Tips on squats?

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Just looking for some advice about how to get a really effective squat! I feel almost no burn when I do them, so I know I'm doing something wrong.

Any tips, help, would be great!!
Deanna
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Replies

  • FullOfWin
    FullOfWin Posts: 1,414 Member
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    Put some weight on your back
  • ldicocco
    ldicocco Posts: 6 Member
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    Squat down until your thighs are at least parallel to the floor
    If you don’t go down that far, you’re cheating yourself and doing a fake squat. Go way down, and you’ll feel it in every muscle in your leg. This will give you a really strong core along with strong legs and a strong back.
    Try not to extend your knees past your toes. If you’re doing the squats right, you should be sitting back with your *kitten* out and back straight, Don’t arch your back. Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, and point your toes slightly outward.
  • MidwestAngel
    MidwestAngel Posts: 1,897 Member
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    For most natural labor and delivery, the squatting position works well and so does being on all fours.

    Oh, and weighted squats are good for those not pregnant.
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
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    It not really a "feel the burn" type of exercise
  • FitBeto
    FitBeto Posts: 2,121 Member
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    It not really a "feel the burn" type of exercise

    widowmakers
  • lacurandera1
    lacurandera1 Posts: 8,083 Member
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    Put some weight on your back

    This. When you're not pregnant, obviously.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
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    Squat down until your thighs are at least parallel to the floor
    If you don’t go down that far, you’re cheating yourself and doing a fake squat. Go way down, and you’ll feel it in every muscle in your leg. This will give you a really strong core along with strong legs and a strong back.
    Try not to extend your knees past your toes. If you’re doing the squats right, you should be sitting back with your *kitten* out and back straight, Don’t arch your back. Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, and point your toes slightly outward.

    DO arch your back
    DON'T worry about knees extending past toes during the squat
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
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    keep your heels flat on the floor too....
  • sunsnstatheart
    sunsnstatheart Posts: 2,544 Member
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    keep your back tight, chest up, hind end out, and weight on your heels
  • benmarcum
    benmarcum Posts: 131 Member
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    Here is a great video series on squat technique that someone sent me the other day

    http://train.elitefts.com/instructional/so-you-think-you-can-squat-parts-1-5/
  • firstnamekaren
    firstnamekaren Posts: 274 Member
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    I feel the burn when I put my weight on my heels, enough to wiggle my toes for the duration of the squat.
  • deannajf4
    deannajf4 Posts: 223 Member
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    Thanks all - my profile pic is decieving I guess - it was a year ago, not prego anymore.

    So the legs parallel to the floor, but what if I'm going to fall over when I get that low - any tips to get strong enough to be able to go that low in the first place?
  • wareagle8706
    wareagle8706 Posts: 1,090 Member
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    I'll make this a little more clear:

    - Feet shoulder width apart
    - Bar should rest on your traps, not on the base of your neck
    - When at the top of squat, do not lock legs out or throw hips forward
    - When lowering into squat, keep your butt back as if you are sitting down into a chair (practice without weight first)
    - Bottom of squat should be hamstrings parallel to floor or as far as you can go safely until you get the hang of proper form
    - Throughout entire motion, keep chest up and shoulders back (back will be slightly arched if you're keep chest up, shoulders back, and back strong)
    - Push through your heels on the way back up, stay on your heels throughout, not on toes or balls of feet.

    Hope this helps.
  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
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    Never do this

    stupid.jpg
  • 4_Lisa
    4_Lisa Posts: 362 Member
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    My trainer has me use the bench, stand over the end with your feet shoulder width apart (as though you are goint to sit on the end) and squat till your *kitten* touches the bench. Make sure your weight is on your heels, not on your toes. Squat and stand.
  • AblazeRiver
    AblazeRiver Posts: 47 Member
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    obviously you're doing it wrong. or not enough reps. or not holding a weight at your chest when you do them.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
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    Just to (re)state the obvious, I don't think starting out barbell back squats for the very first time while pregnant is a very good idea. Body weight squats maybe.

    But after the baby is born, i would highly, highly recommend them!
  • Dreawolf
    Dreawolf Posts: 37 Member
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    Check out this link, http://youtu.be/zPBF1EMHGoE
  • 4_Lisa
    4_Lisa Posts: 362 Member
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    Thanks all - my profile pic is decieving I guess - it was a year ago, not prego anymore.

    So the legs parallel to the floor, but what if I'm going to fall over when I get that low - any tips to get strong enough to be able to go that low in the first place?

    Start small, go as low as you can and aim lower each time.