How does squatting make you bigger?

[kmjt]

I read someone say that squatting makes your whole body bigger.. how is this? It obviously would make your legs bigger and maybe back, but how would it grow your arms?

[Ironlife]

Squats require over 200 muscles indirectly/directly to perform the lift. Great movement that will thicken up the body.

[SuffolkPunch]

It's not going to do anything for your chest 'n bis...

However, my own theory is that it helps to turn your body into a food processing machine. If you were to only train small muscles like chest and arms and eat to get bigger, you'd probably get fat easily. However, if you use as many muscles as possible in your body then you can eat a lot more, process a lot more protein and benefit from elevated metabolic hormones. So it provides an environment for muscle growth.

You still need to bench and curl tho'.

[kmjt]

Thanks guys

[noflyingcars]

Being really demanding on breath terms, it will expand your ribcage.
It will also tend to fix your posture if you're hunched.

Then of course training the biggest muscles in your body will have a major hormonal response.


My idea though, is that if you're only interested in quads size, the leg press works better than the squat.
I'm now ready to be assaulted by the squatz&oatz parrots.

[Jakegreentree]

Releases growth hormone into the body

Makes your legs bigger for one, which allows other parts of your body to grow

You will find that your body, unless on steroids, will try to grow as evenly throughout the entire body as it can (symmetrically)

Go hard on your squats

[SuffolkPunch]

The growth hormone response only lasts a short time IIRC - not much longer than the workout session so it is unlikely to have any significant effect.

[noflyingcars]

The growth hormone response only lasts a short time IIRC - not much longer than the workout session so it is unlikely to have any significant effect.

It's not the only anabolic hormone though.
Testosterone should improve significantly with hard exercise.

[SuffolkPunch]

Still only an acute effect though.

There was a study done recently to see if squatting made any difference to bicep growth - the answer was no.

[BombDonald]

You really don't need anything besides squats IMO.

GH/TEST RELEASE FTW BRAHS!!!

[Tommy W.]

They DO help your arms grow....indirectly. Your arms generally grow in proportion to the rest of your body and squats are one of the best for overall body growth. This combined with a good arm program will get your arms to be as good as they can be. People that squat usually are the hardest workers in the gym and that work ethic usually carries over into other aspects of their training.

[Da_Jtac_0]

i heard squatting releases growth hormones which make everything else grow.

happy thanksgiving!

[Nick1971]

However, my own theory is that it helps to turn your body into a food processing machine. If you were to only train small muscles like chest and arms and eat to get bigger, you'd probably get fat easily. However, if you use as many muscles as possible in your body then you can eat a lot more, process a lot more protein and benefit from elevated metabolic hormones. So it provides an environment for muscle growth.

I agree. People tend to forget that the legs represent a lot of muscle, and building those muscles increases your metabolism over time, plus the calories consumed while performing those leg exercises, add up over time. Not to mention it promotes better overall fitness, and contributes to a more well-rounded physique. Plus your lower body will be bigger, as you put on more muscle there.

[jamie93]

It's not going to do anything for your chest 'n bis...

However, my own theory is that it helps to turn your body into a food processing machine. If you were to only train small muscles like chest and arms and eat to get bigger, you'd probably get fat easily. However, if you use as many muscles as possible in your body then you can eat a lot more, process a lot more protein and benefit from elevated metabolic hormones. So it provides an environment for muscle growth.

You still need to bench and curl tho'.

reppage

[Tommy W.]

After knee surgery I had to lay off squats and deadlifts for awhile. My whole body just felt weaker across the board. When your body feels weaker all exercises suffer. A lot of it is mental but mental is 80% of training.

[Yamar1]

It's not going to do anything for your chest 'n bis...

However, my own theory is that it helps to turn your body into a food processing machine. If you were to only train small muscles like chest and arms and eat to get bigger, you'd probably get fat easily. However, if you use as many muscles as possible in your body then you can eat a lot more, process a lot more protein and benefit from elevated metabolic hormones. So it provides an environment for muscle growth.

You still need to bench and curl tho'.

Even though I don't know much, I tend to beleive this has a lot of truth to it.

