To Squat or Not To Squat – Should you replace this popular leg exercise?

August 8th, 2010 | by admin |


athleanx.com I am excited to announce the brand new AthLEAN-X blog, where I will be able to share with you guys my best training tips, fat loss secrets and muscle building tactics to get you in the best shape of your life. The AthLEAN-X blog will be OUR forum to communicate with eachother, with the common goal of looking better and getting stronger in record time! Don’t worry….more training videos are coming! This is just another way for me to continue to bring you new content and even more information. It’s my way of saying “thank you” to all my loyal “X” Squad for all your support in helping our channel become one of the fastest growing on youtube. Ladies and gentleman….welcome to the neXt generation of fitness! Jeff Cavaliere is a celebrity fitness trainer to some of the greatest professional athletes in the four major sports and some of the biggest celebrities walking the red carpet! He is a writer for Men’s Fitness magazine and the author of the upcoming book The Teen Sports Nutrition Blueprint! Continue to follow all of Jeff’s cutting edge training techniques and insider methods by subscribing to this channel and then grabbing a copy of your own AthLEAN-X Training System at http

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  1. 25 Responses to “To Squat or Not To Squat – Should you replace this popular leg exercise?”

  2. By visla84 on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    I like other videos, but this one i find very very misleading. Back squat is one of the best strength building exercises athlete or anybody for that matter can do. I can see where you are coming from but perhaps what this video should be about is properly showing us the form instead of giving us alternatives which are farrrr farrr less beneficial.I personally don’t think your channel has anything to do with athleticism.And for those wanting to squat read one of rippetoes books.

  3. By sambobwhere on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    Thanks for this Jeff, since i heavily injured my back playing rugby 4years ago i’ve tried to build the muscle back up but everytime i did try squats like you said it caused pain to my lower back which really inconvenienced me as it meant i could play rugby properly or train myself or at rugby.
    i’ll be alot happier now knowing theres a much more challenging way to exercise.
    thanks

  4. By sambobwhere on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    Thanks for this Jeff, since i heavily injured my back playing rugby 4years ago i’ve tried to build the muscle back up but everytime i did try squats like you said it caused pain to my lower back which really inconvenienced me as it meant i could play rugby properly or train myself or at rugby.
    i’ll be alot happier now knowing theres a much more challenging way to exercise.
    thanks

  5. By Wayofthefighter on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    Can’t you do the squat with the bar if you just stick your butt out?

  6. By dwinflat on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    excellent! i like to look up to the ceiling, usually makes my posture better

  7. By ViolatedCunt on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    I have a bulged disc and i’m only 16, good job i can recover from it being so young.

    Poor mobility + hyperextending back = welcome to the fucked up back club.

  8. By ThePrinceAti on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    Uf you dont put this exercise in your routine you are a FOOL

  9. By thekernstable on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    Great physiology info.! I look to incorporate this into my training. Will this work for size as well? Do people looking for competitive size need squats, or is that another myth?

  10. By bigbooturass on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    deadlift is also a good total body workout :D

  11. By stevethetree1991 on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    i started doing squats regularly about 3 months ago since i thought i was prepared (i have been working out for about 3 years) and i didn’t take them lightly — i knew they could be damaging if done wrong. i tried hard to keep good form, but it was difficult to challenge my legs without adding so much weight that it made my back uncomfortable. after 2 months of squats i strained a ligament in my lower back the day after a work out, just from bending over to place a rugby ball down on the ground

  12. By pozza09 on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    hey Jeff, i saw your program and i am very impressed. i would like to know how i can i can get as rip as i can without gym equipment. especially when it comes to my legs and core.

  13. By eksempler69 on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    And what do you think about leg press?is it good or bad?

  14. By stylezNout on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    just do frontal squats.

  15. By spideyman12004 on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    I have sciatic problems because of doing squats and can no longer do them because of it. Even just lightly loading the bar and putting it across my shoulders, I can feel the pressure on my lower discs. So I started doing one legged training for my legs a couple years ago and I haven’t had any serious sciatic pain since then.

  16. By cahyowjow on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    Well, the squat with that cattle ball still loads the L5/S1. The only difference is the moment arm to L5/S1

  17. By Kulmataklaus on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    You know. I wish somebody had told me this a long time before starting to squat. My genetics alone provided me with a weak, hurting lower back. Squat never worked for me, and only made things worse regardless of taught and supervised form.

    These more technical and everchanging training routines are what truly provide you with a body that is strong enough to mountain climb, instead of carry your grandmothers sofa when required.

  18. By tunda11 on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    @shuls89 he just said 95% of people, do you think world class powerlifters make up more than 5%? Do you even dare to go as far as saying they dont have back pain?????

  19. By shuls89 on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    hey, i dont really agree with your lower back stuff, primarily because world class powerlifters don’t complain of low back pain. I do understand your points though of directly loading your legs. I’m currently more into powerlifting, but I do understand there is a risk. I’m sure Mike Boyle agrees with you.

  20. By erenaghan on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    Looks like you really have no clue about what you are talking about. Your demo of the squat was pretty terrible, confirming your lack of knowledge on the subject. why would you want to pursue flexibility and strength at the same time? It is just too efficient. I feel sorry for any actual athletes that you coach.

  21. By TheRen6666 on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    Im late but, better late then never .Thanks it make so much sense.I wish a saw that video before.

  22. By dico31 on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    thanks Jeff great vid gonna give it a go.ive been training for many years and do get a bad back now and again which spoiles my workouts, so this makes sense and is definitlet worth trying
    thanks again, andy

  23. By Silent13Assassin on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    Pistols (the last squat he showed) will help you alot, esp if you do them with out the bench

  24. By TheBigfeetgirl on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    Thanks so much for this! For me, doing squats with a barbell on my shoulders creates an acute pain in my lower back, exactly where you indicated. I don’t usually get back pain doing squats without the weight, but I generally prefer to avoid them altogether. I’m never sure what to replace them with, so this video is really helpful!

  25. By mohammad112388 on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    Great vid, but nothing can replace the squat (maybe a front barbell squat), but nothing is more anabolic than the squat IMO. Deadlifting is good tooo

  26. By hardroad1 on Aug 8, 2010 | Reply

    Jeff,You are a guru!Thanks for the video these exercises that you show are the smart way to train.keep the videos coming mate.

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