Why no legs/squatting in commercial gyms?
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I live in the Chicago burbs and find just the opposite. Men & women go to the church of squats/deads. Pretty sure its the largest sq ft fitness place in the U.S. too where there are even shuttle buses for the far away parking. I disagree.0
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So you're at the gym when it opens at 5 and all the way through till it closes at 11 (or whatever hours it is?)
there will always be people who don't know - or go to hard with poor form .it happens.
But you can't possible say "no one does legs in a commerical gym"
I worked at a LA Fit and saw equal parts good lifting and equal parts bad/improper/half a!! lifting.
some people do the leg thing- some people don't.
broad stroke paintbrushes just are not as effective as you think.0 -
Totally depends on the gym. I have been to gyms that are nothing but benches and power racks, and some gyms that have the single dusty rack in the corner. Also, a lot of powerlifters won't go much deeper than parallel. You don't get bonus points for ATG in powerlifting.0
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A lot of men, just like to work their upper body to show off for women and they forget about the most important day... Leg day0
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I squat but not full depth like that vid cause i'd rather not wreck my knees. In most scenarios nobody can see your legs anyway so if you lift for aesthetical purposes (like me) there's not really any point trying to squat to a depth that is more purposeful for strength training.0
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conoroneill94 wrote: »I squat but not full depth like that vid cause i'd rather not wreck my knees. In most scenarios nobody can see your legs anyway so if you lift for aesthetical purposes (like me) there's not really any point trying to squat to a depth that is more purposeful for strength training.
Stopping at or above parallel for many people can actually put more stress on the knees, compared to going deeper, where the strain comes off them. It's a perfectly natural movement to squat to depth and performed correctly, you shouldn't be having any knee problems if they're otherwise healthy. Especially if you're not making squats and heavy lifting your whole life/career.
If they're not healthy, and you already have knee problems, then that's a different issue and probably better for a professional to advise you on, but the blanket statement "deep squats wreck your knees" or similar, as a lot of people think, isn't true. It's not that simple.
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conoroneill94 wrote: »I squat but not full depth like that vid cause i'd rather not wreck my knees. In most scenarios nobody can see your legs anyway so if you lift for aesthetical purposes (like me) there's not really any point trying to squat to a depth that is more purposeful for strength training.
1.) stopping half way is as stressful if not more stressful than full ROM.
2.) Aesthetics go well beyond mirror muscles that you can see. Someone whose body isn't built well from poor training doesn't look good.
Bodybuilders lift purely for aesthetics and size- guess what- they do legs.
Even though I wear pants (okay- sometimes I wear pants) you can still tell from the way I move I look good across the board because I don't just train what I can see- I train the whole body.
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I go to a commercial chain gym, and the squat racks/cages are often in use. I see guys performing amazing squats, some even ATG, most at least to horizontal. A few of them have even given me a few pointers.
As far is not squatting if it's just for aesthetic purposes ... Yes, people can see your legs even if they have pants on them. Maybe not the muscle definition, but the unbalance does show (when you have a low body fat to show the upper body definition, your legs tend to be pretty small. There's a guy at my gym who looks like Arnold from the waist up, but his legs are very small by comparison and I've never seen him do a leg exercise (he's just one guy; like I said, most do). It's very disproportionate. And beyond the look, muscle imbalance may not be so great for overall fitness, either.0 -
I'm pretty new to weight lifting, but my small community gym has some guys that squat and others who do not.
Personally I don't squat or work legs because I have made a plan that strengthens the muscles I need to strengthen with a particular activity in mind. Sometime down the road my goals may change and I might work on strengthening legs at that time. Maybe your goals are different than mine, and your goals require you to squat. Great for you! That doesn't explain why I should squat, though.0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »I'm pretty new to weight lifting, but my small community gym has some guys that squat and others who do not.
