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Getbig Bodybuilding Boards => Training Q&A => Topic started by: Brixtonbulldog on August 06, 2008, 06:44:59 PM

Title: Squats
Post by: Brixtonbulldog on August 06, 2008, 06:44:59 PM
I'd like to know what everyone squats with (for reps) and how long you've been training legs.

I've only been training legs seriously for maybe 6 months and I don't work out with much. 

135lbs 8 reps
185lbs 6-8 reps
225lbs 4-6 reps
135lbs 6-8 reps

Not much but that that's also only squatting.  I also do leg presses, hack squats, and ham curls.. sometimes supersetted.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: candidizzle on August 06, 2008, 06:49:14 PM
i dont ever squat.

the last time i did i used 225 for sets of 12.

that was like 8 months ago though.


my quad rouine is made up of hack squats, leg press, single leg press, leg extension, single leg extension, and every once in a while smith machine front squats.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: Brixtonbulldog on August 06, 2008, 06:51:47 PM
i dont ever squat.

Why
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: candidizzle on August 06, 2008, 06:53:31 PM
i dont notice that they make my quads grow any faster, compared to when i dont do them; and also i just dont like them.

so since i get no benefit from them and since i dont like them

i dont do them
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: triple_pickle on August 06, 2008, 07:28:46 PM
i do front squats twice a week at the end of workout and back squats once a week at the end of workout, the latter usually something like 3-5 sets with anything between 375-420 for a double or triple
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: YoungBlood on August 06, 2008, 08:09:05 PM

I LOVE Squats.
I'd do anything to be able to do them again without back pain. :(
Make my legs grow, and the pump achieved while doing them, is unlike anything else.

Currently I can do Zercher Squats, but once I get up to 185, I can't hold the bar too well, and my legs are telling me "Is this all you got?"

I worked my way up to a respectable poundage over the years, but alas, it's no more. :(
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: chaos on August 06, 2008, 08:12:19 PM
i dont notice that they make my quads grow any faster, compared to when i dont do them; and also i just dont like them.

so since i get no benefit from them and since i dont like them

i dont do them
Maybe you should focus on your "mind/muscle" connection, sounds like you're having issues there. :-\
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: elite_lifter on August 06, 2008, 08:33:10 PM
There is no reason to go super heavy (405+) unless you are a Powerlifter. Form is what you want to watch. Squat a weight you can handle with good form for 10 to 15 reps 3 to 4 sets and your legs will grow.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: Geo on August 06, 2008, 09:18:09 PM
it wouldn't be a leg day unless I squatted 3 or 4 sets
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: The Coach on August 06, 2008, 09:35:26 PM
I don't do regular squats anymore since I've got older. If and when I squat, I will do parallell box squats with a safety bar. Saves my knees, strengthens my low back and hip flexors while keeping overall strength.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: chaos on August 06, 2008, 09:45:27 PM
I don't do regular squats anymore since I've got older. If and when I squat, I will do parallell box squats with a safety bar. Saves my knees, strengthens my low back and hip flexors while keeping overall strength.
So you do squats on back day?
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: The Coach on August 06, 2008, 09:54:08 PM
So you do squats on back day?

no. Serious question, have you ever done box squats?
But I do have routeins for strength and power that are unconventional by this boards standards.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: chaos on August 06, 2008, 10:05:05 PM
no. Serious question, have you ever done box squats?
But I do have routeins for strength and power that are unconventional by this boards standards.

I've done bench squats.....

No matter how I squat, I rarely, if ever, feel it in my lower back.

I save that for goodmornings, seated.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: The Coach on August 06, 2008, 10:17:51 PM
I've done bench squats.....

No matter how I squat, I rarely, if ever, feel it in my lower back.

I save that for goodmornings, seated.


Good movement. The way we do box squats is we come down, sit down completely (no touch and go), pelvic tilt forward (fires erectors) then up. Tempo is a 4-0-0-1.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: Stavios on August 06, 2008, 10:30:25 PM
Coach, what would be your favorite movement to build leg thickness on a guy with very very long limbs ?

for both quads and hams ?

thanks a lot  8)
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: JasonH on August 07, 2008, 01:09:40 AM
I don't understand why people have lower back problems when squatting - I get them when deadlifting (hence the reason I hate deads and love squats)

My last workout involving squats was on Monday where I did 425lbs for 1 set of 6 reps, then lowering the weight to 365 and getting 10 reps and then down to 315 for 12.

