Question....

Because you working a large muscle doing squats you will not only be toning up but as you build muscle you will also be burning calories while resting

Building muscle/toning is essential to burning more calories throughout the day in addition to what you burn off during your exercise program. It also teaches your body to utilize calories for energy and not storage as so much fat. Roughly the first two weeks of a weight training program (especially for women) you will feel fatter than ever. Great right? This is your body starting to freak out and transition to keep up. The weight/bulk is just water weight, as your muscles tear a little during strength training to and start building. In order to keep from bulking like a body builder, keep your strength training program more dynamic, cardiovascular and increase your heart rate. Also keep changing your routine to strengthen different muscle groups. Try a "body pump" style class or in your home.

Squats any time of the day are great! (I love them because when done properly they work out your whole body.) Just be careful if you are doing them over the toilet that you are not squatting too low and throwing off your form. When done improperly, it will really damage your knees. Keep drinking water and keep up with your program and you will really start to see great changes!

Good Morning,

Actually doing squats properly happens to be one of the most effective types of exercise for the body and most people aren't even aware of that. They actually work the entire body as well as tone hard areas for us women to get results in, butt, hips, thighs etc...they tend to work even better if you use some weights in your hands. You will most certainly gain muscle which you can't panic over because it will effect your scale. Muscle as its built up weighs more than fat. This is not a bad thing its a GREAT THING....this exercise will also raise the metabolism because the squat motion going down them coming up makes the heart rate raise which is what you need to burn calories.

While doing the squats your body will release hormones (because it's rebuilding muscle) and sends it to the rest of your body, your shoulders, back, chest, even your arms. Be careful when starting squats as to not over do it at once. Start with one repetition of 10 see how your body feels then move on to a rep and a half, two and so on.

In answer to your question, yes, they are worth it. Also for maximum exercising results let me give you a bit of a secret. If you cardio one day, throw in some strength training the next day.....then cardio the next. Do them on separate / alternate days. People try to over do their exercise and forget the body needs a rest in between to "repair".

So: EXAMPLE

Monday- Cardio for a min of 30 min
Tue - Strength training about 30 min but break it down to work upper and lower body. (you can get ST exercises online)
Wed-Give the body a rest
Thur- Cardio
Fri- ST
Sat- Cardio
Sun-Give the body a rest

On your strength training days you can go for a walk etc no problem

It came be done other ways but this is the recommended way to get proper results. Hope this helps!

Jamie

o.k. I do the squats and my legs are on fire. Is this really helping burn calories? or is it just gaining muscle? Am I wasting my time here? or doing a good thing?

Jenn

You're working your muscles, which is a fabulous thing!! By doing so you're working on gaining muscle AND you're burning calories! Also, the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn just resting. So...
(I'm sorry I suck at explaining things, lol)