Questions About Squats

Beanessa
Beanessa Posts: 16 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello all,

I'm a 27 year old woman, 5'2 and 103 pounds. I started doing squats at the beginning of this summer then had to take a five week break from August to September due to a bruised tailbone but I've been getting back into it the last two weeks.

I have two questions -

#1 - I usually do my own thing at home that starts with 20 squats, then 160 situps/crunches, 20 more squats, short break, 160 more situps crunches, and then 20 more squats. Is splitting the sets up like this counterproductive or does it matter?

#2 - I know squats are supposed to work your butt, but I usually only feel the burn in my inner and lower thighs. Is this normal?

Thanks!

Replies

  • bethanytowell
    bethanytowell Posts: 256 Member
    I cant coment much on the effectiveness of your current routine but i can give you some great advice if you are looking to work the glutes. Google bret contreras....the glute guy. His simple moves are amazing and proven to be far more effective than even squats. I still squat but i do not rely on them as much as i do bret's routines. Glute bridges and hip thrusts are where its at for the bottom!
  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
    Squats are primarily driven from the glutes and the quads (and to some extent in the hamstrings). It sounds like your form might be off (knees turning in?). Your knees should track directly over your foot with your feet generally parallel.

    Supersetting squats and crunches isn't really a problem as long as you're keeping good form on both (and actually this isn't a bad fat burning superset). Squats activate the abs, so fatigue toward the end might cause a breakdown in form. I don't superset squats because I want to use higher weights (build muscle mass).
  • Beanessa
    Beanessa Posts: 16 Member
    I was thinking it might be my form. I'll work on it before I go all in with them. My problem might actually be my knees turning out. Would practicing against a wall help?

    And I google'd Bret and subscribed to his website.

    Thanks for the advice!

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