If you're gonna squat................

ninerbuff

Don't use weight that you can't do for at least a decent squat.

Daily I see men and women put weight on a bar and basically "curtsy" thinking they are doing a squat. Get over it. Throw the ego out the door.

And for the squat challenges...................if you aren't doing a full squat with just your body weight, then those 250 quarter squats were an effort for ego.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

haroon_awan

If you are going to tell people what they shouldn't do, at least have the decency to tell them or show them what they should do.

To anyone who wants to learn more about squatting, here are some helpful videos that are for all trainees, from bodybuilders, powerlifters to the general man or woman who wants to get fit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ME8gEN54Ao (watch all 5 parts)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sg6wacNtDo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVpg3ChPzrs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnoaEjvPeBg

iclaudia_g

If you are going to tell people what they shouldn't do, at least have the decency to tell them or show them what they should do.

To anyone who wants to learn more about squatting, here are some helpful videos that are for all trainees, from bodybuilders, powerlifters to the general man or woman who wants to get fit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ME8gEN54Ao (watch all 5 parts)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sg6wacNtDo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVpg3ChPzrs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnoaEjvPeBg

Thanks!

ArroganceInStep

Leg press is a much easier ego boost anyhow.

Capt_Apollo

people still squat???? it's so horrible for your knees and back!!!

dynamitegalxo

And for the squat challenges...................if you aren't doing a full squat with just your body weight, then those 250 quarter squats were an effort for ego.

but 250 quarter squats is still almost 63 regular squats. that's still an accomplishment damnit.

ladyark

If you are going to tell people what they shouldn't do, at least have the decency to tell them or show them what they should do.

To anyone who wants to learn more about squatting, here are some helpful videos that are for all trainees, from bodybuilders, powerlifters to the general man or woman who wants to get fit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ME8gEN54Ao (watch all 5 parts)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sg6wacNtDo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVpg3ChPzrs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnoaEjvPeBg

Thanks!

misskerouac

people still squat???? it's so horrible for your knees and back!!!

The cartilage in my knees is all destroyed from an accident and I squat with no pain what so ever. It took me months to learn proper form, but it was worth it.

Mind you I only squat with a 20lb kettle bell right now.

hesn92

I laugh at men at the gym who load the bar up with loads of weight and then do little bull**** quarter squats up and down really fast. Like seriously wtf are you doing?

MelsAuntie

I'm still trying to figure out why this bothers you.

Capt_Apollo

I'm still trying to figure out why this bothers you.

half squats get half results

YoungDoc2B

I agree with the OP. I'm only squatting about 155 right now, due to the fact that I literally just started squatting last week. I'd rather go light and learn the proper technique, instead of going heavy and ending up on the stretcher.

haroon_awan

I'm still trying to figure out why this bothers you.

OP may not reply because he thinks he's better than everyone because he squats properly and doesn't think he needs to advise anyone.

My primary concern is that half squatting can cause knee problems.

longtimeterp

ready for the laughter...i squat with the Smith Machine for now so i can get lower

TheDevastator

My problem is I go too low sometimes and lose the rebound action.

vorgas

Leg press is a much easier ego boost anyhow.

Indeed. That's why I like to use that machine that has you pushing the weights up at like a 45 degree angle. Cause then you get to load it up like a real badass, and only the physics majors working out know you aren't lifting the full weight! I'm like, "Yeah, I've got 400 lbs on this thing and you're only squatting 250 lbs. I'm stronger than you!"

longtimeterp

Indeed. That's why I like to use that machine that has you pushing the weights up at like a 45 degree angle. Cause then you get to load it up like a real badass, and only the physics majors working out know you aren't lifting the full weight! I'm like, "Yeah, I've got 400 lbs on this thing and you're only squatting 250 lbs. I'm stronger than you!"

Is that angled leg press easier? how does it compare to a machine with a straight forward leg press? i actually never realized they were simulating squats...

vorgas

Indeed. That's why I like to use that machine that has you pushing the weights up at like a 45 degree angle. Cause then you get to load it up like a real badass, and only the physics majors working out know you aren't lifting the full weight! I'm like, "Yeah, I've got 400 lbs on this thing and you're only squatting 250 lbs. I'm stronger than you!"

Is that angled leg press easier? how does it compare to a machine with a straight forward leg press? i actually never realized they were simulating squats...

Well any machine is inherently easier than free weights. In free weights you have to incorporate stabilizer muscles and it's often these muscles that limit the amount of weight to lift.

In addition, with an actual squat you are lifting a significant portion of your body weight (everything above the legs) in addition to the bar. With a leg press you are lifting a much smaller percentage of body weight (below the upper legs). And generally on a leg press, you are going horizontal, so you're not really even lifting those. And of course with a machine you are generally pushing your back into something, so Newton's law about action/reaction comes into effect allowing you to apply more pressure per pound than with an olympic squat.

You can test this yourself by putting a suitably easy to handle weight, say 90 pounds on the machine and try a 90 pound squat. You will notice one is significantly easier than the other.

Is that 45 degree machine easier than a leg press? Per lb on the machine, yeah. Because you're going at an angle, so the actual weight lifted is a sine function, not a linear or 1-to-1 ratio. However, leg press machines have many different mechanics and some convert horizontal momentum into angular momentum instead of vertical momentum. Those are about the same.

However both are generally dangerous for people without back issues or body builders because your knees will most likely go out past your toes. Combined with the fact that both machines limit the effectiveness of your hips, it puts much more strain on your knees that a properly executed olympic squat will.

EDIT: I was actually joking when I made my original post. The sad thing is I actually had some guy in a gym say something similar to me. I was in a general conversation with him and asked why he preferred the angled machine to the free weight squat. His answer was because he could put more weight on it.

medic2038

I'm still trying to figure out why this bothers you.

half squats get half results

Don't worry Apollo, I got the sarcasm!
Fracking literal internet people!

shadowkitty22

ready for the laughter...i squat with the Smith Machine for now so i can get lower

So that's what that thing is called! I was calling the assisted squat machine since that's basically what it's doing. Haha

ninerbuff

I'm still trying to figure out why this bothers you.

Probably the same reason when kids go to school and give a lackluster effort. They aren't my kids, but we could do better as a country with better effort.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition