Thanks for the link, Mel! I really liked the article, especially page 4 where he suggests some exercises. :)

Bill- If you have no injuries, squats, lunges and deadlifts are fine. My 74 yr old step-father works out 3 times a week and does everything us young uns do :lol3: He's just very careful (as am I) to lift with perfect form and a weight that he can safely handle. That should hold true for everyone!

Mel

Gonna Go Squat
 

Thanks Mel, Meg, and Pat for the encouragement to do my squats. I'll add a few when I workout tomorrow.



And then my lunges.




So many muscles, so little time.


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Originally Posted by BillBlueEyes:

So many muscles, so little time.

Yup, that's why we love those compound exercises. Hit as many of those muscles at once as we can.

I Squat Today
 

So, taking the good advice here, I squat today at gym. Just 2 sets of 15 reps, done slowly, against a ball against the wall. I didn't use the Leg Extension machine, in fact I kinda scorned it as I passed by like an ex-smoker scorning a butt.

Thanks for your kind advice.

[Now, will some kind English Major tell me how to conjugate 'squat']

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Completed Beck Program-day 42. You’ve met your goal. Congratulations!

Newbie here - I started weight training a couple months ago and haven't been using any machines - except the cable. Wouldn't you know it, I read this article a few days ago and then Thursday my trainer puts me on this split foot plate leg press machine (I don't know what it's called, but it's the best way for me to describe it.). It was very challenging for me to do simultaneous-alternating leg presses. He basically said he was showing me these just for some variety...to still do the squats, lunges and step-ups, but incorporate these in occasionally? Any point to that? By the end of 3 sets I would actually prefer to never do them again.

Nori- I know exactly what you are talking about. We had one at the last gym where I worked. I think the alternating presses are a challenging exercise. Another variationn is to keep the plate split and try to do presses with both legs and keep them completely even. It's good to have variety in your workout, but again, you are completely stationary and your back and abs are being supported by the backrest of the leg press machine. I wouldn't throw it out, but just be aware that unless you are ONLY training for more aesthetic muscles, moving your whole body and using you core muscles to balance will give you more of a workout than a seated exercise.

Mel

Bill: Good job!!! I started with the wall squats too. Btw, it's squatted. Now I squat, yesterday I squatted, tomorrow I will squat. :)

Thanks so much, Mel!