I am loving squats and lunges all of a sudden, but I feel like I'm not doing them exactly right. I know not to let your knees go over your feet. But where do you hold your weights? Down? At your shoulders? At your sides? And I'm not getting down very far, is that something that will come with time? Balance wise-if I'm tipping over do I need to widen my stance? I just knew you gals could give me the basics, maybe even those cute little videos I like so much. TIA!

I have a feeling that there are many more well informed people than I hear but I'll tell you what I know.

For squats, I usually start with my legs just slightly wider than shoulder width apart and, if I'm using a barbell, it's sitting on my shoulders (for lack of a better explanation). I will also do squats with my legs a fair bit wider and my toes pointed out slightly. My understanding is that this can help with the inner thighs a bit more.

I don't do lunges with weights, but that's just me. I'm still new and I find that my form is better when I'm not holding weights. And my heart rate absolutely goes up without any help.

I think you should go as deep in the squats as is comfortable and you're right about the knees. I just really try to think like I'm going to sit back in a chair and I stick my butt out and keep my back straight.

I'm sure that you'll get way better information than I can give you from some of the experts around. I would also take a look at the "stickys" at the top of this section. I wish I could remember exactly where but one of the threads has great links to some basic exercises with pictures and little videos, as far as I remember. They were a great help to me to get the right form.

Also maybe there's someone at your gym, if you're at a gym who can help you with your form.

The answers to this question are endless....There are a zillion ways to do squats and lunges. Here is some basic squat information from Krista's site.

Mel

Like Mel said there are endless ways of doing squats and lunges... My fav lunges lately are walking lunges holding 5-10+lb dumbells, lunges on a bench, bosu ball... Squats on a bosu ball, on two bosu balls, sumo squats, one legged squats...

www.exrx.net also has some great info and videos...