The end of squats?
Squats have become a victim of their own success.
They have become so popular that patrons of the commercial fitness industry find them too obvious, too old school, so much so that the Insta babes of today are coming up with ever increasingly elaborate ways to try and get the same results without using them because when you suggest squats you’re met with a:
‘well duh of course squats, but what else?’
There is nothing else!
But if you are at all plugged into the online fitness industry you will have no doubt seen headlines similar to these:
Butt exercises that aren’t squats
Workout your legs without squats
The ultimate squat free lower body workout
Basically, how to squat without squatting.
Which is a bit like saying how to drive without no hands.
I’m sure it can be done, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea!
So let’s look at the truth behind the infamous squat in a bit more detail:
1. It’s the queen of the compound exercises
Compound exercises use large groups of muscles at the same time, which – among other things – reduces the length of your workout leaving you more time to do all the other things on your to do list.
Name me another exercise that works the quads, hamstrings, glutes, hips, calves, back and core muscles all at once and I’ll stop right now.
To work that number of muscles without squats you would need to do leg extensions, leg curls, calf raises, glute bridges, abductions, back extensions and 5 minute planks!
I’ll have finished my workout before yours has hardly started!
2. They increase testosterone production
Yes, even the most feminine of us have and need testosterone. The more muscle recruited during a single exercise the more testosterone your body produces. This testosterone helps to build muscle all over the body and given us girls don’t have much anyway (compared to men), we want to do exercises that promote production.
(Side note; have no fear, you will never have enough testosterone to produce man sized muscles no matter how many squats you do.)
3. They are the ultimate functional training exercise
Squat strength directly carries over into every day life.
Lifting, walking, running, kicking (hopefully for sports), climbing stairs, pushing, pulling and so on all gets easier and more effective with a strong squat.
Not to mention you increase the amount of calories you burn doing these every day tasks when you increase your muscle mass, which is something the squat does very effectively.
4. They strengthen your core
Abs and core are not the same thing.
Abs are the external muscles in front of your tummy.
Your core muscles are much more important, they are the muscles that support your spine, keep you upright and facilitate great posture.
Abs are mainly cosmetic and if you want them you do sit ups and drastically reduce your body fat percentage.
If you want to be strong and improve your posture you strengthen your core.
Squats are very good at strengthening your core.
5. They look awesome
It’s a sad truth that not many people know how to squat properly, and because if this they don’t squat at all.
Squatting correctly in the rack earns you instant respect in the gym.
The end of squats?
While the mainstream might be trying to do away with squats, those of us in the old school camp, using exercises and methods that have been tried and tested and proven to work over DECADES, still love ‘em.
WARNING
Before I go I have to tell you that squats can be dangerous if not performed properly, you must ensure you are coached on the proper technique before you start putting any meaningful weight on the bar.
Also, how many you do, how often you do them, how much weight is on the bar and even how long you rest between sets all has an effect on the results you see.
Which is why you need a coach and a programme that teaches you good technique, where every rep and set is calculated so you see results at every workout.