Personally I don't squat or work legs because I have made a plan that strengthens the muscles I need to strengthen with a particular activity in mind. Sometime down the road my goals may change and I might work on strengthening legs at that time. Maybe your goals are different than mine, and your goals require you to squat. Great for you! That doesn't explain why I should squat, though.
Ok so what if I told you that squats and deadlifts can overall make you stronger. Would you want to add that to your goals?
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conoroneill94 wrote: »I squat but not full depth like that vid cause i'd rather not wreck my knees. In most scenarios nobody can see your legs anyway so if you lift for aesthetical purposes (like me) there's not really any point trying to squat to a depth that is more purposeful for strength training.
Snort. The funny excuses for not doing full ROM are great in this thread.
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I don't do full ROM squats any more because somehow I turned into a fraidy cat.0
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conoroneill94 wrote: »I squat but not full depth like that vid cause i'd rather not wreck my knees. In most scenarios nobody can see your legs anyway so if you lift for aesthetical purposes (like me) there's not really any point trying to squat to a depth that is more purposeful for strength training.
I didn't know the golf tee look was aesthetic0 -
I see lots of people squatting at my gym. also, *kitten* doesn't have to be to the grass to be considered a proper squat...just breaking parallel is just fine.0
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yopeeps025 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »I'm pretty new to weight lifting, but my small community gym has some guys that squat and others who do not.
Personally I don't squat or work legs because I have made a plan that strengthens the muscles I need to strengthen with a particular activity in mind. Sometime down the road my goals may change and I might work on strengthening legs at that time. Maybe your goals are different than mine, and your goals require you to squat. Great for you! That doesn't explain why I should squat, though.
Ok so what if I told you that squats and deadlifts can overall make you stronger. Would you want to add that to your goals?
Not right now. At some point, I might be interested in overall strength. For now, I'm focusing on a few specific muscles.0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »yopeeps025 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »I'm pretty new to weight lifting, but my small community gym has some guys that squat and others who do not.
Personally I don't squat or work legs because I have made a plan that strengthens the muscles I need to strengthen with a particular activity in mind. Sometime down the road my goals may change and I might work on strengthening legs at that time. Maybe your goals are different than mine, and your goals require you to squat. Great for you! That doesn't explain why I should squat, though.
Ok so what if I told you that squats and deadlifts can overall make you stronger. Would you want to add that to your goals?
Not right now. At some point, I might be interested in overall strength. For now, I'm focusing on a few specific muscles.
I used to lift that same way( my wasted newbie stage). I regret it. Hopefully you don't.
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midwesterner85 wrote: »yopeeps025 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »I'm pretty new to weight lifting, but my small community gym has some guys that squat and others who do not.
Personally I don't squat or work legs because I have made a plan that strengthens the muscles I need to strengthen with a particular activity in mind. Sometime down the road my goals may change and I might work on strengthening legs at that time. Maybe your goals are different than mine, and your goals require you to squat. Great for you! That doesn't explain why I should squat, though.
Ok so what if I told you that squats and deadlifts can overall make you stronger. Would you want to add that to your goals?
Not right now. At some point, I might be interested in overall strength. For now, I'm focusing on a few specific muscles.
picture of you running- says you want to climb a mountain and your tag line says
"Would Like to Look and Feel Better"
all these things would be supported by squatting.0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »yopeeps025 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »I'm pretty new to weight lifting, but my small community gym has some guys that squat and others who do not.
Personally I don't squat or work legs because I have made a plan that strengthens the muscles I need to strengthen with a particular activity in mind. Sometime down the road my goals may change and I might work on strengthening legs at that time. Maybe your goals are different than mine, and your goals require you to squat. Great for you! That doesn't explain why I should squat, though.
Ok so what if I told you that squats and deadlifts can overall make you stronger. Would you want to add that to your goals?
Not right now. At some point, I might be interested in overall strength. For now, I'm focusing on a few specific muscles.
picture of you running- says you want to climb a mountain and your tag line says
"Would Like to Look and Feel Better"
all these things would be supported by squatting.
