Lunges instead of squats? - UK-Muscle Body Building Community

WTCollins · 11-11-2006, 02:48 PM

I work out at home (no money for gym) and I don't have a squat rack so I've had to do squats using dumbells. The problem is now that I've been lifting for 6 months I can no longer use dumbells so I'm thinking of replacing squats with lunges. I know this isn't ideal but what I want to know is, will my quads continue to see gains (hypertrophy) if I only do lunges and not squats.
Thanks.

GINGER-GOAT · 11-11-2006, 05:53 PM

they will grow a little but not like with the squats they will be more shapely,why cant you use dumbbells anymore?you can still do squats if you havent got a squat rack,get a big log and get it on yer back in the garden it dosent matter then when you drop it,ive done this when i was skint its old skool rocky way lol but it works.

**hackskii** · 11-11-2006, 06:22 PM

Many variations here but you could do lunges.
Could do hack squats with dumbells too.
Could even do squats with reps, or volume work.

WTCollins · 11-11-2006, 10:19 PM

I've got to the stage where the weight I need to squat with is too heavy to hold by my sides, I knew this would happen eventually, the same has happened with calf raises.
I think I'll buy a Powerline Vertical Leg Press machine which I can use for leg presses instead of squats, plus I can also use it for calf raises and bent knee calf raises.

donnyboy · 12-11-2006, 07:59 AM

If you can afford to buy a leg press, why not just get a good set of squat stands?

Magic Torch · 12-11-2006, 10:00 AM

Or join a gym?

WTCollins · 12-11-2006, 10:01 AM

I had thought of that, but I also need something for calf raises, and I can't afford two machines.

donnyboy · 12-11-2006, 10:52 AM

Do Calf Raises with the barbell across your shoulders - get a solid block of wood to stand on for an extra range of motion.
Proper squats are far superior to leg press IMO

Littleluke · 12-11-2006, 11:15 AM

^^^^ if you can afford that then just join a gym. Works out cheaper plus all that home equipment is pretty poor unless you spend big bucks imo.

GINGER-GOAT · 12-11-2006, 11:26 AM

my gym is £150 for the year its hard to find a squatrack for less.

BrokenBack · 12-11-2006, 11:21 PM

Have you tryed pre eshausting your legs with lunges 1st , then do your squats, or do what ive done in the garage and pile up breeze blocks agaist the wall and use that as ur squat rack, not the safest but it does the job, what weight you squating and for how many reps?

**Pscarb** · 13-11-2006, 09:41 AM

you could always use Sissy Squats...

DB · 13-11-2006, 10:07 AM

Lunges are awesome imo...

if u up the reps to 20 on the squats and go heavy on the lunges i'm sure u will get good gains

11-11-2006, 02:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
WTCollins Newbie Trainer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3	Lunges instead of squats? I work out at home (no money for gym) and I don't have a squat rack so I've had to do squats using dumbells. The problem is now that I've been lifting for 6 months I can no longer use dumbells so I'm thinking of replacing squats with lunges. I know this isn't ideal but what I want to know is, will my quads continue to see gains (hypertrophy) if I only do lunges and not squats. Thanks.

11-11-2006, 06:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
hackskii UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Southern California U.S.A. Posts: 23,714	Many variations here but you could do lunges. Could do hack squats with dumbells too. Could even do squats with reps, or volume work. __________________ "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." - George Carlin Scott To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-11-2006, 10:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
Magic Torch UK-M Swimsuit model Join Date: May 2005 Location: Essex Posts: 5,175 Blog Entries: 5	Or join a gym? __________________ intentionally blank

12-11-2006, 11:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
Littleluke Junior Bodybuilder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK. Posts: 3,215	^^^^ if you can afford that then just join a gym. Works out cheaper plus all that home equipment is pretty poor unless you spend big bucks imo. __________________ Luke Bartram - Sponsored by BODITRONICS Enter uk-muscle1 as your coupon code when shopping at boditronics to recieve 30% off RRP. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "I do it because I can, I can because I want to, I want to because you said I couldn't" To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 2008 UKBFF South Coast - Runner Up 2008 Muscle Mayhem - 2nd place (qualified for NABBA Novice Britain)

13-11-2006, 09:41 AM	#12 (permalink)
Pscarb UK-Muscle Moderator and NABBA Champion Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 10,522	you could always use Sissy Squats... __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Admin at To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Sponsored by Extreme Nutrition - Almost an unfair advantage

11-11-2006, 05:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
GINGER-GOAT barrr barrr! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: feild Posts: 71	they will grow a little but not like with the squats they will be more shapely,why cant you use dumbbells anymore?you can still do squats if you havent got a squat rack,get a big log and get it on yer back in the garden it dosent matter then when you drop it,ive done this when i was skint its old skool rocky way lol but it works.

11-11-2006, 10:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
WTCollins Newbie Trainer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3	I've got to the stage where the weight I need to squat with is too heavy to hold by my sides, I knew this would happen eventually, the same has happened with calf raises. I think I'll buy a Powerline Vertical Leg Press machine which I can use for leg presses instead of squats, plus I can also use it for calf raises and bent knee calf raises.

12-11-2006, 07:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
donnyboy Newbie Trainer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Notts Posts: 13	If you can afford to buy a leg press, why not just get a good set of squat stands?

12-11-2006, 10:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
WTCollins Newbie Trainer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3	I had thought of that, but I also need something for calf raises, and I can't afford two machines.

12-11-2006, 10:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
donnyboy Newbie Trainer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Notts Posts: 13	Do Calf Raises with the barbell across your shoulders - get a solid block of wood to stand on for an extra range of motion. Proper squats are far superior to leg press IMO

12-11-2006, 11:26 AM	#10 (permalink)
GINGER-GOAT barrr barrr! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: feild Posts: 71	my gym is £150 for the year its hard to find a squatrack for less.

12-11-2006, 11:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
BrokenBack Not as in the gay cowboy film, as in a back injury lol Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: uk Posts: 188	Have you tryed pre eshausting your legs with lunges 1st , then do your squats, or do what ive done in the garage and pile up breeze blocks agaist the wall and use that as ur squat rack, not the safest but it does the job, what weight you squating and for how many reps?

13-11-2006, 10:07 AM	#13 (permalink)
DB UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SW London Posts: 11,433	Lunges are awesome imo... if u up the reps to 20 on the squats and go heavy on the lunges i'm sure u will get good gains __________________ DB To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. often imitated never duplicated To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. DB sleeps with a night light. Not because DB is afraid of the dark, but the dark is afraid of DB. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.