Squat Squat Squat

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March 9, 2013 by little hurdles big race

I started a body weight squat challenge for the month of March. I found it on the FB page – I See Fit People. I like this page, it about motivating yourself and making fitness fun and challenging…sound familiar. Well here is the challenge…

I have a love hate relationship with squats at the gym. I know they are one of the best exercises you can do for multiple muscle groups at one time. With proper form the squat is a full body works out of 10 muscle groups which includes your quads, hamstrings, glutes, core, it also strengthens your tendons, ligaments, and bone. Nothing really beats the weighted squat but the body weight squats in high reps works your conditioning and is said to be one of the best fat burning exercises you can do.

You can see proper form at www.exercisegoals.combodyweight-squats.html

Getting your legs to parallel with the floor is key. Above parallel is a shallow squat and below is a deep squat. When doing the squats with dumb bells or these body weight squats use a low chair, ottoman, or bench (if you’re at the gym) to touch down your butt which will make sure you get to 90 degrees. With shallow squats means you are cheating yourself. Get parallel!

But with most everything I did this because I didn’t think I could. Starting at 110? Ending at 300? Seems impossible but I am doing it! I started a few days late so I am currently on 150, and I missed yesterday because I am sick. With the fat burning and increased heart rate it’s making my lungs feel like they are on fire. So my health is trumping my fitness – I may try again today because I don’t want to get too far behind my goal. Follow the goals on the challenge, stay hydrated, and work at your own pace with reps. I would say that if you can do all the reps at once then you need to add some dumb bells to your routine 🙂

You can start right now – you don’t have to worry about what day of the week it is right now. Just challenge yourself – you have the strength!