Body weight squats

[284Shooter]

I have not built a squat rack yet, are body weight squats worth doing, I can do about 100 at one time, and they still make me sore. Am I doing good for building leg muscle, or do I need more weight, I weigh 200#.

Thanks

[DJAuto]

You need some resistance. A backpack with weights or another improvisation will work fine until you have the appropriate equipment.

[284Shooter]

You need some resistance. A backpack with weights or another improvisation will work fine until you have the appropriate equipment.

Thanks, that is a great idea.

[terman1]

You need some resistance. A backpack with weights or another improvisation will work fine until you have the appropriate equipment.

This is a good idea. Also, if you want to add some additional difficulty another thing you can try for now is one-legged (pistol) squats. If you're used to standard bodyweight squats and haven't done them before they can be challenging.

http://bendo13.hubpages.com/hub/Need...quats_-_Part_1

[Curlers]

just to add to the previous post where pistols were mentioned, bulgarian split squats are another good option for the time being, and theres no learning curve like the pistol.

[terman1]

just to add to the previous post where pistols were mentioned, bulgarian split squats are another good option for the time being, and theres no learning curve like the pistol.

Good call man. I forgot about those.

[284Shooter]

Thanks for all the help, I will look into how to do tgose squats.

[ThundaHorz]

Since it seems like your building your gym and i dont know if you squat already i would say learn/use the goblet squat for added resistance. BW squats are good but if you are already repping out for 100 its time to add resistance. This type of squat is great for learning form that will build toward good barbell squats. (IMHO)

[MrMisanthrope]

Dumbbell front squats aren't bad if you have nothing. Dumbbell pistol squats too.

[ManWithCurls]

I have not built a squat rack yet, are body weight squats worth doing, I can do about 100 at one time, and they still make me sore. Am I doing good for building leg muscle, or do I need more weight, I weigh 200#.

Thanks

Body weight squats have their place and can build some muscle mass initially. Other than that, they are great for building cardiovascular stamina and as a method of recovering from heavy leg work (e.g heavy squats and doing body weight squats some other day for active recovery and getting blood flow in).

You can also try step ups. Use a high box, a chair or anything that you can step up and on to. This exercise will give you a great stretch in the glutes and because the distance traveled is higher than the squat, it has more potential for muscle growth if done with bodyweigth only. Having said that, I recommend you to use something heavy on your shoulders, such as a bag filled with bottles of water, for example, once you can do sets of 20 repetitions with body weight alone. You can shoulder the bag to your right shoulder and step up with your left leg, step down, lower the bag and shoulder it now to your left shoulder and proceed to step up with your right leg. Repeat for a max of 20 reps on each leg. Not only is this a terrific way to build muscle if you are short on equipment but it will also work your cardiovascular system. Tried and tested, so use it as an add-on to your body weight squats.

All the best.

[Jw9thwonder]

try one legged squats if you dont have any equipment available, vastly improved my balance and stabilizer muscles

[Tyciol]

You need some resistance. A backpack with weights or another improvisation will work fine until you have the appropriate equipment.

You mean MOAR resistance since our weight is some Apparently a lot of the pro wrestlers liked to crank out endless bodyweight squats. I like having a counterweight though. Backpack is kinda hard to stay balanced while deep, unless you wear it backwards which is cool though you need wide stance to avoid it hitting the knees.

[scarboro]

Since it seems like your building your gym and i dont know if you squat already i would say learn/use the goblet squat for added resistance. BW squats are good but if you are already repping out for 100 its time to add resistance. This type of squat is great for learning form that will build toward good barbell squats. (IMHO)

Agreed with this post. I had a friend who had a hard time barbell squatting and I had him do goblet squats up until he could comfortably rep the 90 and when we went back to barbell squatting he had magically learned how to atg high bar squat. It will build the correct strength and flexibility needed.

[dontburstmy]

Body weight squats are excellent for the booty and legs...i do them all the time...try holding a gallon of water in each hand while doing them too.

I have not built a squat rack yet, are body weight squats worth doing, I can do about 100 at one time, and they still make me sore. Am I doing good for building leg muscle, or do I need more weight, I weigh 200#.

Thanks

[Sevenstrings]

Even though they wont really build any real mass, I feel they are still an excellent exercise to include in your program.
For me, they've helped with recovery as well as improving my flexibility

[284Shooter]

Thanks for all the advice, I have gotten some great ideas and will be using them.

[GeneralSerpant]

Also:

[Tyciol]

Bodyweight squats are cool but if you're up to 100 reps may as well start adding even a light weight to make it more interesting. Eventually adding numbers can get boring.

[-Lucifer]

You can do BB hack squats or Jefferson squats.

1. http://www.t-nation.com/img/photos/0...g/image003.png

2. http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercise...fferson-squats

[klaery]

If you have a BB you could just clean it and the front squat with that.

[ighairynutsack]

bodyweight squats are great i do them all the time because my rack at home chugs cum. if u need more resistance there is a ton of ways to go about it. hold weight plates or dumbells, zercher squats, clean the weight with a barbell and do front squats with it, wear weight vests or backpacks or both. and there are probably a few other ways that i didnt mention as well. squats of all variations are fantastic for lower body strength.

[VW_Haus]

If you want a great body weight squat exercise, its like a normal squat but you hold your ankles throughout the movement. In the military they are called monkey phuckers.

[Tyciol]

That sounds like an isometric movement or pulsing you'd do at the bottom, since I assume you wouldn't be able to stand all the way up while holding your ankles.

Are these similar to bootstrappers? http://www.trainforstrength.com/ex-2.shtml

[VW_Haus]

Unless your flexible no you wouldnt be able to lock out. But you will be able to do the whole movement minus standing straight up. Try it, hold the outsides of your ankles with palms facing inward and do the squat movement. Your legs will seriously burn.