squats?

dana82 · 14-Apr-05, 09:38 PM

Okay I havetn't been on here in awhile but when I was on here everyone was clearly pro squats and lunges (with weights).....when I ask people who are just my friends they tell me not to do weighted squats and lunges with more then 5 lbs.....they told me this would make my legs bigger and widen my hips....so now I"m alittle confused and discouraged from doing so. I'm sure it will make my heiny tighter but will it widen me as well?

Thnx

**threenorns** · 14-Apr-05, 09:44 PM

here's how it works: if you want bulk, ya gotta WORK for it.

there's no such thing as a "5lb limit" - it's strictly up to your own body physiology. me, i'm squatting up to 135 and my legs are getting smaller (mind, that's cause i gotta lotta fat to lose, too). i used to do bodybuilding at my highest squat was over 300lbs back then and i have a fantastic butt even when i was at my heaviest - not a droop or sag in sight.

the secret is in the reps: keep your reps high in the 10 - 15 range at whatever weight floats your boat (tip: heavier weights are easier on the joints) and you'll do fine.

btw: if you have a small waist, who cares if your hips get wider? wide hips rock. ,... not that i can see how that would happen anyway...

**Lady C** · 15-Apr-05, 08:11 AM

I would mix it up. I have added in a heavy day every third or fourth leg workout. The rest of the time it is lighter weights with more reps and "ass to the grass" deep.

CF-OC_gal · 15-Apr-05, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dana82

Okay I havetn't been on here in awhile but when I was on here everyone was clearly pro squats and lunges (with weights).....when I ask people who are just my friends they tell me not to do weighted squats and lunges with more then 5 lbs.....they told me this would make my legs bigger and widen my hips....so now I"m alittle confused and discouraged from doing so. I'm sure it will make my heiny tighter but will it widen me as well?

Thnx

No it won't widen you! Sheesh the stories never end.

The only thing that ever widened my hips was having babies (yes there is a real physiological change that happens in the pelvis) and getting older. Did anyone notice? NO.

ajarvis · 15-Apr-05, 10:40 AM

Nope won't happen. You'd have to really try to make them big! I do not have huge legs, and I've been doing squats with as much weight as I can handle since I was 16! Just don't go real low in reps. I usually do between 8 - 10.

**midgetcop** · 15-Apr-05, 06:18 PM

Women lack the testosterone that is required to grow big, bulky muscles. That goes for any bodypart. The only time you're gonna have to worry about bulk is if you're on the juice.

High vs. low repetition only makes a difference in terms of performance goals: endurance vs. strength.

When I'm doing squats I use a very wide rep-range: 12-4. I've recently switched up from doing HEAVY parallel squats to lighter, ass-to-grass squats. In a few weeks I'll switch back.

arbit · 16-Apr-05, 04:15 AM

Hell I'm a guy and I'd love to have bigger legs stronger hips.
They grew a tiny bit - like half an inch, then nothing - and I handle as weight as I can squat/deadlift.
So if u'r a girl, and u manage to find a routine that makes u'r legs/calves bigger - please sent it my way.

**threenorns** · 16-Apr-05, 07:03 AM

if you're a hard gainer in your legs, you need to go DEEP into the muscle fibre to stimulate growth. four sets, 3 - 4 reps, twice a week is what you need and believe me: you'll see growth within four weeks.

i keep my reps at 6 - 8 and i BARELY work my calves at all because my legs grow like ninety: i end up proportioned like a bowling pin because my upper body is the weak point.

arbit · 16-Apr-05, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threenorns

i keep my reps at 6 - 8 and i BARELY work my calves at all because my legs grow like ninety: .

I am like so jealous of u !!!

**threenorns** · 16-Apr-05, 06:51 PM

don't be - it's fun watching guys' eyes pop when i do inclined leg press at 360, but not fun when i've got fullback legs on a quarterback torso.

Gartrell · 20-Apr-05, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threenorns

don't be - it's fun watching guys' eyes pop when i do inclined leg press at 360, but not fun when i've got fullback legs on a quarterback torso.

Offensive Lineman legs on an Offensive Lineman's torso. Plus a Wrestler's neck (aka non-existant). However, my mom's calves still are bigger than mine and I suspect they always will be... (she doesn't even lift, just genetics).

dana82 · 20-Apr-05, 09:58 PM

I know they aren't huge but my body looks more proportioned when I don't life weights on my bottom half but only on my top half....however it does get tighter when I lift over all.....

Chain · 22-Apr-05, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dana82

I know they aren't huge but my body looks more proportioned when I don't life weights on my bottom half but only on my top half....however it does get tighter when I lift over all.....

I'd go with what Lady C said. If you're concerned about getting too big, stick with the lighter weights most of the time but throw in a heavy workout every couple of weeks. Doing heavy workouts on occasion is good for the muscle, the bones, athletic performance, and maintaining a higher quality of life as you get older. You could do like 15-25 reps per set (you should use as heavy a weight as possible though and not stick to just 5 lbs) most of the time and drop down into the single digit range every 3-4 weeks. You could also use alternatives like split squats and step-ups.