As would a lot of other exercises.0 -
I go to a commercial gym that advertises as a "no gymtimidation gym" because that's what I can afford now. I have seen guys spend an hour or so working arms and chest one day, the next day if they do work legs it's for a considerable less time. But I think that like some who have commented, some guys believe that women are more interested in arms and chest so they work legs less.
I like working legs because a day or two later, the soreness give a sense of accomplishment. In fact just yesterday was Leg Day for me.0 -
I do squats once a week and not very heavy along with five other leg exercises, my legs are out of proportion to my upper body and I could give a sh1t what other than one woman thinks about the way I look. I ride a bike 400+ miles a month, extremely limber, long time martial arts/ gymnastics and could put my foot in some ones chin really freaking quick.. So to the people who verbally comment on other people's legs in public- be careful you never know when you might set someone off and get your butt kicked0
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midwesterner85 wrote: »yopeeps025 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »I'm pretty new to weight lifting, but my small community gym has some guys that squat and others who do not.
Personally I don't squat or work legs because I have made a plan that strengthens the muscles I need to strengthen with a particular activity in mind. Sometime down the road my goals may change and I might work on strengthening legs at that time. Maybe your goals are different than mine, and your goals require you to squat. Great for you! That doesn't explain why I should squat, though.
Ok so what if I told you that squats and deadlifts can overall make you stronger. Would you want to add that to your goals?
Not right now. At some point, I might be interested in overall strength. For now, I'm focusing on a few specific muscles.
picture of you running- says you want to climb a mountain and your tag line says
"Would Like to Look and Feel Better"
all these things would be supported by squatting.
As would a lot of other exercises.
Right... so I could spend all day at the gym (let's assume I actually have time to do that) and do all potential exercises. Or I could work on specific exercises that will be most useful.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with squats. Your point that squats are helpful for my goals is valid. What I'm saying is that I have limited time and energy, and I want to spend that time and energy on the exercises that will provide maximum return.
I can't possibly do everything that is going to help me achieve my goals... there just are not enough hours in a day.
Anyway, my point was that not all men will do squats because not all men include that in our plans. The OP's point completely ignores individual plans.0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »yopeeps025 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »I'm pretty new to weight lifting, but my small community gym has some guys that squat and others who do not.
Personally I don't squat or work legs because I have made a plan that strengthens the muscles I need to strengthen with a particular activity in mind. Sometime down the road my goals may change and I might work on strengthening legs at that time. Maybe your goals are different than mine, and your goals require you to squat. Great for you! That doesn't explain why I should squat, though.
Ok so what if I told you that squats and deadlifts can overall make you stronger. Would you want to add that to your goals?
Not right now. At some point, I might be interested in overall strength. For now, I'm focusing on a few specific muscles.
picture of you running- says you want to climb a mountain and your tag line says
"Would Like to Look and Feel Better"
all these things would be supported by squatting.
As would a lot of other exercises.
Right... so I could spend all day at the gym (let's assume I actually have time to do that) and do all potential exercises. Or I could work on specific exercises that will be most useful.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with squats. Your point that squats are helpful for my goals is valid. What I'm saying is that I have limited time and energy, and I want to spend that time and energy on the exercises that will provide maximum return.
I can't possibly do everything that is going to help me achieve my goals... there just are not enough hours in a day.
Anyway, my point was that not all men will do squats because not all men include that in our plans. The OP's point completely ignores individual plans.
How long do you think it takes to lift everything? Isolation exercise are minors to the big three lifts. I lost what goals can you have where squats is not useful and beneficial?0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »yopeeps025 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »I'm pretty new to weight lifting, but my small community gym has some guys that squat and others who do not.
