Replacement for squats

"ToneJohn" <222 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:b6GdnXTGOuwalenfRVn-tQ@warpdrive.net...
>I have trouble working out with squats, I have tried numerous techniques
>but still have some minor back pain after working out w/ squats. I know
>there one of the "BIG THREE" but what is the next best excersise to squats?
>
> I have been using the leg press sled (lying down and pushing up)

Mike Tyson does those so they should be pretty good, then again he does
squats too.
 >> Stay informed about: Replacement for squats 

On Sat, 30 Apr 2005 18:37:05 -0400, "ToneJohn" <222.RemoveThis@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>I have trouble working out with squats, I have tried numerous techniques but
>still have some minor back pain after working out w/ squats. I know there
>one of the "BIG THREE" but what is the next best excersise to squats?
>
>I have been using the leg press sled (lying down and pushing up), I go to a
>fairly new gym so we have alot of machine options (free motion squat, squat
>sleds, also smith squats??), any suggestions are appreciated.
>
>Thanks!
>

Try some front squats and deadlifts. Something about the way I'm
built hates conventional squats, but the front squat feels "natural"
and deads really helped my back recover and gain strength.

-----------
Proton Soup

"And all this peace has been deceiving,
I need some wind to get me sailing"
 >> Stay informed about: Replacement for squats 

"ToneJohn" <222.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:b6GdnXTGOuwalenfRVn-tQ@warpdrive.net...
>I have trouble working out with squats, I have tried numerous
>techniques but still have some minor back pain after working out w/
>squats. I know there one of the "BIG THREE" but what is the next best
>excersise to squats?

You've got lots of choices, but the best one might be to fix what's
wrong with your squat technique. If you can't get low without rounding
your back, that's a flexibility issue primarily, so work on your
hamstring flexibility. Front squats (which we've been discussing on
another thread here recently) are more forgiving of back rounding so you
might try those.

If you're not a competing powerlifter, there's no reason you absolutely
have to do squats, though. Please state what you're trying to
accomplish and maybe we can suggest some good alternatives.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com


> I have been using the leg press sled (lying down and pushing up), I go
> to a fairly new gym so we have alot of machine options (free motion
> squat, squat sleds, also smith squats??), any suggestions are
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Replacement for squats 

I know I had back problems with squats if I went too deep - I started
only going to parallel, and the problem went away.

The other thing that really helped me was consciously trying to keep my
back straight and my core muscles tensed. If I forgot to do that, I'd
let go of the back muscles, and my back would complain afterwards.

Not that I'm an expert on the subject (just a beginner), but that is
what worked for me.

LM
 >> Stay informed about: Replacement for squats 

"Steve Freides" <steve.RemoveThis@fridayscomputer.com> wrote in message
news:3dirn2F6m2m3dU1@individual.net...
> "ToneJohn" <222.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:b6GdnXTGOuwalenfRVn-tQ@warpdrive.net...
>>I have trouble working out with squats, I have tried numerous techniques
>>but still have some minor back pain after working out w/ squats. I know
>>there one of the "BIG THREE" but what is the next best excersise to
>>squats?
>
> You've got lots of choices, but the best one might be to fix what's wrong
> with your squat technique. If you can't get low without rounding your
> back, that's a flexibility issue primarily, so work on your hamstring
> flexibility. Front squats (which we've been discussing on another thread
> here recently) are more forgiving of back rounding so you might try those.
>
> If you're not a competing powerlifter, there's no reason you absolutely
> have to do squats, though. Please state what you're trying to accomplish
> and maybe we can suggest some good alternatives.
>
> -S-
> http://www.kbnj.com
>
>
>> I have been using the leg press sled (lying down and pushing up), I go to
>> a fairly new gym so we have alot of machine options (free motion squat,
>> squat sleds, also smith squats??), any suggestions are appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>>
>
>

Basically trying to put on some weight, obtain definition, and tone up. No
powerlifter or competitions for me
 >> Stay informed about: Replacement for squats 

