Just curious has anyone here built a nice body not doing squats? Yeah im really wanting to drop squats from my work-out. I have been doing squats since I started working out but one of my knees is really not taking it well. Im 35 and dont want to risk injury and need surgery later on. Just curious to see how many people leave squats out of their work-out and get along fine.
In my experience you should listen to your body. If the old knee feels like it's gonna give out then don't risk further injury, but with that said I'll pass along this piece of info. Just because you're 35 or older doesn't rule out squats. At my gym I know a lot of guys pushing 50 who are squatting enormous loads. You need to know your limits and take care of your joints. The guys I do know who can't do squats are still very nicely built in the legs and glutes. You really just need to know about the mechanics of all the exercises and what muscle groups are involved. I do squats and I'm 38 but I take it easy on the weight because I'm more worried about my lower back.
Just curious has anyone here built a nice body not doing squats? Yeah im really wanting to drop squats from my work-out. I have been doing squats since I started working out but one of my knees is really not taking it well. Im 35 and dont want to risk injury and need surgery later on. Just curious to see how many people leave squats out of their work-out and get along fine.
Most people don't do squats because they don't like them...and they're "hard". No offense meant, but the way you've worded your post.....You sound like someone who wants to take the easy way (doesn't exist) to building a body you want.
If you have a serious knee problem...don't do em'. You decide
My knee used to give me fits while squatting until I started doing some light sets of leg extensions beforehand as a warm up; now as long as I'm watching my form I generally have no problems.
But then again, I don't really squat all that heavy YET.
Any workout you can walk away from is a good workout.
I say keep up the squats. Have you tried wraps to give your knees some extra support? Some days I stand with my heels on plates too if I don't feel strong enough to go all the way down.
If your having pain while squating....see a good sports doctor. Even after 5 knee surgery's, a new ACL and no ACL in one knee I do ATG's with no pain. You might have a piece of miniscus floating around in there which is an easy fix. As young as you are you have plenty of time for re-hab and becoming pain free.
forget surgery ... unless you are a millionaire athlete most
surgery will not solve the problem.
best thing is lose the shoes ... yup, your shoes are probably
causing your foot to move which destabilizes the ankle and its
always one joint above the problem that lets you know where
the problem actually orginates ...
squatting barefoot allows a more natural stance and you can grip
the floor with your toes which stabilizes the ankle and stops the
knee from compensating (it rotates and knees are not meant
to rotate!!!).
the other thing is to lean back on your heals ... if you shift the
weight forward it over stresses the knees as well.
you can also try hack squats instead of regular squats ... moves
the weight back naturally.
I squat. But I see plenty of very well built dudes at my Gym that don't do squats. I think they are a great exercise, But I think you do well even without them.
I squat. But I see plenty of very well built dudes at my Gym that don't do squats. I think they are a great exercise, But I think you do well even without them.
And do those well built dudes have well built legs? Please no twiggy legs.
If the squats that you are doing are giving you problems then try a variation. There are so many kinds of squats. You can do a search on the site for variations. I do hacks. We don't have a squat rack in our gym. If you do use the smith machine be very careful. They tend to make you move at an unnatural angle.
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I squat. But I see plenty of very well built dudes at my Gym that don't do squats. I think they are a great exercise, But I think you do well even without them.
Like everything else where general statements are made about BBing:
And these ^ guys have never done squats? Just stopped the week before you met them? The year before you met them?
You don't know, do you?
Half of the "successful" things we think others do....we have no clue as to how they got to where they are.
Leg extensions and leg curls will not get you the legs you admire on others.
Look, I can't lie... I hate squats. They are hard, they scare me, I dread doing them, and did I say I hate them? But I also can't lie and say they never did anything for me. That would be... um... a lie.
I've sworn off them for the past few months, but I seem to think that I've lost strength elsewhere for it. I started gaining size and strength when I started squatting, about 8 years ago at the Y. I never did them before that. Squats and deads do help.
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Depends where you want to take your physique. Most men your age wear those goofy ass gansta looking short pants down to the knee anyway. If you are not going to ever compete, and don't want that body builder look, then......who cares. Work your calfs and upper body. Now if you want to "look" like a body builder...gonna need to address that knee problem. MRI will tell you whats going on. If torn Meniscus...scope it, rehab and climb back under the Gym Alter (squat rack). My left one was scoped twice, right once. I still squat and have a son 10 years your senior.
Like everything else where general statements are made about BBing:
And these ^ guys have never done squats? Just stopped the week before you met them? The year before you met them?
You don't know, do you?
