On a hack squat machine, your back is completely supported and you don't have to control the balance or the angle of your knees (as long as you are on the correct spot on the platform). You can go VERY deep and use your glutes and hamstrings as well as your quads without fear of falling over or not getting back up, like a traditional squat. Worst case, you have to wiggle out of the hack squat machine if you load it too heavy :o You can't actually get squished by one!

Mel

When I first started weight training I had a difficult time doing lunges too... I still have a hard time doing my lunges straight on the floor, but I don't have a hard time doing walking lunges, go figure :shrug:... So what I did and still do is lunge on a box about the height of a step and for some reason, that maybe Mel or Meg can explain, I find these lunges much easier. If I don't do them on a box my knee hits the floor and THAT really hurts the knee cap :yes:

The box lunges...do you step back off of it or forward on to it?

I saw a lady at my gym today using the deadlift block. She stood on it holding onto the barbell and stepped backwards down to the floor. I might try those.

I have seen lunges done both ways...
- facing the step with the front foot on the step and
- facing away from the step with your back toes on the step
They probably work your muscles from different angles.

I do the box lunge forward, but I just saw in a magazine the backward one, which I may try soon...

Have you tried lunging to the right and left sides? It tends to engage more of the inner thigh (well, most of the whole thigh) instead of focused on the glutes so much.

What is a box lunge?

Tiki.

(PS I must be hungry because first I typed "What is a box lunch?" )

Tiki -- Instead of ''lunching'' just on the floor you use a box about 8'' high to ''lunch'' on ... :lol:...