting, but you're not doing it right. You also have a lot of opinions about something you don't know a lot about yet. Left unchecked, you could be setting yourself up for injury. Do some research, read a bunch of articles, get on a program and stop trying to assert your knowledge on a bunch of people who know better.

    Good luck to you.
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
    I need a video, until then
    shenanigans.jpg

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • 7opoundsin16weeks
    7opoundsin16weeks Posts: 211 Member
    btw to those who don't believe my numbers.. just because u have chicken legs and my numbers are too good to be true doesnt have to mean theyre not true. i can put both u and yo mama on my shoulders and squat

    :huh: .......................:laugh:

    As long as we're attached to the smith machine so it can do half the work for you.

    Seriously, OP, I'm not trying to be mean here. But a squat is a squat BECAUSE you're supporting that kind of weight on your shoulders. The lift is awesome because it works your whole body, and it's made even more awesome by going at least parallel - but preferrably ATG.

    I take my squats seriously. They have done amazing things for my body. My current 1 rep max is 225 - of free weights. I go ATG with that number. It took me a long time to get that weight - and I have very strong, well developed legs. So, you come here and claim to be squatting a huge number (a number that my heavy lifting husband puts up, btw) but you're doing it wrong. You're using a smith machine and not going all the way down. That ain't a squat.

    My advice: Get on a program. Check out Strong Lifts, Starting Strength, NROLFW, or something. Get a trainer who can show you correct form.

    I know it's cool to talk about weight lifting, but you're not doing it right. You also have a lot of opinions about something you don't know a lot about yet. Left unchecked, you could be setting yourself up for injury. Do some research, read a bunch of articles, get on a program and stop trying to assert your knowledge on a bunch of people who know better.

    Good luck to you.

    i never said i know better, hence i posted this topic..
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    I :heart: this thread.
  • CristinaL1983
    CristinaL1983 Posts: 1,119 Member
    http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/10-reasons-squats-are-a-terrible-exercise.html?mcid=face

    Edit: Sorry, I couldn't help but think about this article. It's pretty funny...

    I always go parallel, I had some knee problems in high school and my physical therapist told me to make sure I at least got /slightly broke parallel.

    I was staring at my screen with a disgusted look on my face until I got to the end of that stupid article. That almost blew any and all credibility that BB.com had.

    Haha. We probably had the same look on our faces. One of my good friends who is a crossfit trainer posted it so I kept thinking it had to be a joke but I wasn't sure until I got to the end of it :laugh:
  • Marks281172
    Marks281172 Posts: 127 Member
    As a former powerlifter with a PR of 520lbs @ 280lbs BW I find this thread all kinds of awesome :)
  • Lift_This_
    Lift_This_ Posts: 2,756 Member
    btw to those who don't believe my numbers.. just because u have chicken legs and my numbers are too good to be true doesnt have to mean theyre not true. i can put both u and yo mama on my shoulders and squat

    take a good look at my profile pic...i definitely don't have chicken legs....and yet, i still can't wrap my head around your goals.
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
    btw to those who don't believe my numbers.. just because u have chicken legs and my numbers are too good to be true doesnt have to mean theyre not true. i can put both u and yo mama on my shoulders and squat

    :huh: .......................:laugh:

    As long as we're attached to the smith machine so it can do half the work for you.

    Seriously, OP, I'm not trying to be mean here. But a squat is a squat BECAUSE you're supporting that kind of weight on your shoulders. The lift is awesome because it works your whole body, and it's made even more awesome by going at least parallel - but preferrably ATG.

    I take my squats seriously. They have done amazing things for my body. My current 1 rep max is 225 - of free weights. I go ATG with that number. It took me a long time to get that weight - and I have very strong, well developed legs. So, you come here and claim to be squatting a huge number (a number that my heavy lifting husband puts up, btw) but you're doing it wrong. You're using a smith machine and not going all the way down. That ain't a squat.

    My advice: Get on a program. Check out Strong Lifts, Starting Strength, NROLFW, or something. Get a trainer who can show you correct form.

    I know it's cool to talk about weight lifting, but you're not doing it right. You also have a lot of opinions about something you don't know a lot about yet. Left unchecked, you could be setting yourself up for injury. Do some research, read a bunch of articles, get on a program and stop trying to assert your knowledge on a bunch of people who know better.

    Good luck to you.

    My vote for the best advice so far :heart:
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    Honestly OP, nobody is trying to mock your numbers. People are simply trying to explain reality of lifting. Your goals are way beyond your realistic capabilities because like someone else said, that kind of number would set a world record.

    If you can bench 100 pounds, then you can put a bar on your back and squat a legitimate weight that will work your quads and glutes and hams properly.