Half of the "successful" things we think others do....we have no clue as to how they got to where they are.
Leg extensions and leg curls will not get you the legs you admire on others.
I hate to admit, but I couldn't agree more!!
Most Muscular is a perfect example....he doesn't do them now because of spinal issues he has, but he built his trunks from ATG squats. You aren't going to replicate that kind of development on the leg press and extension machine. Period.
Yes I'm talking about well built legs. I've been a member of my gym for 8 years and recognize the regulars. And I do notice this in particular because I wonder why they don't do squats.
To think that one absolutely must do squats to have a great legs is rediculous in my mind.
Go barefoot or wear some chuck taylors. It makes a big difference to not have a triangle wedged under your foot
Yorkshireman I: Right! I had to get up in the morning, at ten o'clock at night, half an hour before I went to bed, eat a lump of cold poison, work twenty-nine hours a day down mill and pay mill-owner for permission to come to work, and when we got home, our dad would kill us and dance about on our graves, singing Hallelujah!
To think that one absolutely must do squats to have a great legs is rediculous in my mind.
That's because you have much to learn young one . I am a decade your senior, and I'm still learning new things every day. They don't call squats "The King of exercises" for nothing. Stay, read, research, and learn from others who have already exceeded the point where you are now. Find out why squats are MUCH more than a leg exercise.
Just curious has anyone here built a nice body not doing squats? Yeah im really wanting to drop squats from my work-out. I have been doing squats since I started working out but one of my knees is really not taking it well. Im 35 and dont want to risk injury and need surgery later on. Just curious to see how many people leave squats out of their work-out and get along fine.
My 2 cents.............check your form! When my clients complain their knees hurt it's always their form. Someone else mentioned form in this thread, make sure you're pushing through your heels and I agree with lightening the load a bit. Oh, BTW I love squats
Donna a.k.a WonderWoman
I'm Just Your Average, Ordinary, Everyday, Superhero
This has helped me no question about it.
Proper form is really essential to avoid injury.
Count me in with the chorus of guys who wrap or use braces. I am 46 and I can still squat 405 on my third set.
1. I thought all along you'd be the death of me, but I met one tonight who wants what's left of me!
2. You are so full of s***, maintenance is still unclogging the toilet.
3. Save a horse, ride a cowboy!
4. This mission does not exist, nor will it ever exist.
5. I'd like to check you for ticks.
Not squatting is NOT an option - if the knee needs to be fixed - fix it. have you tryed rehab/prehab?
X2
They are hard, they are brutal, and I hate them, but I love them.
Do something to fix the knee!
"it's always a good day to start lifting"
Flex Magazine, Mar. '07, pg.44
"There is no secret routine, there is no magical number of reps and sets. What there is, is confidence, belief, hard work on a consistant basis, and a desire to succeed. This is what I mean when I say accept your limits and when the time is right, you will push right through your limits time and time again, mentally and physically."
--Steve Justa
Okay, you probably won't build legs like Mr. Someday without squats, but I think you can still build some respectable legs w/o them.
Most of us doing squats aren't going to have legs like Mr. Someday either.
Well.....I wouldn't go that far. My legs aren't anything spectacular, but I can hold my own (from the front at least) up on stage with other heavyweights. The point is, all the definition in the world really won't help if you don't build some thickness first, and the greatest thickness will always come from squats.
But then there was Bill Cunningham, Mr. Ireland and Mr. over 40,50,60 everything else in the 80s/90s....never did a single squat. Pic here is age 65ish.
If he wasn't such a great guy I would have broken his damn legs!! I can't begin to tell you how many 2nd place trophies I have because of those legs.
Yes I'm talking about well built legs. I've been a member of my gym for 8 years and recognize the regulars. And I do notice this in particular because I wonder why they don't do squats.
To think that one absolutely must do squats to have a great legs is rediculous in my mind.
Well you didn't have to be so snippy about it. It was just a question. I never said you couldn't get great legs without squats.
I'm just sick of guys who run around the gym showing off the guns but never work their legs at all.
REMEMBER: People only rain on your parade because they are jealous of your sun and tired of their shade.
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My gym must be a little more hardcore. It's hard to get a squat rack in order to do squats, there are always people doing them. And most of the time, they are ripped and strong looking people. So I figure, do what they do, it must help!
Yorkshireman I: Right! I had to get up in the morning, at ten o'clock at night, half an hour before I went to bed, eat a lump of cold poison, work twenty-nine hours a day down mill and pay mill-owner for permission to come to work, and when we got home, our dad would kill us and dance about on our graves, singing Hallelujah!
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