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I know a squat is not THAT hard, however, the simplest way I can describe it is that I come down with my weight on my toes. I have my feet the slight angle apart, not very much at all, and shoulder width apart. Now, I usually DON'T do the squat "Butt out first." I simply drop, keep my back straight, and throw my hands either out or out and up for the necessary balance. I still work the midsection, even though I come down with my weight on my toes. I can do about 50 squats in secession, or in a row.
Am I overthinking this? I am a bit on the tall side, I'm working on my core and losing belly fat, even if that doesn't slim in and of itself, I am wondering if the way I am doing the exercise is still benefiting me.
I would imagine it is, because body weight is still weight..
If you wish to move on to barbell squats, you have to decide if you want to do a low-bar squat or a high-bar squat.
Personally, I think a high-bar squat is the best alternative, but honestly, I don't think barbell squats are necessary at all unless you're aiming for maximum hypertrophy in your quads. The barbell squat is a highly technical lift.
I know a squat is not THAT hard, however, the simplest way I can describe it is that I come down with my weight on my toes. I have my feet the slight angle apart, not very much at all, and shoulder width apart. Now, I usually DON'T do the squat "Butt out first." I simply drop, keep my back straight, and throw my hands either out or out and up for the necessary balance. I still work the midsection, even though I come down with my weight on my toes. I can do about 50 squats in secession, or in a row.
Am I overthinking this? I am a bit on the tall side, I'm working on my core and losing belly fat, even if that doesn't slim in and of itself, I am wondering if the way I am doing the exercise is still benefiting me.
I would imagine it is, because body weight is still weight..
A body weight air squat is easy. There is very little risk even with poor technique. A barbell back squat is another beast entirely. It is a very challenging exercise, especially with heavy weight. If you barbell back squat with the weight on your toes you're going to get yourself injured.
You seem to have a flexibility issue, your hip flexors are too tight to do a proper squat. When you lack flexibility, one symptom is to shift weight to your toes to compensate.
The added weight seemed to help because it forced your to stretch out, like someone pushing on your back to tough your toes.
I would start doing high rep (10-15) body weight or with a bar and some light weight just to get some flexibility going. Some people have said concentrating by shifting the weight to the sides of your feet helps with getting use to not going on your toes, thus forcing your movement to be correct.
I would watch some videos from some reputable sites and read some to see if their suggestions match your issues.
The proper form for doing squats dictates that you push with your heels while getting up.
Not sure how harmful is squatting on your toes with your bodyweight, but I would suggest not squatting this way if using weights.
I agree with pushing or driving from your heels. You need to have your feet far enough apart and toes angled out. Find a bench or chair and put it behind you, so that you are almost sitting down on the chair or bench.
Squats are by far the best single exercise. They are the easiest and quickest way to muscle soreness, which I can currently attest.
I'm not sure what the OP means by coming down with the weight on the toes, but if it means squatting down so that your knees track over your toes (so that a lot of your bodyweight is over your toes), then it could lead to injury. More so if you do this motion using a lot of weight with a barbell and plates.
I know for some people they have no problems doing this, but in my case it really messed up one of the knees in my legs and to this day I cannot go below parallel without a sharp pain in my knee.
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