why the hell cant i do a squat??

[mike456]

i just cant go down- is it my form? are my legs to weak for my bodyweight(230)?
I workout at home and i have no leg equipment, and the best leg exercise is squats and it sucks that i cant do them. Legs are the most important muscle to me, because i want to be involved in sports and leg strength is definitly the most importan in football, basketball- is there anything i can do to learn how to do squats correctly- should i just go down as much as i can and do them that way, because im not anywere near parallel? helpp

 

[NMOY]

get a gym membership, do lots of bodyweight squats and wall-sits.

 

[John Rambo]

Try doing it with just the bar until you get comfortable with your form. After that begin adding on weights and I bet you'll be ok. Just don't try to do too much at once.

 

[mike456]

get a gym membership, do lots of bodyweight squats and wall-sits.

i dont got the money- the only gym near me is bally's and its a fuckin rip off, ill try doing the wall sits

 

[mike456]

Try doing it with just the bar until you get comfortable with your form. After that begin adding on weights and I bet you'll be ok. Just don't try to do too much at once.

even without any weight i cant do them i just cant squat anywere near parallel, unless i dont use the bar and i lean forward with my upper body- i think its just a balance/flexibility problem

 

[GoLdeN M 07]

Squats arnt the only leg exercise out there. U should try weighted pistols.

 

[GoLdeN M 07]

Squats arnt the only leg exercise out there. U should try weighted pistols.

 

[KelJu]

even without any weight i cant do them i just cant squat anywere near parallel, unless i dont use the bar and i lean forward with my upper body- i think its just a balance/flexibility problem

You have a lack of mobility issue, not a strength issue. I would bet that you can leg press at least 400lbs on a machine.
Try this:
Put something on the ground that is about 2 inches tall.
Place the heels of your feet on the elevated object with your toes still on the floor. Your standing position should now be at a 30degree angle.
Try squatting to a parallel position.
If you can do it with no problem, then you have the same problem as me. There is no cure for it.
It is in my bones, and there is nothing that is going to change it, because my ankles do not swivel past a 90degree angle.
Try it, and let me know how it works for you.
If it works, I will give you some more tips on how to learn to do proper squats.

 

[mike456]

how do u do those- u got any vid/pics?

 

[KelJu]

Squats arnt the only leg exercise out there. U should try weighted pistols.

Please do not listen to this kid, he gives the worst advice I have ever heard.

 

[NMOY]

I def reccommend working up to it, partial squat and wall sits. Can you do lunges and stepups?

 

[KelJu]

how do u do those- u got any vid/pics?

No vids or pictures for this, I figured this out myself.
Think of it like you are wearing high heels. You will have the back of your foot jacked up two inches to compensate for the lack of balance or mobility.

 

[mike456]

no i cannot do lunges - in school i go up about 8 flights of stairs in a row-no problem-

 

[mike456]

ok KelJU thanks allot for the info ill try it out, but does any1 have vids/pics of pistols?

 

[mike456]

KelJU i did it with a thick plate under each foot i got very close to parallel, i think I could of gone lower but felt pain in my knees...

 

[Du]

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/BBFullSquat.html

 

[JordanMang]

I think it's just a flexibility issue. It's alright to lean at the hips as long as you keep your back neutral and locked. Stretch really well before you do anything. The strange this is I can't do no weight squats almost at all. Without some weight on my back I can't keep my balance.

 

[Bakerboy]

You said it...Try stair walking/running. It's a great place to start. I have a set of outdoor stairs by my house that I run all the time (315 stairs) so I am lucky, but you can use any staircase. Start by just walking up and them then when you get stronger go up two at a time or better yet mix it up: one step for one set then on your next set go two steps at a time. You can even jump up two or more steps at a time. Other ideas are, after a few weeks, wear a backpack with weight in it (sandbags are good) but don't go to heavy and just walk up and down (don't run) making sure you land and push off with your feet completely on the stair, not hanging over the edge. And make sure you don't run down the stairs as it is hard on your knees.

http://www.givstrength.com/presents/gsarticles/stairs_one.htm

Wall sitting is good too. Do it for time and then try to beat that time.

 

[fUnc17]

Squats arnt the only leg exercise out there. U should try weighted pistols.

If he can't even do a parrallel squat how the fuck do you think he's going to be able to do a pistol?

 

[P-funk]

If he can't even do a parrallel squat how the fuck do you think he's going to be able to do a pistol?

especially weighted pistols.

 

[mike456]

Jordan Mang thanx for the info ill try to do it with weight because I never tried be4, i only tried with bodyweight.

 

[GFR]

#1 rule is ignore all IRON MANS advice.

 

[Pedigree]

Work on the flexibility from your achilles to your lower back.

 

[CowPimp]

Yeah, sounds like an ankle and hip mobility problem to me. I suggest implementing some stretching every day. Hold each stretch for 30 seconds at the point where you feel some discomfort.

In the meantime, you can try widening your stance a little bit, turning your toes out a bit more, and possibly even sticking a 5er under each heel. Slowly reduce the usage of these crutches as you progress in terms of mobility.