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Sissy squats or...?

JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2003/05/29, 01:33 PM Hi everyone; I'm doing the progressive gains program and my leg day which I'm planning on doing tonight calls for leg extensions, sissy squats, single machine leg curls, and donkey calves. Is there a sub for sissy squats that will round out the day but not be so hard on my knees? I just don't feel comfortable w/ that exercise. I thought about just subbing standard squats but would that be too much w/ the leg extensions? Could I do standard squats instead of leg extensions and then sub something else for sissy squats? Any input will be appreciated - thanks!
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2003/05/29, 01:37 PM No, if you do regular squats, just do them first. Then the leg extensions. If you have access to a hack squat, this is a great sub for sissy's. But the combo of leg extensions supersetted with sissy's is a killer of leg workour for definition of the lower leg. Be sure to lean back with these, and come up on your toes for that squeeze. Very beneficial if you can do them. If not, as stated, Hacks would be my next choice, then regular squats. -------------- As far as genetics go, the skies the limit. You are limited only by your mental perception of it. Ron
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2003/05/29, 01:40 PM Leg press would be my last sub. Forgot about them. Great thought! If you sub these, I would do them first before extensions also. -------------- As far as genetics go, the skies the limit. You are limited only by your mental perception of it. Ron
JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2003/05/29, 02:25 PM "why do they call them sissy squats" I have wondered this myself... lol... they are really tough! You're probably right, RW - I haven't really had trouble w/ my knees since I started doing squats and lunges. They got stronger very quickly so chances are they would adapt to sissy squats too. Thanks both of you for such a quick response - I'm not sure how to do a hack squat; I'll look it up quick. Again I really appreciate the help - probably will do leg extensions and then hack squats or regular squats and then leg extensions; will just play it by ear. Jess
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2003/05/29, 02:28 PM I hate sissy squats with a passion, they hurt never feel it like I do with reg squats. So I say dump em and squat regular -------------- deadlifts rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2003/05/29, 02:35 PM I guess they may target the leg differently, but all I am looking for is mass and strength and power, not about a bodybuilder look per se -------------- deadlifts rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!
warlock Posts: 14 Joined: 2003/05/19	2003/05/29, 02:43 PM For a time I didn't like them either. Just a thought, I used the leg press to help get past it. try to bring you feet closer together and lower the their position on foot pad. when you hit the bottom of the movement it looks and feel close to the postion you would be doing sissy's. The difference is that you don't have to balance as much and strain your knees.
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2003/05/29, 02:47 PM Yeah to each their own I wanna lift a car not compete on a stage! LOL -------------- deadlifts rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2003/05/29, 03:08 PM I have but i really am nowwhere strong enough for that...many years of hard training are required for that... -------------- deadlifts rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!
azredhead57 Posts: 1,651 Joined: 2003/04/11	2003/05/29, 04:00 PM We were just talking about these at the gym yesterday with a couple trainers and they said that they are really hard on your knees. (There is nothing 'sissy' about them.) Here is an article I ran across. It is mostly common sense, but good advice still. It reconfirms for me though that what is a comfortable foot placement for my husband isn't always comfortable for me. From M&F Hers, Aug/Sep 2001 (about knees) As a female athlete, you should know that you have a much higher chance of injuring your knees than your male counterparts do. According to the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, female soccer players are twice as likely as male players to injure their knees, and female basketball players are four times as likely. At special risk is your anterior cruciate ligament; a rupture could compromise or end a sports career, and the resulting surgery can put you out of commission for quite a while. Anatomical differences may play a role, researchers say. Women's knees are usually smaller than men's, with less restraining tissue. Because of sex hormones, your ligaments are often more lax, creating a looser joint. And because you have a wider pelvis relative to the knee joint, your thigh bones angle inward more than those of men, creating further instability. Finally, women tend to have significantly more strength in their quadriceps than in their hamstrings, an imbalance that can portend trouble. Yet a serious knee injury isn't necessarily a foregone conclusion. You can take measures to prevent one: *Don't suddenly intensify or lengthen your workouts *Make sure your shoes fit properly *Stretch your leg muscles, especially your hams and calves, before and after each workout *Strengthen your leg muscles, particularly your hamstrings *Avoid heavy leg extensions, and don't lock your knees on the leg press *Beware of deep lunges, full squats, excessive kneeling, running downhill, exercising on hard surfaces, sitting too long with your legs crossed, and wearing high heels more often than just for special occasions. --Frank Claps, Med, CSCS -------------- ~Victoria~ ...Some things have to be believed to be seen!
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2003/05/29, 06:47 PM Yes, I would not do sissy's for an extended period of time. A few weeks is all with this superset. You can as mentioned on the leg press put your feet low and close together on the pad, this is great for that area, and you will find you cannot do as much weight as with a middle wide or shoulder width stance. Great for that "teardrop" definition in the lower part of the leg. By the way, the reason they call them sissy squats is there is no weight involved, so they look very easy to the uninitiated. -------------- As far as genetics go, the skies the limit. You are limited only by your mental perception of it. Ron
JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2003/06/01, 10:07 PM Wow, just got back in town. :) I had to do my leg day today instead and I did squats and leg extensions and skipped the sissy squats. Thanks again everyone!
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2003/06/02, 02:26 PM I actually use a dumbell, held on my hipbones in front of my body, when I do sissy squats. I have had problems knees in the past - but done correctly, sissy squats haven't bothered my knees - and you get a whole new muscle soreness from them... -------------- Challenge + Consistency = Results
JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2003/06/02, 02:38 PM I wish I had one of you at the gym w/ me to check my form - this is one of the exercises I want to make sure I'm doing correctly before I add it.
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2004/06/03, 08:12 AM bump