Then I move onto hacks and leg extensions.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: io856 on August 07, 2008, 01:25:48 AM
There is no reason to go super heavy (405+) unless you are a Powerlifter. Form is what you want to watch. Squat a weight you can handle with good form for 10 to 15 reps 3 to 4 sets and your legs will grow.
How do you expect your muscles to grow if you do the same weight and same reps?
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: webcake on August 07, 2008, 01:58:58 AM
I keep the reps high on squats. Always felt better than lower reps (6 or so). I don't go that heavy.

I do 2-3 sets of 20 rep squats (increase weight with each set) than do 1 last set i will do 5 reps, take off some weight, do another 5 reps, take more off, and try my best to grind out 10 reps.

Ive also been doing 3-4 sets of leg press before squats. Just trying something different for a while.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: burn2live on August 07, 2008, 02:03:25 AM
no. Serious question, have you ever done box squats?
But I do have routeins for strength and power that are unconventional by this boards standards.


? Such as? I'm interested  :)
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: YoungBlood on August 07, 2008, 03:09:24 AM
I don't understand why people have lower back problems when squatting - I get them when deadlifting (hence the reason I hate deads and love squats)

I'm still not quite sure how I hurt my back, or even if it was squats that did it. One day I loaded up the bar with my usual weight and knocked out my usual sets. Next week, I attempted half the weight (literally- during my warm-ups) and my lower back was hurting. Haven't been able to squat with decent weight since.
Maybe I twisted it during the prior week, or I do (did) have a habit of leaning forward when the sets/rep got too heavy but my injury tends to hurt on one side only (right).
I've been planning to see a chiropractor to see if that would help, thinking maybe after 10 years of heavy squats I am just out of alignment.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: wes on August 07, 2008, 04:16:06 AM
I sympathise with you YB...............my back is a mess but I`m starting to attempt squatting again.

Started out with bench squats like Joe talked about and will soon try full reps again but I`ll never go super heavy anymore...............ju st builds egos and wreaks backs anyway.............highe r reps are harder in a way and much more productive.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: DK II on August 07, 2008, 06:55:24 AM
Everyone SERIOUSLY interested in squats, please read this thread and download the book.

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=225310.0
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: d0nny2600 on August 07, 2008, 07:00:37 AM
Tuesday was leg day.

Warm up with Leg Extentions 2-3 sets light weight.
Then onto Squats
Set 1: 135 for 20
Set 2: 225 for 15
Set 3: 315 for 12
Set 4: 405 for 10

Then onto Smith Machine Front Squats and Leg Press. Finish with 30 rep sets of leg extentions.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: elite_lifter on August 07, 2008, 07:21:50 AM
How do you expect your muscles to grow if you do the same weight and same reps?
I should've made my post clearer for some. Don't use the same weight just work with weights that you can keep good form for 10 to 15 reps.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: _bruce_ on August 07, 2008, 07:47:53 AM
I like it - much to improve for me style- and weightwise, but it feels great.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: Brixtonbulldog on August 07, 2008, 02:28:19 PM
Everyone SERIOUSLY interested in squats, please read this thread and download the book.

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=225310.0


Thanks, I just did.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: QuakerOats on August 07, 2008, 04:23:42 PM
I don't do regular squats anymore since I've got older. If and when I squat, I will do parallell box squats with a safety bar. Saves my knees, strengthens my low back and hip flexors while keeping overall strength.
i wish we had a Safety Squat bar at my gym, had one at the old gym and loved it, always added a few sets of those after regular squats, that thing was heavy as shit, must have weighed 65 pounds.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: buffaloburt on September 03, 2008, 08:13:44 PM
personally i think squats is the best leg workout you can do
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: nodeal on September 03, 2008, 09:07:12 PM
squats are THE BEST EXERCISE. if you dont do them, you are selling yourself short of a great workout. the ONLY acceptable reason not to do them is if you have an injury. i just did squats yesterday, 335 for 8 not bad for 19 years old.

