are squats overrated?

lorrpb wrote: »

When you can't squat or walk up stairs, doing squats can be life changing because they get you to the point where you can do all the things you couldn't do before.

^^^This!!! Totally agree. Squats can take you to a new level of fitness!

Personally, my knees are too chewed up. I just have to accept slower progress with less strenuous things. For those with good knees, squats seem pretty useful.

I tore my ACL two years ago, and had it replaced. My physical therapist told me, "you'd better make friends with the squat." Squats, done properly, are great for stabilizing the knees. I can't speak for anyone else's situation, but for me, it's been true. I'm able to dance weekly, hike etc. post ACL repair. I just consider squats my maintenance for functionality.

I've always had bad/weak knees. Too many injuries when I was young coupled with arthritis. When I started exercising, I tried doing squats. Took several months but my knees are feeling excellent now. I do have to have a wider stance and have to point my toes out about 30 degrees in order to not injure them, but my knees are getting stronger and I haven't had any bad days (knee pops out of place or feels like I have glass shards in it) in months.

BreezeDoveal wrote: »

LazSommer wrote: »

SonyaCele wrote: »

lazsommer, just keep leg pressing you'll get stronger than everyone in the world, good luck to you.

I already am stronger than most people because I do crossfit. They don't have a leg press at my box (a special crossfit gym if you didn't know that), so I have a dual membership at Planet Fitness to use their leg press machine.

Have you considered veganism to get that next level nutrition based advantage?

Actually I'm paleo-IS (intermittent starving). See, our ancestors didn't eat all this processed food and agricultural crap, but they also didn't have their food readily available. People are denying their genetic needs by eating regularly - hunter gatherers made gains while starving between meals. It's how the body was designed to live.

I find that it's best to wait at least 4 days between meals, and then rush into my local grocery store and rip open a pack of steaks right at the butcher. Our ancestors had to hunt and eat with adrenaline rushing, and I find this gives a boost to my metabolism.

LazSommer wrote: »

BreezeDoveal wrote: »

LazSommer wrote: »

SonyaCele wrote: »

lazsommer, just keep leg pressing you'll get stronger than everyone in the world, good luck to you.

I already am stronger than most people because I do crossfit. They don't have a leg press at my box (a special crossfit gym if you didn't know that), so I have a dual membership at Planet Fitness to use their leg press machine.

Have you considered veganism to get that next level nutrition based advantage?

Actually I'm paleo-IS (intermittent starving). See, our ancestors didn't eat all this processed food and agricultural crap, but they also didn't have their food readily available. People are denying their genetic needs by eating regularly - hunter gatherers made gains while starving between meals. It's how the body was designed to live.

I find that it's best to wait at least 4 days between meals, and then rush into my local grocery store and rip open a pack of steaks right at the butcher. Our ancestors had to hunt and eat with adrenaline rushing, and I find this gives a boost to my metabolism.

@BreezeDoveal and @LazSommer should be banned from communicating with each other...

I personally don't do them, but I understand they form a pretty decent base for anyone who is considering embarking on a novice/beginner routine such as Stronglifts 5x5 - however, I would imagine if you're not overly bothered about muscle isolations - you could use a good leg press machine to get some similar lower body gains. (no expert though)

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