are lunges with weights worth doing ?

[JKD]

any thoughts?

 

[liftsiron]

I think that lunges are a waste of time better off spent doing squats and heavy leg presses.

 

[JKD]

i figured they where - after all I never see anyone jacked doing them - just skinny dudes and chicks.

 

[Hustler_dt]

i like em. they hit some different spots on your legs that you woudnt normally hit with presses or squats.

do em with dumbells in each hand at your sides. will really burn your legs up if you do em after your squats.

 

[Silverback316]

I would say I am fairly jacked at 6'1'', and 260 lbs at 20 years old and I do them. It is a hard exercise and it requires balance as well as strength so the main reason you probably don't see big ass guys doing them as much is because they don't have the balance because it is a very effective exercise when done right.

 

[LCBUTLER]

I would say I am fairly jacked at 6'1'', and 260 lbs at 20 years old and I do them. It is a hard exercise and it requires balance as well as strength so the main reason you probably don't see big ass guys doing them as much is because they don't have the balance because it is a very effective exercise when done right.

I agree...I am also "fairly jacked" and I do them. load a barbell up with 185lbs and try to lunge 50ft. Do not do them in one place actually find a spot where you can lunge/walk. They can be a very effective excersise...you can also vary the lunge by doing the same leg 2x in a row...etc. Very good for after heavy squats/presses or can be used as a "pre-exhaust" move before squats/presses.

BTW...I dont think I am as "jacked" as silverback..but I am 6'2", 250lbs 8-9%BF. 30 Y.O.

 

[Dizzy]

Ronnie Coleman does them. He is a fairly big guy.

 

[JKD]

interesting - so would you say they are a good mass builder?

 

[buffut1]

I do them after squats and leg press. I use dumbbell and "lungewalk" My glutes and thighs are pretty exhuasted when I'm done, then I hit leg extension to failure.

I have made some great gains from them, particularly since I can't do heavy squats do to a knee injury.

 

[silkdog]

lunges

I'm with silverback. Anybody that doesn't think they are a tough exercise doesn't do them until failure. I feel just as sick doing them as When I do a tough set of squats.

 

[genarr3]

I would consider it more of an "athletic" movement then a bbing type exercise.

What I mean by saying that is if you lift weights to enhance athletic performance in some type of sport I'd say it's a good one. If you're strickly trying to build large muscles there are better ways of doing it.

 

[jdubs952]

Lunges are great for balance and mimic a one legged squat. Furthermore, a long step will emphasis the glutes a LOT, in fact i think even more so than squats. I like em. Weighted is the key, furthermore, walking is more of a natural movement, will be a little more functional to an athlete, while the standing in place ones tend to be a little more difficult b/c you cannot use momemtum and have to overcome inertia at the bottom of the lunge.

 

[JKD]

Thanks for the replies. I will give them a go.

 

[Dr.M]

i figured they where - after all I never see anyone jacked doing them - just skinny dudes and chicks.

Ronnie Coleman does, and I wouldn't say he's small

 

[baza]

I would consider it more of an "athletic" movement then a bbing type exercise.

What I mean by saying that is if you lift weights to enhance athletic performance in some type of sport I'd say it's a good one. If you're strickly trying to build large muscles there are better ways of doing it.

I was just going to say, it would probably help a lot in football.

 

[steveo]

Lunges are a great finisher of legs, they hit everything- quads, glutes and hams. They are a great exercise to finish off with, and it does it muscles in areas that regular squats and presses dont target.

 

[Mike P.T.]

It is a hard exercise and it requires balance as well as strength so the main reason you probably don't see big ass guys doing them as much is because they don't have the balance because it is a very effective exercise when done right.

Agreed.

 

[NJextreme]

Lunges work man...after squats try putting 80 barbel on your shoulders and going 25 steps then 25 steps back in good form...trust me you will be hurting!

Ronnie Coleman swears by them he said that in precontest he lunges the entire parking lot at his gym.....

Done correctly they are killer and do work you will be sore all over 2 days later

 

[JJFigure]

They also build the inner and outer thighs (adductor and abductors) - one of the few leg exercises that provides a complete thigh workout.

I prefer bars to dumbbells - your grip gives out before your legs do (unless you're using wraps).