Personally I don't squat or work legs because I have made a plan that strengthens the muscles I need to strengthen with a particular activity in mind. Sometime down the road my goals may change and I might work on strengthening legs at that time. Maybe your goals are different than mine, and your goals require you to squat. Great for you! That doesn't explain why I should squat, though.
Ok so what if I told you that squats and deadlifts can overall make you stronger. Would you want to add that to your goals?
Not right now. At some point, I might be interested in overall strength. For now, I'm focusing on a few specific muscles.
picture of you running- says you want to climb a mountain and your tag line says
"Would Like to Look and Feel Better"
all these things would be supported by squatting.
As would a lot of other exercises.
Right... so I could spend all day at the gym (let's assume I actually have time to do that) and do all potential exercises. Or I could work on specific exercises that will be most useful.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with squats. Your point that squats are helpful for my goals is valid. What I'm saying is that I have limited time and energy, and I want to spend that time and energy on the exercises that will provide maximum return.
I can't possibly do everything that is going to help me achieve my goals... there just are not enough hours in a day.
Anyway, my point was that not all men will do squats because not all men include that in our plans. The OP's point completely ignores individual plans.
If you don't want to do squats or deadlifts, that is fine. But for the average person, those would be the top 2 exercises to spend time on if one is looking for the maximum return.0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »yopeeps025 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »I'm pretty new to weight lifting, but my small community gym has some guys that squat and others who do not.
Personally I don't squat or work legs because I have made a plan that strengthens the muscles I need to strengthen with a particular activity in mind. Sometime down the road my goals may change and I might work on strengthening legs at that time. Maybe your goals are different than mine, and your goals require you to squat. Great for you! That doesn't explain why I should squat, though.
Ok so what if I told you that squats and deadlifts can overall make you stronger. Would you want to add that to your goals?
Not right now. At some point, I might be interested in overall strength. For now, I'm focusing on a few specific muscles.
Do you mind telling what your training is focused around and what you're training specifically for. What is your goal?0 -
Michael190lbs wrote: »I do squats once a week and not very heavy along with five other leg exercises, my legs are out of proportion to my upper body and I could give a sh1t what other than one woman thinks about the way I look. I ride a bike 400+ miles a month, extremely limber, long time martial arts/ gymnastics and could put my foot in some ones chin really freaking quick.. So to the people who verbally comment on other people's legs in public- be careful you never know when you might set someone off and get your butt kicked
Wait. Did you just (kind of) threaten people for making comments about something in which you'd already claimed to not care what other people think about anyway?0 -
I use the squat machine, but I don't do the rack thing with the weight on your shoulders. I'm afraid I'd go down and not be able to get up.0
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You have the most effective exercise on the planet and no men seem remotely interested in even trying it.
Not sure which planet you're on, but on mine, i tend to carry heavy objects in my hands in front of me, not across my shoulders behind me. So the back squat isn't the most effective exercise for me.
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maillemaker wrote: »I use the squat machine, but I don't do the rack thing with the weight on your shoulders. I'm afraid I'd go down and not be able to get up.
Well that is a mental block you got to get over.
I know the feeling though. Getting under the bench press doing the same exact workout that tore my pec. I made for sure that I was 100% confident that I would get up all reps.
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Cherimoose wrote: »You have the most effective exercise on the planet and no men seem remotely interested in even trying it.
Not sure which planet you're on, but on mine, i tend to carry heavy objects in my hands in front of me, not across my shoulders behind me. So the back squat isn't the most effective exercise for me.
Front squats would probably be good for that, a variation on the traditional squat.
Even then, just because the bar is usually behind you, don't mean it has little place or strength carry-over onto daily activities. Stronger legs, core, glutes all will help you in carrying stuff in general, and back squats can typically handle more weight, so as long as you're doing them properly (form>load) you'll have the potential to be even stronger. I wouldn't dismiss them entirely, but just maybe include variations or use it as an addition to your training on top of upper body stuff necessary for your goals. I think that's what people here are getting at with regards to training for other goals.
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