My boyfriend and I have different views on what is better. I do lunges but he says I should do leg presses, because they are better. My lunges are with bicep curls and arnold presses in the reps. My legs burn after 10 reps, but I do 3 sets, dead afterwards. Leg presses I did (today anyway) 90lbs 45 degree incline, 6 reps (they are hard) with the same kind of burn in my legs. So, is one better than the other?

Squats > both of those exercises.

But if you want to choose, I say DB lunges are better.

I read somewhere (maybe on JSF) where someone said that the only thing the leg press machine is good for is making you better at using the leg press machine. Some would say it's not a safe machine either. Read this (http://www.slate.com/id/2142567/) before using it again.

Yes squats are better for so many reasons, but since you asked, I would have to agree that lunges are the better option. The leg press machine robs you of a great opportunity to build strength in so many places.

P.S I like the cat

Yes squats are probably better, but I have horrible neck and back issues and if I don't do the squats perfectly, I hurt. They weight really pulls on my shoulders and neck. I've been trying to strengthen my back but I don't know if I will be able to do squats.

Yes squats are probably better, but I have horrible neck and back issues and if I don't do the squats perfectly, I hurt. They weight really pulls on my shoulders and neck. I've been trying to strengthen my back but I don't know if I will be able to do squats.

Squats and deadlifts are excellent for rehabilitation. The bar when squatting, should lay across the lower (posterior) deltoid and not on your neck bone or upper deltoids. You will notice a big difference in comfort if you change this. However, only you really know how serious your injuries are.

The bar when squatting, should lay across the lower (posterior) deltoid and not on your neck bone or upper deltoids.

I do place the bar low, the dead lift squats (I think that is the name) is the one that bothers my neck. Just the weight of the bar pulls on the shoulders which in turn pulls on my neck muscles. I think for now I will stay with lunges. But thanks for your advice. I will try squats down the road when I get stronger.

I do place the bar low, the dead lift squats (I think that is the name) is the one that bothers my neck. Just the weight of the bar pulls on the shoulders which in turn pulls on my neck muscles. I think for now I will stay with lunges. But thanks for your advice. I will try squats down the road when I get stronger.

There is no such thing as a deadlift squat. Too much weight and poor form are what is causing your issues. However, if you are more comfortable with lunges, power to you. Good luck.

Depends what you want to accomplish.
Most sport movements (running etc) are done with alternate legs, like a lunge.

Turns out there are a couple of muscles that are used in the lunge that are not used in the squat.

Depends what you want to accomplish.


What ever woman wants, slim, trim, sexy legs. :D

Yes squats are probably better, but I have horrible neck and back issues and if I don't do the squats perfectly, I hurt. They weight really pulls on my shoulders and neck. I've been trying to strengthen my back but I don't know if I will be able to do squats.

Try front squats.

As for people saying squats are better than lunges or other single legged work, I disagree. I think it is important to do both unilateral and bilateral leg work to prevent imbalances and to work a lot of the stabilization muscles more effectively.

After all, how many sports or real life activities require you to symmetrically push or pull bilaterally with your legs?

Also consider Bulgarian split squats and single legged stiff legged deadlifts as good single legged options, or even pistol squats if you are strong enough.

As to leg presses, they have their uses, but IMO many just use them so they can throw on a bunch of plates and do reps with 2 inches range of motion and convince themselves they are strong.

Squats replicate the jumping motion from a standing start.

Lunges more replicate a sprinting action.


Hence both can be useful sports specific training exercise - eg football (soccer) - squats can aid one's spring from a standing start if leaping for a header (in soccer leaping from a standing start for a header is a common occurrence, as is run and jump mind you), and lunges can aid sprinting power.

I am not saying squats are worthless for sports. I believe the opposite. I was trying to point out that many, many more movements are not symmetrical, so unilateral work shouldn't be ignored.

I am not saying squats are worthless for sports. I believe the opposite. I was trying to point out that many, many more movements are not symmetrical, so unilateral work shouldn't be ignored.


I wasn't making a point at you mate to be honest - was just making a general point re lunges and squats:D

They all have their uses, even leg press's are good when you want to mix it up a bit, or finish off your legs after some heavy squats. Sure some are "better" then others, but the best exercise is usually the one you haven't done in the past 6 weeks. If you have been squatting for the past 6 weeks, a couple weeks of leg press's followed by returning to squats might just do you some good.

Anyways, as for the question, tell your boyfriend to hold a couple 50lb db's in his hands, and do walking lunges across the gym and back. 3 times (or 3 sets of 20 steps, 10 per leg). Assuming he's an average guy, if he does them correctly (which he will because you will make sure he does) a couple little 50lb db's should be enough to make him appreciate (or curse) lunges in the morning.

If he won't do them because he doesn't want to look silly, promise him nookie, the promise of nookie will make any testosterone producing man do just about anything (although I have a feeling by tomorrow he won't feel like nookie....... or walking lol)

Best way to help someone appreciate a good movement, is to make them feel it ;)

My boyfriend and I have different views on what is better. I do lunges but he says I should do leg presses, because they are better. My lunges are with bicep curls and arnold presses in the reps. My legs burn after 10 reps, but I do 3 sets, dead afterwards. Leg presses I did (today anyway) 90lbs 45 degree incline, 6 reps (they are hard) with the same kind of burn in my legs. So, is one better than the other?

