Am I missing out if I dont squat ?

[bobwhite]

@tinamichael

they suck and are difficult and that’s why you should do them

So many people don’t get this. Choosing to do something hard is like weight training for your mind. Your willpower needs reps too. I’m not saying people that choose not to squat are “weaker” mentally than those that do embrace the suck, but I’m not, not saying either.

 

[leorise34]

@jayaraj Hack squats for the win! So much better depending on how the one at your gym feels

 

[davepra1234]

@jayaraj Idk how downvoted this will get but I’ve found that if I replace squatting with leg press my leg size and strength goes down exponentially, even while continuing other leg exercises such as RDLs in a balanced program. Maybe practice air squats and add load or just do box squats

 

[dawn16]

@davepra1234 You’re either doing something wrong when you leg press or it’s in your head

 

[davepra1234]

@dawn16 Probably in my head for the leg size part but I know for a fact my strength goes down

 

[prinsess27]

@jayaraj There is something i get from squats that I don't get from other leg exercises. It isn't that squats will develop my legs more than other exercises either. It ties quads, hamstrings, lower back and glutes together in one movement. Unsure if having these muscles work together in a movement adds something extra, but i feel like it does. As long as I physically can squat I will. But if i couldn't i would be okay with leg press and other iso legs exercises.

 

[sheraton]

@jayaraj Not missing anything, other than, well, improving your squat

Swap it out and don't look back- as long as you are doing more than only extensions (leg press, hack, bulgarians, etc.)

 

[racheleginn]

@jayaraj Squat is king.

 

[darksoul999]

@jayaraj I stopped squatting over a year ago, as in barbell squatting. I do lunges, RDL's, goblet squats, calf raises and thats it, my legs have grown just fine.

 

[ljk]

@jayaraj Squats are not the ultimate leg builders… but it just feels SO DAMN GOOD to squat. I will always squat. Who cares about “optimal for building muscle.” They’re optimal for building strength.

 

[francoadham]

@ljk Most people don't care about strength (atleast all my friends). Almost everyone just wants to look nice.

 

[paulsimmonds60]

@francoadham Yes, and while the back squat is a good strength builder, it’s ludicrous suggest it’s so much better than other safer forms of squat or the Bulgarian split squat which enables much safer progressive overload

 

[saisigh]

@ljk I love squats but Im often in a slightly pissy mood the next day I think its part of the recovery

 

[elam]

@jayaraj I’m a hack squat fan, especially dealing with knee and lower back issues (I still do barbell squats- just less weight)

So I’ll do hack squats one day a week and light set of barbell squats another day, plus accessories and stretching

 

[savedbygrace123]

@jayaraj Do hack squats and smith machine squats. You don’t have to barbell squat. Ever.

And no, the comment about boosting testosterone and athletic ability is wrong. There’s nothing that proves that.

 

[jayaraj]

@savedbygrace123 Ive done both Smith Squats and normal Squats. I hate both lol. My balance goes horrible in a barbell squat and in a Smith Squat....I just feel nothing. Its basically a cardio exercise not a Quad one. My gym doesnt have a hack squat....so Leg Press is my only friend.

There are a few studies that ive seen about Squats > Leg Press. Thats why im concerned.

 

[savedbygrace123]

@jayaraj I mean yes squats trains the quads in a longer length position and provides better ROM than leg press.

But if you just do leg press and leg extensions consistently, and train them for a long time, you’ll be fine.

 

[tolch]

@savedbygrace123 You can adjust the leg press set-up to put more emphasis on knee flexion:

I've been doing this form for the last 6 months and my quads have exploded

 

[luxaeterna]

@tolch Thanks for sharing that video. He was both pleasant and informative to watch.

 

[paulsimmonds60]

@savedbygrace123 Bulgarian split squats will give you that ROM and enable a much safer form of progressive overload while ensuring one side isn’t compensating for the other as can happen with a back squat, leading to a lot of trouble down the line. In fact for me, Bulgarian split squats are king of the quad exercises.