Okay...newbie here... jumping in...
I do two sets/10 reps of dumbbell squats as part of my full-body workout, which I do three days a week.
When I first start doing them, I had a hard time. I really had to pay attention to my form, or my back would hurt from doing them. For 2-3 weeks, I didn't use any weight.... just concentrated on getting the form right and getting used to the movement. Now, they're one of my fav exercises as I can always feel the burn and I think they've contributed alot to my leg strength. And it's one exercise that I need to up the weight on my dumbbells!
Lunges are another lower body exercise that are somewhat awkward when you first start them. Again, I think it's important to go through complete sets, mastering the movements, even without weights, until you're comfortable with the correct form.
And don't worry... you're not alone. I have about three exercises that I literally hate... and the lunge is one of them. Interestingly, it's the ones we hate the most that shape us the best. In my opinion, these are two exercises that can take longer to feel like you've "got" them! Just keep trying, keep proper form, and one day, suddenly, you'll be like..."hey! that wasn't so bad today!" and you'll get that high from feeling so much stronger.
BTW, Mel... I really appreciate your insight that I've read in so many posts.
What an inspiration you are!
Charlotte