Ladies how much do you squat???

Stage14 · September 2013

I want to squat with barbells (and do other lifts with them) but, and I have no idea why, I am terrified of starting. I currently do 30 squats with a 10 lb plate in my hands, arms extended, and 30 squats with a 6 lb ball, above my head extended and then behind my head.

I want to ask someone at my gym to help me with using barbells, but I have this awkward problem of always sounding creepy when I talk to strangers.

Definitely ask someone for help and try the barbell! It makes a ton of difference. And I have found that the people in the weights area are super nice and generally love to help out new lifters.

But be warned that that difference includes balance. I'm 5'3, weigh 162, and as a newbie to the back squat, I only squat 55lbs (2 sets of 15 reps). Part of that is because I have had a recurring neck injury that I don't want to upset, so I am working on building up my core, and part of it is because the Olympic bar is longer than I am tall, so getting a good low squat is hard while keeping it balanced, even empty.

BIRD0 · September 2013

I want to squat with barbells (and do other lifts with them) but, and I have no idea why, I am terrified of starting. I currently do 30 squats with a 10 lb plate in my hands, arms extended, and 30 squats with a 6 lb ball, above my head extended and then behind my head.

I want to ask someone at my gym to help me with using barbells, but I have this awkward problem of always sounding creepy when I talk to strangers.

Definitely ask someone for help and try the barbell! It makes a ton of difference. And I have found that the people in the weights area are super nice and generally love to help out new lifters.

But be warned that that difference includes balance. I'm 5'3, weigh 162, and as a newbie to the back squat, I only squat 55lbs (2 sets of 15 reps). Part of that is because I have had a recurring neck injury that I don't want to upset, so I am working on building up my core, and part of it is because the Olympic bar is longer than I am tall, so getting a good low squat is hard while keeping it balanced, even empty.

I did it! I didn't want to interrupt any of the guys, so I went to the trainer desk and asked a lady there. She didn't know how, but she got a male trainer who showed both of us how to do it.

I'm only at the bar, which is 45 lbs, and I need to work on squatting lower, but I did it! I need to make a conscious effort to stick my butt out more though. But I'm happy I faced my fear.

keflexxxx · September 2013

awesome, well done. an easy way to work on mobility is just to practice squatting unweighted. craig weller wrote a great article on this called the third-world squat, recommended reading: http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance/the_thirdworld_squat