Yes. Lunges are better. Doing them with dumbells is great too.

Bulgarians and single leg deadlifts are a combination which is even better.

Yes squats are probably better, but I have horrible neck and back issues and if I don't do the squats perfectly, I hurt.

This is why the combination of Bulgarians and single leg deadlifts is for you. Bon appetite! :tucool:

They are excellent for your boyfriend unless he has a fragile ego.

What every woman wants, slim, trim, sexy legs. :D

Lunges are excellent for sexy legs. As a fencing coach we had women who came out for fencing just to get the legs. (Fencing practice involves hundreds of lunges). Do not quit the lunges, especially if they give your self image a boost.

That being said, I would still suggest adding the combination of Bulgarians and single leg deadlifts. I think it will get you there a little quicker.

Note that the trim part will depend a lot on your diet. Just like your abs. If you want a slender midsection, that will come from your nutrition, not from doing crunches.

Also consider Bulgarian split squats and single legged stiff legged deadlifts as good single legged options, or even pistol squats if you are strong enough.

Yeah baby! I should have expected you might have gotten here first.

I swear I have to get video of this woman volleyball coach who works out at my gym doing a leg day. Then when women ask what to do for legs, we could just point them at the video. She does great unilateral work (she has invented a compound on inverted bosu - single leg deadlift / pistol / curl and press with single dumbell), and she has the smoothest jump lunges I've ever seen. I doubt she would agree to the video though.

There are a couple other women at the gym who have gotten into the single leg work, and I think the results of that have been good too. I don't know that for them it's leaps and bounds better than the women who rely on lunges though. The real point is doing good leg work with feet on the floor.

i have to say i've become very... prejudiced against people who only do leg presses. actually, during last spring and summer i only once saw a guy doing lunges in my old gym, everyone else only used machines. i don't remember i ever saw anyone do squats and deadlifts either, apart from one other girl, and myself of course.
no wonder all the guys had the 'frog look':D
seriously though, there is nothing worse than being 'instructed' on how to properly use some machine by a guy who's never done proper leg work.

Anyways, as for the question, tell your boyfriend to hold a couple 50lb db's in his hands, and do walking lunges across the gym and back. 3 times
Best way to help someone appreciate a good movement, is to make them feel it ;)

:claphigh:

Try front squats.

Also consider Bulgarian split squats and single legged stiff legged deadlifts as good single legged options, or even pistol squats if you are strong enough.

Will you guide me to a website or something that describes how to do these, I'm not sure what they are? Also front squats?

I googled the squats and saw images of them. I think I have an idea. One question, do you squat to where knee is 45 degree angle?

Front Squats (http://exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/BBFrontSquat.html)

Bulgarian Split Squat (http://exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/BBSingleLegSplitSquat.html)

Then there are a lot of single legged things in this (http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=473323) t-nation article, including single legged deads.

I googled the squats and saw images of them. I think I have an idea. One question, do you squat to where knee is 45 degree angle?

More like 90 degree angle.

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there are a lot of variations of the single leg deadlift; they are almost all fine:

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Thanks for the info guys, I will use some of these in my next rotation.

Zen/Mannish, quick question.

On the Bulgarian's, should you aim for the bottom of the hams on the squating leg to be breaking parellel similar to a BB Back squat? Or should you restrict the ROM because its single legged?

Zen/Mannish, quick question.

On the Bulgarian's, should you aim for the bottom of the hams on the squating leg to be breaking parellel similar to a BB Back squat? Or should you restrict the ROM because its single legged?

I try to get to femur parallel, but generally don't get quite there because the back knee would be in the ground.

Ok, Thanks Andy.:)

Zen/Mannish, quick question.

On the Bulgarian's, should you aim for the bottom of the hams on the squating leg to be breaking parellel similar to a BB Back squat? Or should you restrict the ROM because its single legged?

Actually you can be a little more liberal about squatting deeper with Bulgarians because they are unilateral. There is no need to go deeper with Bulgarians than parallel, but the back leg doesn't generate anywhere near as much shear and torque on the down leg in the Bulgarian as it does in the two legged squat, so there can be fewer issues.

The whole point is to try and get your knee to track properly, this means that you have eliminated unnecessary (and normally completely unwanted) shear and torque. It's often easier to get the tracking right when you only have one knee to worry about.

Now I still wouldn't recommend really deep Bulgarians but that's because I wouldn't recommend really deep squats of any kind.

I try to get to femur parallel, but generally don't get quite there because the back knee would be in the ground.

If you increase the distance of the front foot to the back foot support you should be able to keep the back knee farther from the ground.

Then there are a lot of single legged things in this (http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=473323) t-nation article, including single legged deads.

As usual, excellent article find, Andy! comes in very handy....:D