squats- bad for back, and thickens your stomach???

[firsttimer22]

squats alwasy make my back sore, but in a bad way....and i also heard they thicken your stomach because its where your center of gravity is located when doing the workout...

my question is, if i completely cut them out and just do more leg press and leg curls/extentions, can i get the same big legs?

[terraj]

You want to get big you squat.

They thicken your whole body.

Why and where does your back get sore?

[firsttimer22]

its my lower back , sharp pain like i pulled it out

[terraj]

Get it checked out man.

When you screw your back it's very hard to get it right again...even back specialists and orthopaedics will tell you that they know very little about how the back works.

[elpropiotorvic]

Squats can cure cáncer lolol .... No but seriously u need to get it checked ... Squats should be making u stronger...good luck

[firsttimer22]

ive had it checked,...x-rays came back negative...they even said my back is perfectly straight

[ranging1]

ive had it checked,...x-rays came back negative...they even said my back is perfectly straight

then u need to lesrn how to squat properly

if it hurts ur back lower the wieght

and build up slowly

[terraj]

WTF is an Xray going to show you about soft tissue damage?

CT and MRI Bro.

See a back specialist.

[MotoLifter]

then u need to lesrn how to squat properly

if it hurts ur back lower the wieght

and build up slowly

X2. my back used to hurt when i first started squating. the weight was too high, and my form was suffering because of it. but like ranging said, i dropped the weight and started all over paying attention to strick for and worked the weight back up.

Hack squats are a great leg worker too. im not talking about hack squat/leg press machines (although they are good too) but free weight hack squats. LOVE EM!!

[FireGuy]

squats alwasy make my back sore, but in a bad way....and i also heard they thicken your stomach because its where your center of gravity is located when doing the workout...

my question is, if i completely cut them out and just do more leg press and leg curls/extentions, can i get the same big legs?

People love to make all sorts if rumors on how bad squats are for you. It makes it that much easier for them to justify why they stick with the easy exercises.

[ranging1]

People love to make all sorts if rumors on how bad squats are for you. It makes it that much easier for them to justify why they stick with the easy exercises.

lol so true

mate u need to squat

squating for legs is like what a bench press is to chest

u just need to do them if you want to develop properly

dont do them and you wont gainony ur cycle like you want

also having big legs gives you alot of strength and helpt he rest of your body develop

itll also make u put on alot more muscle weight becuase legs are such a big muscle group

[operationgetbig]

i feel like a sissy if i dont squat. squatted tonight actually.

[DCI]

Squating is great fun. Like deadlifting it's hard to get right but work at it and you will. I suspect you are lifting to heavy and your lower back is bending out and you are compensating for that and then putting massive pressure on your lower back. As was said just drop the weight do more reps and then build it up from there it all takes time.

[rockinred]

Make sure you are "blocking" your core... this is inhaling and kinda holding your breath as you go down to block your rib cage and then exhale on way up. You should do some form of that for any lift and especially the heavy ones. Look it up, that could be your problem... too much movement on your torso or core area.

[yannick35]

Make sure to have perfect form that is all i have to say, i injured myself doing them 8 years ago but i did bad forms.

If done correctly they are the best exercise ever along with deadlifts, learn how to do them prefect forms.

[awesome1]

I have all sorts of stuff wrong with my back. My Chiro told me to keep weight off my back, so I do dumbell squats instead. What do you guys think about db squats? can you get practically the same benefit from DB squats as BB squats?

[ghettoboyd]

I have all sorts of stuff wrong with my back. My Chiro told me to keep weight off my back, so I do dumbell squats instead. What do you guys think about db squats? can you get practically the same benefit from DB squats as BB squats?

yes if you can hold onto big enough dumbells....obviously you can never use as much weight but you can get results just not as good as barbell squats imho.......

[yannick35]

I have all sorts of stuff wrong with my back. My Chiro told me to keep weight off my back, so I do dumbell squats instead. What do you guys think about db squats? can you get practically the same benefit from DB squats as BB squats?

I had some serious issues with the chiros i have seen in the past, i just cant stand them because they never seem to be able to get you pain free for more then a few days.

Has for db squats i do them all the time now, i dont lift heavy and if you have a bad back, not sure what your situation is, mine is ligament related, i also have 2 dried up disc L4L5 L5S1 and the stupid chiro said it was normal at my age i was 35 at the time.

My current medical doctor gave me prolotherapy and i am almost 100% fixed, also recommended a glucosamine supp ANIMAL FLEX, EFA, Whey protein and multivitamine + collagen to repair the disc.

Either way there is always be pressure on the lower back, this is why you and me have to work on our core muscles to support our lower back.

I currently do some modified P90X version, which has me doing almost all standing exercices with dumbells and barbells.

Standing press will work the core like crazy, i still deadlift has well but nothing major around 180 pounds max for 8 reps, and my legs takes the charge no pressure on the lower back.

Also standing db curls, standing tricep french press, db press, and a lot more.

The only muscle i cannot do standing are the chest and back and part of the leg, i use the leg press.

If the chiro does not work on stay there for a year wasting your time, check into prolotherapy it does wonders.

[Dont wanna be old]

I suggest you have someone video tape you doing a couple sets .

Then watch someone that squats well . Picture that in your mind .

Seriously if you watch yourself on tape at home . You may understand a little more on what you need to do .

[MotoLifter]

I suggest you have someone video tape you doing a couple sets .

