For those who do squats...

I'm wondering about a few things-

I do squats at bodypump- about 2 X per week. I'm not sure about the number we do during class, but guess it is about 100-200.

Most people do weights squats. I have found that my knees hurts during and/or after weighted squats if I push the weight too much. For a time I was doing then with no weight and had no problem. I slowly upped my weight to 5 pounds on each side of the bar and had not problems. Today I added 7.5 pound weights and felt some soreness in my right knee.

The teachers say my form is correct.

So, I am wondering if people simply build up weight? I am amazed because there are women who do them with 20-30 pounds on each side of the bar.

Just looking for experience that other might have had.

Thanks.

An update....

I've been doing the body pump squat track with no problems. Generally, I am using 7.4-10 pound weights. (BTW, I am on the low end of average weight added.)

One instructor had us use band just above our knees in order to help keep our correct form. Another inst. insists that we stay straight and tall in our backs as we go down. Another one talks a lot about engaging our inner thighs as we squat. The instructor input seems to be keeping my form good- no pain even when I use 10 pound weights.

I did body pump today. The squat track went really well. I used 7.5 pound weights so that my total bar weight was about 15-18 pounds. I did not even notice my knees- ; )

I stood behind a lady who is in GREAT shape and has fabulous form. Wathcing her stick her butt out to the back of the room helped me remember to keep good form too.

I did a little look around and noticed that most women loaded their bars with 20-40 pounds on each side- making their total bar weight something like 40-80+ pounds. Wow!

I did not use weight for lunges. That track is near the end of the hour and I am usually pretty spent at the at point. Plus, I seem to be challenged enough with body weight lunges.

I did not count how many squats, lunges we did... way more than 100, I think.

i have found that the more i lift, the larger my thighs. so there is another consequence of lifting a large amount of weight.

quote:

Originally posted by fbroadie:
According to my father in law who is a physical therapist, squats are the absolute worst thing you can do to your knees!

I had to do them during physical therapy for my dislocated kneecap.

I can't imagaine doing 100 of them. My form goes to crap when I try and do them too quickly.

I was told to do one perfectly... and hold it as long as possible. I can hold one like 90 seconds or something like that. I don't own a lot of weights... so I just use 2 gallons of water or 16 lbs.

Realistically... if you are talking function... I really don't need to lift more and more and more. I think that I have avoided injury.

i also like the body pump class. i do not load my bar because we do lots of reps of squats. i definitely feel the burn, which can last 2 days for me.

Yea, squats are knee-punishing even without weights. I used to do the Jari Love weight program on DVD which has lots of squats and lunges with weights, but I found it was just too rough on my knees, so I stopped. I still do lunges to stretch after the treadmill, etc., but no longer do any squat or lunge with weights.

Granted, I'm a good bit older than most of you and already had knee issues, but I do think that while squats work major muscle groups and are good calorie burners for those who can handle them, they can also cause problems for some of us, esp. as we get older.

BTW, I just talked to a friend who totally loads her bar. She said that she does it (others too) for the bigger calorie burn.

quote:

Originally posted by iz:
you could get a great leg workout just walking uphill

In many ways I would prefer to just walk as I love to do it so much. However, I have really liked body pump class and can tell that it is building muscle- especially in my upper body. Squats and lunges are just part of the canned program. I've never done lunges with weight and will just keep limiting the bar weight when I do squats- or even eliminate the weight.

you could get a great leg workout just walking uphill

Today I did remove the weight and I felt fine. I'm just going to have to listen closely to my body and skip more weight.

I am so amazed about how others are adding SO much weight!

If you are having pain, stop. Something isn't right.

Squats and lunges are both very hard on the knees and it's tough to get your form right, especially in a class setting when everyone is free squating.

According to my father in law who is a physical therapist, squats are the absolute worst thing you can do to your knees! I try to avoid them if possible. I could imagine that adding weights to the squat would make it much worse. I say go way slow with the adding of weight or try a different exercise to achieve the same effect.