Too much Squatting??

[Debaser]

Leg extensions can be great to warm up my knees and quads. They are also good to pre-exhaust before squats.

And pec deck, i can't imagine not liking it. I get the most tremendous burn from it and my pump is out of this world.


-Fatty

Leg extensions are bad for your knees, I've read at least a few articles on this...I'm thinking at least one was in hardgainer but I'm not sure. It's not a natural movement like squatting, and imposes serious shear forces on the knees. But you seem to have accepted this now anyway.

The Pec Deck is pretty worthless. I'm surprised how many people on these boards still equate "burn" and "pump" with muscle growth. You could obtain these with 5 lb weights, if so desired. Pec deck exercises is very taxing on chest recovery, also. I want my body focused on recovery from heavy sets of benches or dips, and not worry about overtraining with this silly exercise.

About the whole bodybuilder vs. powerlifter thing, powerlifiters are almost always smarter trainers than bodybuilders. A lot of kids think they can be big benching 180 and squatting 200. Unless you're Paul Dillet or some other genetic freak, this is not going to happen. If you focus on continuing to add weight to the bar, till you can, for example, deadlift 500 lbs or more, you're going to have obtained some incredible thickness (assuming you eat enough).

 

[Fatty4You]

I am trying to add more weight to my lifts constantly. It doesn't happen as fast as i would like, but its happening slowly. But i have to say that I add size much easier than i add strength. I am certainly not a genetic freak, but i have been told before that when i lift, even when i am struggling with weight, i look like i am doing warm up sets cause my size calls for more weight to be lifted.

Not really any point to this post other than to say size and strength are not always so highly coorelated.

-Fatty

 

[Debaser]

You have part of the equation. I am the EXACT same way. Some guys I know lift 3 x what I do and I'm still bigger.

However it's not as much strength in general, as it is strength GAINS. If you take your 100 lb squat to 400 lbs, that's a 300 lb change and probably a few inches of muscular girth to most of your body.

I started a new thread on wrist/ankle measurements to see who here has it made genetically speaking, who has to struggle, etc...this has to do with your size/strength.

 

[louden_swain]

Leg curls and extensions haven't been doing shit for me.

What do you think about squats, front squats, and hack squats for a leg workout? Too much of a similar thing? Or is there enough variation between each version?

Leg curls and leg extensions have their place, but in order to build strength and size using the squat is an excellent choice. Here is a routine that I follow that incorporates a variety of exercises:

Squats - 8 x 5
Leg Presses (Wide Stance) - 3 x 10-12
Stiff Leg Deadlifts - 3 x 8-10
Leg Extensions - 2 x 20 or 2 x 10-12
Lying Leg Curls - 3 x 10-15

Here are my thoughts on these exercises:

SQUATS - Many will argue that this is the best strength and mass builder for the lower body. In my opinion this is a correct statement. Squats build incredible strength in the hips and lower back. Squats also release tremendous amounts of hormones and turn a body into an anabolic machine. In order to maximize the benefit of the exercise, I recommend squatting to at least parallel. To overload the hip girdle and to get the feel of a heavy weight, you can occasionally use partial reps. Overall, I rate this exercise on the top of my list for developing a lower body.

LEG PRESSES - In my opinion, this exercise is excellent for both overloading and forcing your quads to work. However, they are poor for developing hip and lower back strength. Use this exercise after your squats.

LEG EXTENSIONS - In my opinion, not a good exercise for developing mass in the quads. However, they are excellent for developing stabilizer strength in the tendons and ligaments that surround the knee joint. I used this exercise to rehab my knee when I tore my ACL in 1993. I consider this an isolation movement, therefore it should be used after you complete your basic compound movements.

STIFF LEG DEADS - If you are looking to develop thick steel cables in the back of your leg, a tight butt, and a strong lower back then this is the exercise for you. If you perform this exercise on a regular basis, I promise you that your squat poundages and your leg mass will increase. This exercise emphasizes the weak links in the squat (hams and lower back).

LYING LEG CURL - Again an isolation movement, but is valuable for packing on extra meat between the back of the knee and the lower butt.

Overall, if you want the mass and strength. . . perform tons of squats. However, be sure to include other exercises from time to time to emphasize different areas. Remember, the basic compound movements will give you the best results. Also, practice your technique and adjust your poundages accordingly where you can maintain proper form. I wish you luck!!

 

[JDarty6173]

How about we just make this simple.. Make sure you Squat and Deadlift.. Plus stiffleg deads, Romanian Deads, etc... And if you just want to throw in Leg curls and extensions, well by all means go ahead.. But if your compound movements were done with true intensity, then i doubt you will feel the need.......