Can You Build Legs Without Squats

[MidniteRambo]

I'll be truthful.  I'm fearful of squats.  I'm 37, I drive 2+ hrs per day, I can't imagine being in pain from an injury given my situation.  Plus I workout at home without a spotter.  So the question is, can I use enough alternate exercizes to build decent legs without squats?  I realize that to many bodybuilders, squats are the "Holy Grail" of exercises so don't be too harsh in your response, just honest and hopefully helpful.

[JPM]

Might try Hack BB squats. Leg presses. Also Step-up's onto a bench, heavy box, etc.  Front squats might offer you a better chance of escape if you have trouble or think you might be "pinned" under the bar. Good Luck.

[HICKSON]

Parking lot lunges...

[Always Sore]

I'll be truthful.  I'm fearful of squats.  I'm 37, I drive 2+ hrs per day, I can't imagine being in pain from an injury given my situation.  Plus I workout at home without a spotter.  So the question is, can I use enough alternate exercizes to build decent legs without squats?  I realize that to many bodybuilders, squats are the "Holy Grail" of exercises so don't be too harsh in your response, just honest and hopefully helpful.

Short answer yes with a but long answer no with a maybe.

really squats do so much for your whole body development but speaking from a guy who trains alone and has 2 bum disk in his lower back, you can work around it if you have access to stuff like leg presses and hack squat machines but if your training at home its hard. if your looking to just define and reform you can get my with different forms of lunges and such but really at some time your going to outgrow the weight and feel the need to push yourself. invest in a cheap cage for safety and only work what you can handle and if you stay in the 12-14 reps you won't be lifting so much as to hurt yourself and with a cage you can always set the stops and drop the bar if its to much.start slowly until you get past the fear.good luck.

[GET_BIGGER]

Just do light weight for a lot of reps and you'll be fine.  Squatting is not only good for your legs, but your whole body.  It will especially strengthen your back decreasing the risk of injury from anything.

[shiftedShapes]

yeah you can do sumo deadlifts

they are a much better exercise then squats in every way

less chance of injury even!!!!

[Bluto]

yes.

[WOOO]

yes and no... you can get big legs without squats... but nothing like what you can build with squats...

[shiftedShapes]

yes and no... you can get big legs without squats... but nothing like what you can build with squats...

wrong...sumo DLs are better

[brianX]

Of course you can build legs without squats. Don't let any of these Tom Platz wannabes try to tell you otherwise.

[figgs]

Just want to share my experience. I've been doing squats since the beginning and they're just soo amazing I consider them the best and don't worry about the fright, I'm scared of them too!! Just gotta face up, get under that bar and get on with the worst/best of your training. I always say if you can squat you can do anything heheh. I was doing squats the other day and my arms and shoulders were failing! and i had such an amazing pump throughout my entire body. If you experience a real set you'd be hooked so give it a try.

If you really don't like it then I'd say it's definetely possible to build up your legs without them but you won't be recieving those same results as with them in your routine. Good luck.

[benchthis]

dorian never squated during his olympia run

[loco]

I'll be truthful.  I'm fearful of squats.  I'm 37, I drive 2+ hrs per day, I can't imagine being in pain from an injury given my situation.  Plus I workout at home without a spotter.  So the question is, can I use enough alternate exercizes to build decent legs without squats?  I realize that to many bodybuilders, squats are the "Holy Grail" of exercises so don't be too harsh in your response, just honest and hopefully helpful.

Rambo,
I have chronic back problems.  I'm scared of squats and I hate them.  Yet, I started squatting years ago, and I've never injured my back doing them.  My legs went from being a weakness to being one of my strengths.  People at the gym ask me all the time what I did to build my legs.  I squat once a week.  I go below parallel and keep my reps between 8 and 12.  I do not use a spotter, ever. 

Dorian built his huge legs doing squats, then got injured and never squatted again.  Instead he did leg press and continue to gain muscle mass on his legs that way.  But it could be argued that he had already built a good base through squats.

