[WastedThermos]

So, after taking group fitness classes I realized how much more of a leg workout I got from doing squats and lunges than from doing just lower body machines. However, to realize this I spent days and days walking like a cowboy because my legs hurt so bad. After the classes ended, I kind of stopped doing them, but I've reincorporated them into my lower body routine. I usually just do high repetitions with no extra weight and I can still feel it for days afterwards...
OK.. and now for the question...

Yesterday I saw a thin girl doing lunges with hand weights and I wondered is SHE getting more of a work out than me (using her legs to push up 130ishlbs + 10 extra lbs from the dumbells) or am I getting more of a workout (using my legs to push up 215lbs) ? I'm sure my body requires more muscle to carry it's weight around, so should I be building up to using higher weights or is my own extra body weight sufficient?

[artmaker]

I would play it safe and go with just your body weight while you are feeling results, i.e., muscle tenderness. When the squats/lunges become easy and not enough of a challenge, then you might want to start adding weights. Better to go slow and safe then try to do something that might injure you.

Susan

[shananigans]

I agree with Susan. I don’t use any added weight for my squats and lunges and find them plenty challenging enough. I do use my stability ball sometimes though for a little something different. You can hold one over your head during squats to raise your center of gravity, or lean on to do leg lifts on the floor.

[northernbelle]

I will sometimes use 15 lb dumbbells in each hand for squats and lunges. But I am still working on flexibility, like getting down lower each time, so added weight is not yet important to me. I have a hard time holding a bar across my back, so I may never get to the point of using a weighted bar.

[nelie]

I used to use a barbell for doing my squats and lunges but like Northern Belle, I need to work on my flexibility. I haven't gone back to doing lunges and squats yet but if I do, I would probably concentrate on my flexibility first. I would definitely recommend working on form, flexibility and then adding weights when you are confident about those points.

[sportmom]

I had the same revelation as you when I switched from my in-home weight machine to free weights, after listening to the smart ladies here! :K: I don't do lunges yet, but do squats and plies. I started with 5/8/10 weights, which gave me the cowboy too. After that quit hurting and a re-start, I did it with no added weight. Still got cowboy legs. SO yes, I think no weight is fine until you hear yourself saying, I need something more with this. Then add the weights back in.

And yes, (I may be wrong), but I do think we are more muscular just due to the fact of carrying 200+ lbs around on our frame day in and day out than someone in the low 100's. Just my opinion though.

BTW, is that a photo of you? No way I would have guessed you as 215 in that pic. In fact, you look like someone famous, maybe a country singer - Martina? Or maybe it's the nascar jacket making me think that!