Then watch someone that squats well . Picture that in your mind .

Seriously if you watch yourself on tape at home . You may understand a little more on what you need to do .

VERY TRUE!! people have used this approach for a long time. Ive watched past races of myself to see where i could improve cornering skills, holeshots, etc.

works like a charm. give it some serious thought.


Moto

[Okinawa_Power]

VERY TRUE!! people have used this approach for a long time. Ive watched past races of myself to see where i could improve cornering skills, holeshots, etc.

works like a charm. give it some serious thought.


Moto

Moto what kind of bike do you ride? Oh yeah and if you don't squat your a "*****"........and squats do cure cancer!!!!!!!

[Monster87]

If squats shortened my life by 20 years I would still do them religiously!!! Find out what's wrong with your back, you can't compensate for squats with other exercises, it's just not possible! Good luck to ya!

[A7X]

do you wear a belt when u squat something to help support your lower back?

[edenfield]

Try lunges if you can't do squats?

[redz]

Maybe your technique is off....

[ottomaddox]

Bingo! Maybe you're trying to use too much weight and sacrificing form.

Maybe your technique is off....

[MotoLifter]

Down the road, in a gym far away
A young man was heard to say,
"No matter what I do, my legs won't grow!"
He tried leg extensions, leg curls, leg presses too.
Trying to cheat, these sissy workouts he'd do!
From the corner of the gym where the big guys train,
Through a cloud of chalk and the midst of pain,
Where the big iron rides high, and threatin' lives,
Where the noise is made with big forty-fives,
A deep voice bellowed as he wrapped his knees,
A very big man with legs like trees,
Laughing as he snatched another plate from the stack,
Chalked his hands and monstrous back,
Said, "Boy, stop lying and don't say you've forgotten!
Trouble with you is you aint been SQUATIN'!!"

Courtesey of the NC Strength and conditioning coach (as far as i know)


Moto

[DSM4Life]

I had the hiv until i started squatting. Now all better !

[toothache]

i feel like a sissy if i dont squat. squatted tonight actually.

haha...i feel like a sissy if i don't do squats too.

[toothache]

Down the road, in a gym far away
A young man was heard to say,
"No matter what I do, my legs won't grow!"
He tried leg extensions, leg curls, leg presses too.
Trying to cheat, these sissy workouts he'd do!
From the corner of the gym where the big guys train,
Through a cloud of chalk and the midst of pain,
Where the big iron rides high, and threatin' lives,
Where the noise is made with big forty-fives,
A deep voice bellowed as he wrapped his knees,
A very big man with legs like trees,
Laughing as he snatched another plate from the stack,
Chalked his hands and monstrous back,
Said, "Boy, stop lying and don't say you've forgotten!
Trouble with you is you aint been SQUATIN'!!"

Courtesey of the NC Strength and conditioning coach (as far as i know)


Moto

A tear dropped from my eye.

[collar]

squats can be great for the overall body and also make the legs look great.

but whats an xray?
i would go straight to an mri or ct atleast.

[Narkissos]

Onstage my waist is anywhere between 26 and 28 inches... If Squats drastically thickened one's waist, mine would be 32+

[DSM4Life]

Onstage my waist is anywhere between 26 and 28 inches... If Squats drastically thickened one's waist, mine would be 32+

Can I use squats as an excuse for my 31 inch waist ?

[BBronco]

If you are tall/inflexible, squats can turn into a lower back exercise. Some people have comparatively long femurs which F**ks the leverage in the lift and makes bilateral back squats a real hassle. Try working on your psoas/isoas ROM and doing Bulgarian split squats (they half the load to your lower back). And yes you can ditch the bilateral back squat as long as you take up front squats or unilateral sissy/back sqauts

[Narkissos]

unilateral sissy/back sqauts

You can do unilateral sissy squats?

[ArmedHammerd]

People love to make all sorts if rumors on how bad squats are for you. It makes it that much easier for them to justify why they stick with the easy exercises.

lol x2

[BBronco]

You can do unilateral sissy squats?

yes.

[JuicedUp1328]

ive had it checked,...x-rays came back negative...they even said my back is perfectly straight

I broke my back playing football in 8th grade, as soon as I could jog I was on the field again up through college...not letting my back heal and pushing the pain aside still haunts me today.

People don't realize the agony a bum back causes until they experience it first hand...weather changes, hopping over a puddle walking down the street, anything, can re-tweak it.

I personally remember times where my back was so knotted up I had to have someone pick me up after taking a shit...talk about a helpless/pathetic feeling.

Do yourself a huge favor and get it straightened out, like terraj posted, get CT and MRI's done to see if it's something that isn't skeletal...

Also, you might want to check your flexibility. Not sure if you're on a stretching regiment of any sort, but a lot of lower back pain is indirectly caused by people overcompensating for tight hamstrings.

Good luck bro.

[gcguiness]

Back problem come from poor technique, and too much weight. Forget the ego of everyone watching you. Start with no weight, and start building your core body muscles first. I had the same problem, my ego was too big, and I screwed up my back (caused by poor body mechanics). Go to www.stronglifts.com and read about squats, great info for those who know little about doing it properly. I had alot to learn....

[crazypat123]

Squats can cure cáncer lolol .... No but seriously u need to get it checked ... Squats should be making u stronger...good luck

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH i see your reppin the 613 aswell

cheers!