[Farley1324]

Squats are good, mmmkay?



Seriously though, just do them. Do other exercises for bigger arms.

[ironwill2008]

It obviously would make your legs bigger and maybe back, but how would it grow your arms?

They won't, but they're an excellent way to build your legs and PC. Upper body gets some work as well.

Clinical research has shown that "the hyooge test release" from Squats is largely misrepresented. Hormone levels spike somewhat, but rapidly fall back to normal. There has been no research done that conclusively proves that this 'spike' will make the entire body grow bigger/stronger.

BTW, just about everything you do will cause an increase in hormone output, including sleeping.

IMO, part of the myth of "Squats for big arms/chest/whatever" comes from the simple fact that guys who have the fortitude to consistently Squat heavy are also training those other bodyparts consistently hard as well. Something to consider.

Squat for it's direct benefits--the aforementioned leg and PC growth. Do direct arm work for your arms.

[sabrosoed18]

HELL YEAH FU--ING SQUATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

other than making you'r legs alot bigger, it will make you'r body proportional so you wont look like a chicken (a.k.a the guys who only work upperbody)

[dirtyjerz]

The growth hormone response only lasts a short time IIRC - not much longer than the workout session so it is unlikely to have any significant effect.

i thought this too, but my professor this year told us that it lasts up to 48 hours? and any workouts done in that time span will be positively affected by that increase.

that's what he said, so maybe there's some truth to the broscience.

[ironwill2008]

i thought this too, but my professor this year told us that it lasts up to 48 hours? and any workouts done in that time span will be positively affected by that increase.

that's what he said, so maybe there's some truth to the broscience.

Ask him for some clinical evidence that it actually will make, say, your arms grow.

[canardroti]

Squats will tax your nervous system like nothing else. It 's truly a great feeling when you think you might be crushed by the weight, yet you push yourself back up and put the weight back. It puts you into a survival mode where your body will do whatever is necessary to put the bar back up.
Sweating bullets and being out of breath, great workout!

[Higgy10]

Interesting comments thanks!

[robertmm94]

The growth hormone response only lasts a short time IIRC - not much longer than the workout session so it is unlikely to have any significant effect.

this

[Tommy W.]

Squats will tax your nervous system like nothing else. It 's truly a great feeling when you think you might be crushed by the weight, yet you push yourself back up and put the weight back. It puts you into a survival mode where your body will do whatever is necessary to put the bar back up.
Sweating bullets and being out of breath, great workout!

That's the best answer right there! an-i-mal grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!

repped

[noflyingcars]

Still only an acute effect though.

There was a study done recently to see if squatting made any difference to bicep growth - the answer was no.

They won't, but they're an excellent way to build your legs and PC. Upper body gets some work as well.

Clinical research has shown that "the hyooge test release" from Squats is largely misrepresented. Hormone levels spike somewhat, but rapidly fall back to normal. There has been no research done that conclusively proves that this 'spike' will make the entire body grow bigger/stronger.

BTW, just about everything you do will cause an increase in hormone output, including sleeping.

IMO, part of the myth of "Squats for big arms/chest/whatever" comes from the simple fact that guys who have the fortitude to consistently Squat heavy are also training those other bodyparts consistently hard as well. Something to consider.

Squat for it's direct benefits--the aforementioned leg and PC growth. Do direct arm work for your arms.

Guys, what you say it's revolutionary because this whole board is convinced that squat is some sort of magic anabolic roid.

I would believe you because what you say seems logic...but SuffolkPunch, can you find that study for reps?
Also, what's PC ?

[dirtyjerz]

Ask him for some clinical evidence that it actually will make, say, your arms grow.

i was equally confused, i don't buy it really, if it comes up in class again i'll ask.

possible dissertation?

[DJAuto]

As ironwill2008 suggested, the transient fluctuations in hormonal levels is insignificant to induce any remote muscular development. Your forearms will not grow from squatting.

[JontheAtheist]

Squats are good for core training. A strong core will help you lift weights for other muscle groups.

[MattyG]

Screw all this hormone bollocks.
Squatting is just a basic, meat and potatoes exercise, highly brutal and works an enourmous proportion of the body's musculature