As others have already stated, squats are good for your entire body.

[XmanX]

3 exercises caused injury to me, squat, deadlift and flat bench. I'm not a pro or want to be, just built, lean, and healthy. I worked out for close to 20 years. The body at maximum advantage, rest, nutrition, training, can gain only 1-2 pound muscle every two weeks, without fat, from my experience and reading. Getting big fast with those exercises, is going to get to you getting the big hurt fast, like a couple times for me, I got cocky.

[pumpster]

There's nothing better than squats for both superior conditioning/health as well as development. IMO a nice alternative is box/bench squats. They're as good or better for development as squats, if you get stuck you can just sit down on the box/bench; they're also easier on the knees. As someone said if you're worried about injury just stick with higher reps, which further enhances the huge conditioning and health advantages of squats over other options for legs.

Assuming you don't have any other machines to use, consider spending a couple of hundred for a new or used squat machine or rack for the bar, that way the ability to max out without risk is increased dramatically.

Conversely, maybe you really just don't want to do squats. Can you get the same development without squats? Some of it. A nice option there would be a combo leg press/hack machine.

[candidate2025]

genetics play a big role in this one.   but you cant maximize your potential with out them.    i havent don squats in a long time..primarily because i cant do them without fucking up my back.....but everyone in my family has big legs, so mine still match my upperbody..if not overpower it.

[davie]

ALSO just curious as to guys opinions on wether height plays a factor on the benifits of regular squatting??
I read from Jay cutler that he thinks leg press would b better for tall guys, but im 6'1 and love squatting (thouggh while im doing them they suck haha).

I think try BB hacks or 1 legged squats with light weigt in hand or on back.Takes away fear or being crushed and can really feel it doing one  leg squat right the way down.

davie

[pumpster]

Height's a factor for some but it's still an individual thing.

[runnerbabe]

I read from Jay cutler that he thinks leg press would b better for tall guys, but im 6'1 and love squatting (thouggh while im doing them they suck haha).
davie

I am 5'10 and agree---I think it's alot harder for someone who is taller to do squats, but they are they are the complete exercise. As long as you can do them in good form, there's nothing (for me) that comes close to building and strengthening legs.

[davie]

Yeh i do them every wee and love um. FOr me doing down as far so my upper legs are parralel to floor is quite a deep squat for my height, i couldnt go ass to floor,but i dont do any 1/2 reps to 90 degrees. Its al the way down to parallel and i feel it.

Didnt squat heavy this week due to sore lower back,tho i did do light squats and i actuall felt it helped my abck.

davie

[JOHN MATRIX]

i was one of these 'can i build legs w/o squats' kind of guy too, trying to avoid them for various stupid reasons.

then i tried them...and i saw the light.

there is no replacement for BARBELL SQUATS.

[MidniteRambo]

i was one of these 'can i build legs w/o squats' kind of guy too, trying to avoid them for various stupid reasons.

then i tried them...and i saw the light.

there is no replacement for BARBELL SQUATS.

Thanks, I think I will

[WOOO]

wrong...sumo DLs are better

uh huh...... D U M B

[XmanX]

Anything that resist motion, builds muscle. Gravity builds muscle. History teaches us what we should do. Repeating the mistakes of the past, is your choice. Many broken backs and horror stories with those exercises. The gamble is yours to make.

[davie]

I posted earlier about how i love squatting etc and i do, but i have lower back prob and even thought my deadlift and squat are very strong, i may have to stop them ove the summer (rugby off season) so as not to place too much stress on back. My prob is probably ligaments, isnt muscles as iv worked hard on them to make them very strong in my lower back.

The leg press machine in my gym only goes up to 150KG, so if i had to avoid squats over summer (which i am hoping not to do) what would u suggest i do as alternative exercises,id need a few gud ones.
I have ideas,but it alwasy helps to get another point of view.

davie

P.S. Heavy back squats might be ok, but i might have to avoid front squats,alot of pressure on lower back keeping u upright.

davie