For those who avoid squats.

[BgMc31]

I wouldn't say ALL exercises but I agree totally its the KING for lower body.

See that's part of the ignorance surrounding squats. Very few people understand that the squat is a whole body exercise. And the one's who do, squat, no matter what. If I can't do any other exercise because of time constraints, work, or kids, I make sure I get my squat workout in.

[The_Irish_Dave]

I am in all favour of the squat. It's the best exercise for the legs. However, if you have an injury and you can not squat then fair enough do an alternative exercise. But from my own experience I thought I had an injury. I had this pain in my knees when I squatted and it got very painful. So I decided to do some research about it and found that a common problem with knee pain was in fact a shortened hamstring muscle from sitting at a bloody desk all day! So I decided to do some stretches, include some stiff legged deadlifts and so on and then squatted again. Well what do ya know? No pain. So now I can squat fine. My knees do make a noise like crunching and clicking noises but that's just normal nitrogen in your joint the same as when you crack your knuckles. My point is that you should make sure there is something definitely wrong with you because there is a chance you could be wrong. Another point is that I wish women would squat more. They avoid it like the plague in most gyms and it's the best exercise along with lunges in developing a nice ass and legs and that lower body figure they might want. I would promote box squats too. Most people don't know how to use it properly anyway at first like many exercises but it's a good way to get past a sticking point. I'd include very heavy partial reps too. It's amazing how light your normal weight feels when you overload it with partials first and go back to it. You can actually squeeze out more reps that way than you could before because your body wasn't warmed up right. Like a reverse warm up so to speak.

[bigno5]

wow...some passion here about squats. Personally its one of my favorite exercises but recently I have really gotten into lunges. Throw a 100lb barbell on my back and give me 25 yards, talk about a BURN. Try it, it literally changed my life. Ok no significant life changes just some pumped legs!

[l2elapse]

squat or die

[mastablasta7]

I've had 13 knee surgeries and the best thing I ever did after all of them was to return to squatting. I have zero meniscus left in either knee. Synvisc injections every three months keep me going. Squats have helped a ton. Squatting properly is the key. I bothers the shit out of me when people say that running, football, or any other sport caused them knee problems that hasn't allowed them to squat. If you can leg press, lunge, hack squat, or anything similar, you can squat. I'm living proof. And after my last reconstruction (ACL, PCL, replacement), I squatted 7 8 0lbs, with just knee wraps in competition. I'm now training for a 900lb raw squat, yep without any cartilage! LOL! DIG THAT!!! LOL!!!

You are officialy my new hero. Like i said if you have a REAL knee injury or had to have knee surgery then that is a real excuse and you probably shouldnt squat but you do it anyways after 13 surgeries? I have much respect for you.

This goes to show that anyone can squat. The people im pissed about are the people who dont squat because it "hurts" there knes or is "uncomfortable" well i put this post to try and motivate those people to squat and give them simple advice on how to avoid knee problems/injuries when squating. The best thing you can do is keep it high reps and get in some good warm up sets/stretches and i GAURANTEE these people will never have a knee injury when squating. As a matter of fact they will soon figure out that they will have less and less knee pain as they get more into squating. I used to be one of those people who avoided squats because i thought it hurt my knees but i have found many different ways to avoid that and ultimately strengthen my knees

Im glad theres alot of people out there who agree with me and im sorry for not mentioning knee injuries in my original post. This is directed to people who have not had a knee injury in there life but still avoid squats. Im not dogging on you guys because like i said i used to be the same way but instead im trying to help you out by giving you a simple layout on how to make squats more comfortable.

[baseline_9]

IMO you cannot train beyond failure with squats

And as that is how i like to train now, they have become less of a fixture in my routine

[rockinred]

Damn, my boy BgMC....is just that...one Big Mac Mofo...lol.

But to agree with original poster. I think that your message kind of came off as offensive to many that don't squat due to legitimate injuries. On another note, I understand completely what he is saying. It seems that the squat racks are always empty at the gym and 80% of lifters have a lame excuse as to why they can't do squats. So most of us who have spent some time in the gym have heard those cliche words "I can't do squats because my ______ was hurt when I was a superb athlete". So it does get annoying to many of us. It is as painful for me and everyone else as it the other person making excuses.

With all that being said, I really don't care if someone wants to run around with chicken legs or doesn't like to squat because it is no fun. Take this thread as motivation to get out there and feel the pain like the rest or don't take it that way. One thing anyone can draw from squats and these threads, is that you can't be a legit bodybuilder, powerlifter, unless you incorporate this lift into the regime. Also, if you are an athlete, you are missing and cheating yourself out of so much without that in the routine too. Not a necessity, but a huge factor in the weightlifting community and developing your bodies full potential as an athlete.

[BigJuice777]

I used to have trouble getting my upper body to grow till I started squatting. The body likes to grow in proportion... so if you simply want to get bigger titties, SQUAT

[A010011000111]

all im gonna say is i do leg presses now because my lower back has been in some distress.... i had a minor strain in my lower back years ago and im sure i will be squatting in the future but not until A) my next cycle and B) i feel absolutely NO pain or discomfort in my lower back

guys im serious when i say this if you have lower back pain, loaded squats can **** you UP!!! it made my back pain much worse and now all i can do is leg press.

dont get me wrong, i love the squat with all my heart and soul, but there are many times where it just isnt smart... esp for those who have weak/untrained core.

maybe really light weighted squats, but core wkouts and yoga/pilates are better for core anyways IMHO

[nowaymang]

why anyone WOULDNT SQUAT is beyond me, the advantages FAR OUTWEIGH any disadvantages