Squats

[Brixtonbulldog]

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.

[candidizzle]

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.

[Brixtonbulldog]

i dont ever squat.

Why

[candidizzle]

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

[triple_pickle]

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

[YoungBlood]

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.

[chaos]

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.

[elite_lifter]

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.

[Geo]

it wouldn't be a leg day unless I squatted 3 or 4 sets

[The Coach]

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.

[chaos]

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?

[The Coach]

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.

[chaos]

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.

[The Coach]

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.

[Stavios]

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 

[JasonH]

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.

[io856]

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?

[webcake]

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.

[burn2live]

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 

[YoungBlood]

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.

[wes]

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.

[DK II]

Everyone SERIOUSLY interested in squats, please read this thread and download the book.

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

[d0nny2600]

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.

[elite_lifter]

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.

[_bruce_]

I like it - much to improve for me style- and weightwise, but it feels great.