Did you Squat Today?!?!?
Yes I did, no weights.
three sets of 30 each plus one leg squats, plus three sets of 30 each of lunges with one leg elevated ( on chair). Along with a ton of other stuff.
Keith, I did some research on it, (my friend is a former Mr. Germany), he explained the physiology of it and the bottom line is that no amount of squats can really increase the size of a woman's derriere. They can tone and shape it along with some cardio, but you have what you have based mostly on genetics. He explained how even body builders (guys) only really gain a pound of muscle a month and it's distributed all over their body. So...the implications are clear for me...learn to love what I got.
I will keep doing the squats for toning and because it's a very big muscle to work, but... reality is what it's all about.
On a brighter note, Alan thinks I am crazy for even looking into this and could not stop laughing. He told me that he distinctly remembers me asking him if a particular pair of pants didn't make my butt look to large. :)
On YouTube check out
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSQqHSlmg6qQ9vDLIXwxEMA
she would beg to differ. She claims she only has an ass because of squats and lunges and she has pictures to prove it.
Specifically this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YvtA9MxD78
all I know is its a big muscle and good things happen when you exercise it. Calorie burn alone is worth it.
I did 2 sets of 15 and stopped because my knees were hurting. So I changed to step-ups with raised knees for some ab work. I rocked them! I was dripping sweat by the time I was done. 4 sets of 15 for each leg. This was after Leg Curls, Hamstrings, and Leg presses.
If you are feeling the pressure in your knees you might be too far forward and pushing up on the balls of your feet. This is not the right way. You should be pushing down through your heels. So when you squat down push your butt back farther and lean back a little bit for balance. When you are all the way down your upper thighs should be parallel with the ground, you butt should be sticking out and you should have a straight line that goes down through your head through your heels, then when you push up all the power of your body should go down through that straight line. You should not feel any pressure in your knees or hips. You should feel all of the muscles in your butt, thighs, hamstrings, and calves flexing to push your body up. That is what makes this exercise so great if done properly, but the key word is properly. Now if your knees are really bad, you could try some knee braces just to keep them aligned properly, but really your knees should not be doing that much of the work.
Yup - Hack Squats 4 sets- first set with 90 pounds, next three with 70 pounds. Also, people, you must remember that squats really work the entire upper legs - quads, hamstrings and glutes. If you're doing them right you'll feel the burn in all those areas!
Talked with a trainer today at the gym about benefits of squats and he said they are great for strength, keeping your largest muscles "revved up" (meaning burning calories), but more than anything they tone and tighten. For example they are great for guys to get those really tight small hips we all would like to have. But, he was very clear that diet and cardio was very important for reducing body fat which is what is what gives that great butt that you seem to so admire!