Is Squating Necessary?

come2me · Feb 10, 2005

I've read from various websites that squating is essential to muscle growth not onlt for the lower body but for the upper body as well...so i started to squat.

However, when i tried to do squats with either dumbbells( 25lbs in each hand), barbells (30lb), i found my arms getting fatigued a long way before my quads feels any fatigue.

I've had some friends and a chiropractor told me that my legs are incredibly strong compared to my skinny upper body.. I'm 5' 11,150lbs and can grab a standard basketball rim with vertical jumps.

I'm guessing that my arms are too weak compared to my leg muscles...should I work my arms and do squats when they're strong enough?

P.S. (I curl 20lbs 8~12 reps)

freddy1 · Feb 10, 2005

come2me said:
I've read from various websites that squating is essential to muscle growth not onlt for the lower body but for the upper body as well...so i started to squat.

Squats are absolutely necessary. the release huge amounts of testosterone and will help your upper body growth.

come2me said:
However, when i tried to do squats with either dumbbells( 25lbs in each hand), barbells (30lb), i found my arms getting fatigued a long way before my quads feels any fatigue.

Sounds like you may performing them incorrectly. A barbell squat is demonstrated in this link.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/exercises.php?MainMuscle=Quadriceps

be sure to use a squat rack for safety like the lady under the entry "barbell squat" is. I would recommend asking an experienced lifter as to whether your form is correct. squat is an excellent exercise, but can be dangerous if performed with bad form.
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come2me said:
I've had some friends and a chiropractor told me that my legs are incredibly strong compared to my skinny upper body.. I'm 5' 11,150lbs and can grab a standard basketball rim with vertical jumps.

I am built the same way (with a disproportionally stronger lower body). just genetics i guess.

come2me said:
I'm guessing that my arms are too weak compared to my leg muscles...should I work my arms and do squats when they're strong enough?

no. your arms will always be weaker than your legs. this is normal.

and remember, squats are the king of exercises (and i would put the deadlift right up there as well). if you do only one lift, do the squat or deadlift.

corple · Feb 10, 2005

really? doing squats will make you grow? like make you grow taller and have deeper voice? if i do squats in with my excercise, will it make my other workouts worth more?

pumpster · Feb 10, 2005

Ya, you're doing something wrong if arm stress is the problem. They're a must once you've got the form down.

Adler1983 · Feb 10, 2005

I'm not really sure how your arms are getting fatigued. The dumb bell option probably isn't your best optoin. But if you're doing olympic barbell squats, the bar resting on your upper traps; your arms/hands should serve no other purpose than to stabilize and secure the bar.

come2me · Feb 11, 2005

thanks freddy that's a great site, and thanks adler, I'll try to improve my form =)

Man of Steel · Feb 11, 2005

Squat right from the start but you'll need someone to show you the proper form.

spockafina · Feb 11, 2005

Adler1983 said:
But if you're doing olympic barbell squats, the bar resting on your upper traps; your arms/hands should serve no other purpose than to stabilize and secure the bar.

I agree w/ doing barbell squats instead.

Squats are so good for you! Don't stop doing them!

abear · Feb 11, 2005

its been said that those who neglect training their legs could be cutting their results in half.

notice they said "could be". you have to realize stuff like previous injuries, etc have to be considered. but hard work on squats and even deadlifts can carry over to presses and rows and along with chins and dips, can have a dramatic effect on upper body training.

thats why sometimes when you see someone ask "how do i get bigger arms", a person will say SQUAT!!