    Maybe you should check out the strength standards. It will help you determine reasonable goals. Aim for "Elite" if that is your ultimate goal, but do it with a barbell and do it parallel or below. Here's the website.

    http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/StrengthStandards.html
  • 7opoundsin16weeks
    7opoundsin16weeks Posts: 211 Member
    I do understand that smith doesn't count as a real squat and that some consider ATG to be the only proper form. despite all of that i think i still have the right to brag about my 300 lbs squats. how many ppl can achieve that in less than 6 months weighing 155 lbs? I will work on reaching to parallel AND using an actual barbell.. and I WILL squat 400 lbs. watch me
  • DontStopB_Leakin
    DontStopB_Leakin Posts: 3,863 Member
    btw to those who don't believe my numbers.. just because u have chicken legs and my numbers are too good to be true doesnt have to mean theyre not true. i can put both u and yo mama on my shoulders and squat

    :huh: .......................:laugh:

    As long as we're attached to the smith machine so it can do half the work for you.

    Seriously, OP, I'm not trying to be mean here. But a squat is a squat BECAUSE you're supporting that kind of weight on your shoulders. The lift is awesome because it works your whole body, and it's made even more awesome by going at least parallel - but preferrably ATG.

    I take my squats seriously. They have done amazing things for my body. My current 1 rep max is 225 - of free weights. I go ATG with that number. It took me a long time to get that weight - and I have very strong, well developed legs. So, you come here and claim to be squatting a huge number (a number that my heavy lifting husband puts up, btw) but you're doing it wrong. You're using a smith machine and not going all the way down. That ain't a squat.

    My advice: Get on a program. Check out Strong Lifts, Starting Strength, NROLFW, or something. Get a trainer who can show you correct form.

    I know it's cool to talk about weight lifting, but you're not doing it right. You also have a lot of opinions about something you don't know a lot about yet. Left unchecked, you could be setting yourself up for injury. Do some research, read a bunch of articles, get on a program and stop trying to assert your knowledge on a bunch of people who know better.

    Good luck to you.

    My vote for the best advice so far :heart:
    Seconded.
  • 7opoundsin16weeks
    7opoundsin16weeks Posts: 211 Member
    Honestly OP, nobody is trying to mock your numbers. People are simply trying to explain reality of lifting. Your goals are way beyond your realistic capabilities because like someone else said, that kind of number would set a world record.

    If you can bench 100 pounds, then you can put a bar on your back and squat a legitimate weight that will work your quads and glutes and hams properly.

    I do have thin legs. Thin legs don't mean they aren't strong. I weigh right around 125 pounds and I have a 1RM of 175 on a parallel squat. Hitting that was hard work, and it's a fairly big number for my weight class. I'm not going to be hitting that PR again for a while because I want my form to be perfect before I try to go higher. For the record, my leg press max is over 400 and I work out twice a week on leg press between 240 and 280 at 10 reps x3 sets. They're not even close to the same thing.

    Maybe you should check out the strength standards. It will help you determine reasonable goals. Aim for "Elite" if that is your ultimate goal, but do it with a barbell and do it parallel or below. Here's the website.

    http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/StrengthStandards.html

    thanks
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    I do understand that smith doesn't count as a real squat and that some consider ATG to be the only proper form. despite all of that i think i still have the right to brag about my 300 lbs squats. how many ppl can achieve that in less than 6 months weighing 155 lbs? I will work on reaching to parallel AND using an actual barbell.. and I WILL squat 400 lbs. watch me

    So, basically: "I know I'm doing everything wrong, but I'm going to ignore all this advice that I've been given on how to correct it and continue to do it wrong anyway."

    And no, you can't brag about 300lb squats because you aren't doing 300lb squats.


    Once again, good luck OP.
  • timaeus_drache
    timaeus_drache Posts: 104 Member
    This thread delivered.
  • 7opoundsin16weeks
    7opoundsin16weeks Posts: 211 Member
    I do understand that smith doesn't count as a real squat and that some consider ATG to be the only proper form. despite all of that i think i still have the right to brag about my 300 lbs squats. how many ppl can achieve that in less than 6 months weighing 155 lbs? I will work on reaching to parallel AND using an actual barbell.. and I WILL squat 400 lbs. watch me

    So, basically: "I know I'm doing everything wrong, but I'm going to ignore all this advice that I've been given on how to correct it and continue to do it wrong anyway."



    Once again, good luck OP.


    I think I did say that I will work on the proper form?
  • tross0924
    tross0924 Posts: 909 Member
    First, stop using the smith machine. Find out what you can squat without it and start squatting that and improving from there. Working on finding the spot where the bar balances. It really doesn't take hardly any upper body strength to hold the bar in the right spot.

    Second, keep up the hard work and you'll see the difference between your goal and your actual get smaller all the time.

    And Third, don't talk about specific numbers unless you have to. It never turns out well.

    Oh and as to the original question. Parallel.
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    This thread delivered.

    Yep. Most entertaining thread of the day so far.
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    I do understand that smith doesn't count as a real squat and that some consider ATG to be the only proper form. despite all of that i think i still have the right to brag about my 300 lbs squats. how many ppl can achieve that in less than 6 months weighing 155 lbs? I will work on reaching to parallel AND using an actual barbell.. and I WILL squat 400 lbs. watch me

    So, basically: "I know I'm doing everything wrong, but I'm going to ignore all this advice that I've been given on how to correct it and continue to do it wrong anyway."



    Once again, good luck OP.

    And brag about it even though it's bad form and not even parallel. Okaaaaaayyy.
This discussion has been closed.