"ToneJohn" <222.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:8dqdnb5h8fwk2unfRVn-3Q@warpdrive.net...
>
> "Steve Freides" <steve.DeleteThis@fridayscomputer.com> wrote in message
> news:3dirn2F6m2m3dU1@individual.net...
>> "ToneJohn" <222.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:b6GdnXTGOuwalenfRVn-tQ@warpdrive.net...
>>>I have trouble working out with squats, I have tried numerous
>>>techniques but still have some minor back pain after working out w/
>>>squats. I know there one of the "BIG THREE" but what is the next
>>>best excersise to squats?
>>
>> You've got lots of choices, but the best one might be to fix what's
>> wrong with your squat technique. If you can't get low without
>> rounding your back, that's a flexibility issue primarily, so work on
>> your hamstring flexibility. Front squats (which we've been
>> discussing on another thread here recently) are more forgiving of
>> back rounding so you might try those.
>>
>> If you're not a competing powerlifter, there's no reason you
>> absolutely have to do squats, though. Please state what you're
>> trying to accomplish and maybe we can suggest some good alternatives.
>>
>> -S-
>> http://www.kbnj.com
>>
>>
>>> I have been using the leg press sled (lying down and pushing up), I
>>> go to a fairly new gym so we have alot of machine options (free
>>> motion squat, squat sleds, also smith squats??), any suggestions are
>>> appreciated.
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
> Basically trying to put on some weight, obtain definition, and tone
> up. No powerlifter or competitions for me

Nothing quite like barbell back squats to put meat on you - hell, I did
them this past winter and even I added a pound or two to my frame,
something I wasn't at all trying to do. The flexibility thing can be
good for you to work on for other reasons, so you might as well deal
with it - that's my two-cents-worth. Otherwise, I'd stay away from the
smith machine and the leg press and look into other things along more
old-fashioned lines, e.g., dragging a weighted sled outdoors, pushing a
weighted wheelbarrow, that sort of thing. You might also check out
http://www.ironmind.com and get the gadget they have that lets you hang
weight around your waist/hips and squat that way - take the load off
your back, and some people have used it while recovering from injuries.

As to "definition" and "tone up", what most people mean by those terms
is obtained by losing body fat, not by any particular exercise or
increase in muscle. Almost any kind of regular lifting or other
exercise short of marathon running, combined with low body fat, will
make someone look "cut" by most people's definition.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com
 >> Stay informed about: Replacement for squats 

Tha Woyah wrote:
> "ToneJohn" <222 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:b6GdnXTGOuwalenfRVn-tQ@warpdrive.net...
>
>>I have trouble working out with squats, I have tried numerous techniques
>>but still have some minor back pain after working out w/ squats. I know
>>there one of the "BIG THREE" but what is the next best excersise to squats?
>>
>>I have been using the leg press sled (lying down and pushing up)
>
>
> Mike Tyson does those so they should be pretty good, then again he does
> squats too.
>
>

He also rapes people and tries to chew on others' heads while
squandering a sizeable fortune...so perhaps his judgement isn't the
greatest...

--
spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/
 >> Stay informed about: Replacement for squats 

"spodosaurus" <spodosaurus.RemoveThis@_yahoo_.com> wrote in message
news:427475dc$1@quokka.wn.com.au...
> Tha Woyah wrote:
>> "ToneJohn" <222.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:b6GdnXTGOuwalenfRVn-tQ@warpdrive.net...
>>
>>>I have trouble working out with squats, I have tried numerous techniques
>>>but still have some minor back pain after working out w/ squats. I know
>>>there one of the "BIG THREE" but what is the next best excersise to
>>>squats?
>>>
>>>I have been using the leg press sled (lying down and pushing up)
>>
>>
>> Mike Tyson does those so they should be pretty good, then again he does
>> squats too.
>
> He also rapes people and tries to chew on others' heads while squandering
> a sizeable fortune...so perhaps his judgement isn't the greatest...

