help with squats - Exercise & Fitness Message Board

Ballahboy · 02-14-2004, 11:12 PM

i do squats using a barbell. recently ive read that my feet should be flat the whole rep but i cant seem to do this. even with out weights i cant do it. i either fall back or if i lean forward i feel it at my shins. tips would be greatly appreciated
thanx

mjmaciver · 02-15-2004, 12:48 AM

It sounds like you just haven't got the balance of the movement down comfortably. If you go to a gym, try doing squats on the rack and keep your feet flat there. On the rack you won't be worried about dropping the weight because it is locked, stationary, and has a safety to catch it if you drop it. I had to use the rack for a few months before I started doing squats free-weight for almost the exact same reason.

That's just my experience

Talk to ya later

Endorphin Junky · 02-15-2004, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballahboy

i do squats using a barbell. recently ive read that my feet should be flat the whole rep but i cant seem to do this. even with out weights i cant do it. i either fall back or if i lean forward i feel it at my shins. tips would be greatly appreciated
thanx

It's a similar movement to sitting down. Try putting a bench behind you and do them without any weight first. First try sitting all the way down and standing up. Then try squatting till you're just about to touch down on the bench but stand up before you do. Then add some weight, etc, etc, remove the bench, etc. I'm sure you get it.

boyhowdy · 02-16-2004, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballahboy

i do squats using a barbell. recently ive read that my feet should be flat the whole rep but i cant seem to do this. even with out weights i cant do it. i either fall back or if i lean forward i feel it at my shins. tips would be greatly appreciated
thanx

I have a couple 3/4" wide plates that I put my heels on when I squat at home. You don't feel like you're going to fall back and still get the full movement with the weight in the proper place on your foot. If you really want to hammer your quads, this allows you to put all the weight on your heels.

Joya · 02-17-2004, 12:12 AM

I found that if you use a large exercise ball it really helps with squats. You put the ball against the wall holding it up with your back. You can put the barbell over your shoulders and do the squats like that. I use it at home and have the curved bar to go over the shoulders.