Squats vs Lunges

AmberJslimsAWAY · February 2012

I do both, but I'm wondering if the work the same muscles? I feel like my butt and the tops of my thighs hurt the same, but is it due to one or both?

Do you do squats and/or lunges? How many reps?

also, when doing lunges, should the weight be pressed onto your forward leg, or pulled from your back?

cmeade20 · February 2012

They both work the quads and glutes but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do them both :-)

Rae6503 · February 2012

I do them both. Lunges seem to hit my as a little more. I also think that the one-leg isolation of the lunges is a good thing.

ETA: You should do deadlifts too to really hit your butt and hamstrings.

AmberJslimsAWAY · February 2012

I just don't want to over do it.

carrie_eggo · February 2012

You won't over do it. I do both. I think lunges work the hamstrings a little more.

BoxingCoachMo · February 2012

i think the lunges get the groin area more as your stretching a lot more....

But both hit the quads and hams and buttocks. When i was doing my leg routine i would do both moves.

For squats as i wanted more muscle i lifted weight which made me stop between the 8-12 rep range. If you want more endurance i would hit the 12-20 rep range.

AmberJslimsAWAY · February 2012

I do them both. Lunges seem to hit my as a little more. I also think that the one-leg isolation of the lunges is a good thing.

ETA: You should do deadlifts too to really hit your butt and hamstrings.

I might try that tonight, my butt is my biggest area of concern

:drinker:

UponThisRock · February 2012

Lunges can be modified to target the quads, glutes, or hamstrings.

This article shows a split squat, but it's the same idea: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/split-squat-technique.html

Rae6503 · February 2012

Also to really hit your butt make sure you go all the way down in the squat, just past parallel.

engineman312 · February 2012

i do both, but not on the same day.

AmberJslimsAWAY · February 2012

Also to really hit your butt make sure you go all the way down in the squat, just past parallel.

like knee to the ground?

taso42 · February 2012

Lunges and I are not on speaking terms at the moment.

Elizabeth_C34 · February 2012

Also to really hit your butt make sure you go all the way down in the squat, just past parallel.

like knee to the ground?

ATG: *kitten* to grass

Drop that butt way way down. It's a great booty workout and works the hammies pretty well too i you go down slowly.

pullipgirl · February 2012

lunges work the entire thigh to add resistance you can put the foot of your working leg on a chair or bench. I recommended checking out the strength training anatomy books.

UponThisRock · February 2012

Also to really hit your butt make sure you go all the way down in the squat, just past parallel.

like knee to the ground?

ATG: *kitten* to grass

Drop that butt way way down. It's a greaty booty workout and works the hammies pretty well too i you go down slowly.

^^^very few people have the hamstring flexibility to go all the way down without rounding their lower backs

engineman312 · February 2012

Also to really hit your butt make sure you go all the way down in the squat, just past parallel.

like knee to the ground?

yup. you're actually supposed to do the most work with your BACK leg. take a step forward, make sure your knee doesn't go further then your toes, and bend down with your back leg.

Elizabeth_C34 · February 2012

Also to really hit your butt make sure you go all the way down in the squat, just past parallel.

like knee to the ground?

ATG: *kitten* to grass

Drop that butt way way down. It's a greaty booty workout and works the hammies pretty well too i you go down slowly.

^^^very few people have the hamstring flexibility to go all the way down without rounding their lower backs

That's true. I never had a problem because I do have a lot of flexibility in my hamstrings.

OP: This is a concern so just be sure you don't round your back when you go down. If you do, don't go down so far and work on stretching your hamstrings and gaining a little flexibility there.

Rae6503 · February 2012

Also to really hit your butt make sure you go all the way down in the squat, just past parallel.

like knee to the ground?

Go down until your upper leg is parallel to the floor, or just past that.

BoxingCoachMo · February 2012

if i was to do ATG, i would have a sumo stance rather than the conventional feet shoulder width apart....

Even a conventional squat hits the buttocks...

My technique is...

keep my head looking straight forward, then move my buttocks down slowly as if i want to sit on a chair and take my quads to parallel (not below), push through the heels and come back up. That way my buttocks are worked anyway

Amber, when you are in the squat, think 'push through heel' that way you know your legs are being worked, rather than causing any problems to the knees

Twylyght · February 2012

Do both!

IronmanPanda · February 2012

And don't be afraid to go lighter if you have to. Form is very important.

grapenutSF · February 2012

Also to really hit your butt make sure you go all the way down in the squat, just past parallel.

like knee to the ground?

*kitten* to the grass

kaylammurphy · February 2012

I do both, sometimes on the same day, but usually if I do them both on the same day I don't do tons of both. Usually I try to do walking lunges when I am at the grocery store so that I get some random extras in there

Rae6503 · February 2012

Also to really hit your butt make sure you go all the way down in the squat, just past parallel.

like knee to the ground?

I just realized "knee to the ground" might be referencing the lunges, and yes, my back knee often touches the ground (but does not rest there) so that my front quad is again parallel. I generally have all my weight on my front leg. I've hurt my knee twice by accidentally letting the back leg take some weight. I do rear-stepping to avoid this now.

Elizabeth_C34 · February 2012

And don't be afraid to go lighter if you have to. Form is very important.

THIS too!

AmberJslimsAWAY · February 2012

Thanks everyone

cmeade20 · February 2012

I do total body strength training 3 days a week (nonconsecutive gotta let the muscles rest) and I do squats,lunges, sissy squats, dead lifts etc so don't worry about over doing it. If you're main concern is your butt def keep up with the squats and lunges and I'd do deadlifts and bridges too. Anthing good for the hamstring is good for the glute

SassyCalyGirl · February 2012

I do both

side lunges-forward and backward they all work a different part. Try wall squats with a balance ball-it helps with form. Sumo squats are awesome too!

DixiedoesMFP · February 2012

Bowlers lunges also help work the little side part of your rear/hip to give it some nice definition. Put most of the weight on the ball of your front foot, sweep your back leg behind you like you just bowled a strike (very little weight on back leg - balance only) and squat.

jenniejengin · May 2012

bump

ChasingSweatandTears · May 2012

Also to really hit your butt make sure you go all the way down in the squat, just past parallel.

like knee to the ground?

Go down until your upper leg is parallel to the floor, or just past that.

That's awesome! Do you have more of those? lol

Squats vs Lunges

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