Probably not, but in any case he's a professional athlete and has
trainers to design his work out program for him. He just has
to show up for them ...

Whatever his training program is, its tailor made for him and
what his trainers think he needs to do well in boxing. Professional
athletes also have a lot more time available to work out (especially
boxers between fights), and so can usefully add in things that wouldn't
be optimal for a regular working stiff. Taking exercises in isolation
out of the program of a pro athlete typically isn't useful ...

-JS2
 >> Stay informed about: Replacement for squats 

On Sun, 1 May 2005 06:37:41 -0600, "JS2" <js2 RemoveThis @spam.is.evil.com> wrote:

>
>"spodosaurus" <spodosaurus RemoveThis @_yahoo_.com> wrote in message
>news:427475dc$1@quokka.wn.com.au...
>> Tha Woyah wrote:
>>> "ToneJohn" <222 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:b6GdnXTGOuwalenfRVn-tQ@warpdrive.net...
>>>
>>>>I have trouble working out with squats, I have tried numerous techniques
>>>>but still have some minor back pain after working out w/ squats. I know
>>>>there one of the "BIG THREE" but what is the next best excersise to
>>>>squats?
>>>>
>>>>I have been using the leg press sled (lying down and pushing up)
>>>
>>>
>>> Mike Tyson does those so they should be pretty good, then again he does
>>> squats too.
>>
>> He also rapes people and tries to chew on others' heads while squandering
>> a sizeable fortune...so perhaps his judgement isn't the greatest...
>
>Probably not, but in any case he's a professional athlete and has
>trainers to design his work out program for him. He just has
>to show up for them ...
>
>Whatever his training program is, its tailor made for him and
>what his trainers think he needs to do well in boxing. Professional
>athletes also have a lot more time available to work out (especially
>boxers between fights), and so can usefully add in things that wouldn't
>be optimal for a regular working stiff. Taking exercises in isolation
>out of the program of a pro athlete typically isn't useful ...
>
>-JS2

Makes sense to me.
 >> Stay informed about: Replacement for squats 

Larisa wrote:
> I know I had back problems with squats if I went too deep - I started
> only going to parallel, and the problem went away.
>
> The other thing that really helped me was consciously trying to keep
> my back straight and my core muscles tensed. If I forgot to do that,
> I'd let go of the back muscles, and my back would complain afterwards.
>
> Not that I'm an expert on the subject (just a beginner), but that is
> what worked for me.
>
> LM

Along those lines, I squat without a belt. I consciously tighten my abs to
isolate my midsection and low back. If I don't, my back will complain.
--
-Larry
 >> Stay informed about: Replacement for squats 

Quoting "ToneJohn":

>I have trouble working out with squats, I have tried numerous techniques but
>still have some minor back pain after working out w/ squats. I know there
>one of the "BIG THREE" but what is the next best excersise to squats?
>
>I have been using the leg press sled (lying down and pushing up), I go to a
>fairly new gym so we have alot of machine options (free motion squat, squat
>sleds, also smith squats??), any suggestions are appreciated.

Don't give up on the squats just yet.

I agree that you should work on flexibility as others suggested.

Also, give box squats a try and see what you think. I've found them
to be very helpful in teaching one to sit back properly; among other
benefits.

http://www.elitefts.com/documents/box-squat.htm

Another possibility to consider: maybe you're just trying to squat
too much and form is suffering (rounded back). How does your back
feel when you drop the poundage a bit?
 >> Stay informed about: Replacement for squats 

I had minor back aches after squatting too. I went to the Orthopedic
surgeon and he said I had minor arthritis in the lower back. He
suggested to do the squats on the smith machine and watch your FORM
(yes a DR that didn't tell me to stop doing squats). And I followed his
advice. When I used proper form, I can't go as heavy, so I lighted up
the load. Now I'm squatting pain free, even my knee problem went away.
You must be doing something wrong, either your form or you have a
problem with your back--have the DR take an xray. Squats are awesome!!
 >> Stay informed about: Replacement for squats