the empowerment you feel after doing squats is unreal! nothing compares to an INTENSE(and i stress INTENSE) set of squats to failure. racking the bar after your set, collapsing to the floor, it is awesome!!! i have thrown up several times while squatting during my workout, its all part of the game. i dont care how big you are, how much you bench, how much money you throw down a year for "supplements", you are SHIT if you dont squat, absolute SHIT! YOU ARE NOT A BODYBUILDER IF YOU DONT SQUAT. IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND YOU DONT SQUAT BASH YOUR HEAD AGAINST A WALL NOW.

unless you are injured or just plain old, SQUAT!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: triple_pickle on September 04, 2008, 07:11:14 PM
calm down, gloria, just squat, no need for any of that drama ::) ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: Montague on September 04, 2008, 07:40:43 PM
I'm still not quite sure how I hurt my back...my injury tends to hurt on one side only (right).
I've been planning to see a chiropractor to see if that would help, thinking maybe after 10 years of heavy squats I am just out of alignment.

If it’s on the side like that it may be due to a pelvic rotation.
Could be that your sacroiliac is the problem.
If your SI is out, a chiropractor or physical therapist should be able to fix that.

If you’ve been “out” for a while it may take a few visits to get it to hold in place.

For some folks, like me, it is an ongoing problem. I’ve developed a bit of a hyper-mobile SI joint, and it pops out of place easily & frequently. Seldom is it painful – but when it is, I simply see my Chiro who fixes me “instantly,” although the discomfort/pain stays for a few days.
The advantage to it popping out easily is that I can almost always pop it back myself.
But if it's a violent action/motion that causes it, it takes another person to get me back in.

Title: Re: Squats
Post by: IrishMuscle84 on September 04, 2008, 09:02:19 PM
There is no reason to go super heavy (405+) unless you are a Powerlifter. Form is what you want to watch. Squat a weight you can handle with good form for 10 to 15 reps 3 to 4 sets and your legs will grow.
EXACTLY!!! Take your time. Work with weights where your form is good and your actually working the muscles. Look at many of the pros, ya alot of them can squat more than 405 BUT most of the time 405 is the heaviest theyll go. Ya, ya, we all know coleman did 800lbs for 2 reps, but thats powerlifting.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: XS on September 06, 2008, 05:28:04 PM
Full Squats - 135 lbs / 68 reps  ;D
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: ASJChaotic on September 14, 2008, 06:05:34 PM
try higher reps for legs once in a while
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: pumpster on September 14, 2008, 06:52:32 PM
Full Squats - 135 lbs / 68 reps  ;D

hahaha

I've always said that squats are the no. 1 leg exercise, and that box/bench squats are the best out of those for size and for safety. No only does it take stress off the knees especially when using a heel block, it also means that if you get stuck you can always sit down until someone helps you. The best size builder of all leg exercises IMO.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: JOCKTHEGLIDE on September 14, 2008, 07:19:03 PM
hahaha

I've always said that squats are the no. 1 leg exercise, and that box/bench squats are the best out of those for size and for safety. No only does it take stress off the knees especially when using a heel block, it also means that if you get stuck you can always sit down until someone helps you. The best size builder of all leg exercises IMO.
someone told me well many told me squats are the No. 1 arm size builder they said if you squat 600lbs you will have 20inch arms gaurenteed!!!!  Articles galore say this......
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: Redwingenator on September 15, 2008, 01:09:27 PM
I sympathise with you YB...............my back is a mess but I`m starting to attempt squatting again.

Started out with bench squats like Joe talked about and will soon try full reps again but I`ll never go super heavy anymore...............ju st builds egos and wreaks backs anyway.............highe r reps are harder in a way and much more productive.

If your low back hurts each time you squat or deadlift it is most likely due to a disk in your low back.  Common sense is to lower the weight and reassess the pain.  If it still persists you should stop doing that exercise and move on to another one such as Front Squats, Smith Machine squats, etc.
Title: Re: Squats
Post by: IrishMuscle84 on September 17, 2008, 04:08:50 PM
This is what my leg workout looks like most of the time.

Extensions: 4 warmup sets

Squats: 135-2 warmup sets of 10 reps
            225- 1 set of 10 reps
            315- 1 set of 10 reps
            365- 3 sets of 8-10 reps

 After squats i go onto leg press

 Warm-up sets: 4 plates on each side, 20-25 reps.
 From there, i go up to about 8-9 plates a side for my working sets, which ill do 4-5 sets. Then finish up with hamstrings.