Not Just a Man's World

A few weeks ago I did a post about back squat form.  Building on this I was going to do a post about the different types of squats and what they are beneficial for, but it struck me that there are more than enough of these types of articles elsewhere on the internet.  What you don’t know is why I, personally, choose to squat.

Squat for technique

The most obvious reason why I squat is my stated goal of wanting to eventually qualify and compete at powerlifting.  There is nothing better for ensuring I can do this than to do the specific exercises that I need for competition.

I use supplementary exercises that will improve the quality and strength of my squat performance.  For example, I used Romanian deadlifts to improve my hip mobility and therefore increase the depth of my squat, while I now use a combination of glute bridges and hip thrusts to increase glute strength and good mornings to improve my lower back strength so that I can improve my current squat weaknesses.

17.5 inch squat depth before Romanian deadlifts

Squatting to 13 inches after Romanian deadlifts

However, if I just did these exercises and never did the squat itself my body would not understand what it needed to do when I stepped up to the bar to squat.  It is therefore necessary to ensure that I am doing squats in addition to these assistance exercises.

Squat for growth hormones

Growth hormone is an anabolic hormone made and secreted by the pituitary gland.  It stimulates protein synthesis and fat metabolism so that it helps bone, muscle and other tissue grow while it also helps with fat loss.  Growth hormone also provides plenty of other benefits, such as enhanced immune function.  Precision Nutrition published a really helpful article about growth hormone and I recommend reading it to learn more.

Trying to meet my powerlifting strength goals and my fat loss goals, I benefit significantly from boosting my growth hormone levels.  The more intense the exercise is, the more growth hormone is released.  Heavy squats are a full body exercise and incredibly intense.  They are therefore perfect for getting a good dose of growth hormone.

Squat for bone density

I’ve often written about my desire to build up bone density.  It was the reason I started lifting weights in the first place. 

The best way to build bone density is to do load-bearing exercises, especially those where the weight is above the waist.  Bones are always adapting and will put additional bone on if there is excess pressure placed on them.  It is the body’s self-preservation method, building bone up in order to protect itself from damage.

Squats, in particular the back squats that I have been working on recently, put the weight across my shoulders and load the whole of my spine as well as my legs.  Therefore they are perfect for building up bone density across the whole body.

 Why do you squat?

Those are the main reasons why I squat.  It is knowledge of these reasons that get me through the worst workouts when I’ve failed to get all of my repetitions.  It helps to remember the purpose behind my squats and know that they will benefit me even if I don’t get out all of my reps.

Do you squat?  If so, what are your reasons?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVxBBx3-nyk

Related posts:

1. Lessons learned: good back squat form
2. Powerlifting progress 2011: week thirty-one
3. Video-watch: Bums, tums and thighs (part 1)
4. Powerlifting progress 2011: week twenty-two