Which one should I drop, regular squats or front squats?

[wutangnomo]

Right now my leg day as it stands is squats then front squats then hamstring work. I also do deads another day. My back is getting pretty beat and I definitely feel the need to drop one of these 3 heavy back "taxing" exercises.

I absolutely enjoy doing front squats moreso then regular squats which is pretty strange. I also feel it hits my quads better. However, I can't do nearly as much weight as with reg squats. Whichever one I'm going to drop I'll replace with leg press.

So ditch the fronts or reg squats? Thanks.

 

[punch]

Never did front squats always traditional. Legs have always grown. No excersize for legs overall can match the squat. Keep it simple, does not need to be complicated.

 

[d3track]

i like front squats better

i say rotate them

reg for one workout, fronts the next

thats my $0.02

 

[rbrown]

I'd say work on your form on front squats. Front squats should not tax your back as you should stay fairly erect.

 

[protobe]

i would drop reg. squats you work way too much legs in the front squads to drop those. those work 99% legs.

 

[powerslave]

You could also consider zercher squats. I always felt these were the best of both worlds.

 

[Dave949]

i say rotate the them reg for one workout, fronts the next
thats my $0.02

What he said !!!

 

[badassy]

i agree too... i would say rotate them.... i wouldn't do leg presses though... personally i don't like presses for my legs.... i would do something like this

reg squats/ front squats
hack squats (keep feet close together and go down untill sled touches the bottom) helps for the sweep
lunges

stiff leg deads
leg curls

 

[dzuljas]

do your reg squats for a couple of weeks then switch to front squat. If you keep rotating them every workout your body doesnt get to neurological adaptation

 

[lavi]

do your reg squats for a couple of weeks then switch to front squat. If you keep rotating them every workout your body doesnt get to neurological adaptation

I don't know very much about this, what's neurological adaptation and it's importance? Thanks!

Doesn't DC training have you alternate excercises?

 

[Dave949]

I don't know very much about this, what's neurological adaptation and it's importance? Thanks!

In a nutshell and in laymans terms.....its doing the same old thing all the time ( a training rut) and your body / muscles / nerve impulses / brain / etc. etc. all become very accustomed to it. So you shake things up and throw a monkey wrench in the ol gear box (shock treatment) and do different exercises, rep schemes and other principals like super sets, drop sets, pre exhaustion, etc. etc.

 

[lavi]

Then wouldn't you want to prevent neurological adaptation?

 

[Dave949]

Then wouldn't you want to prevent neurological adaptation?

To a degree, yes. And one prevents it by shaking things up every now and then. It doesn`t have to be anything complicated. IMHO.....Simple changes is all it takes. Simply shuffling or reversing the order of the exercises in a particular bodypart routine or doing higher reps for a few workouts or lower reps or doing totally different exercises all together. Lowering the intensity or upping the intensity, shortening the rest period in between sets for a week or two or three.

The neurological adaption thing is like when you use the same hand to comb your hair or wipe your butt everyday. One always uses the same hand.....One has neurologically adapted to this.
Try combing your hair or wiping your butt with your other hand and it feels awkward and somewhat challenging because the hand you never use has not become or has limited neurol adaption.

 

[lavi]

hehe thanks for the example! so rotating which hand you wipe with would leave you awkward at wiping your ass with both of your hands since your body wouldn't be used to either (just carrying the metaphor) ?



So the moral is, it isn't a good idea to alternate exercises?

 

[Animal]

It would help make you ambidextrous and then you could jack off with both hands, too!

 

[delldell2]

do your reg squats for a couple of weeks then switch to front squat. If you keep rotating them every workout your body doesnt get to neurological adaptation

What difference would it make if you did an exercise two weeks and switched or one week and switched? Neural adaptations can last longer than that.

 

[Dave949]

So the moral is, it isn't a good idea to alternate exercises?

Nooooo bro..... your missing the point by brother.

IT IS a good idea to alternate exercises and rep schemes etc. every now and then. Its good for the muscles, its good for the mind.

Pretty funny guy Lavi with the butt wiping metaphor

 

[Dave949]

What difference would it make if you did an exercise two weeks and switched or one week and switched? Neural adaptations can last longer than that.

You have a good point delldell, however...I don`t think anything is written in stone. It would ultimately come down to instinctive training and what length of time between changing exercises and/or rep schemes work for each individual. Personally I don`t have or follow any definate time lines. When I get bored or feel something is getting stale I make a change. It could be a week or a month or a couple of months but I do make changes, sometimes they are minor and sometimes they are major...I go by feel and instinctiveness.

 

[lavi]

I mean switching back and forth very frequently or each workout (ie monday flat bench, wednesday fly, friday bench, monday fly, etc...).

I was planning on doing something like this (cause its good for the mind ), hence all the posts/questions on this... at least I'm a Good Broly now! My Karma counts!!!

Thanks bro

Edit: I just reread your first post on this thread. Looks like you've already answered my question...

 

[Dave949]

I mean switching back and forth very frequently or each workout (ie monday flat bench, wednesday fly, friday bench, monday fly, etc...).B]

BINGO !!!!

 

[lavi]

Haha thanks I'm a little slow...

 

[collegiateLifter]

there are both positive and negative neural adaptations. I think it has to do with the non-linear effects of training, specifically the law of diminished returns. Of course you want positive adaptations (strength increases and the like) and want to minimize the negatives (such as burnout).