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Lunges: Main course or side dish?

post #1 of 85
2/7/09 at 8:45pm
Thread Starter 
Are lunges best served up as core exercises (like bench presses, squats, and deadlifts), or should they be treated as assistance exercises (like flyes, crunches, and shrugs)?

On a related topic, when working my upper body I like to work muscle groups in opposition. I'll do military presses on the same day as pullups, for instance, or I'll do cable rows on the same day as bench presses. Can the same thing be done for the lower body? It doesn't seem like there's anything meaninful to pair up with lunges. Or with deadlifts or squats, for that matter.
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post #2 of 85
2/7/09 at 8:50pm
I'd consider them a preliminary exercise for eventually moving into being able to do squats. I think they're pretty worthless too, though.
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post #3 of 85
2/7/09 at 9:22pm
Which is worthless, squats or lunges?
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post #4 of 85
2/7/09 at 9:45pm
He's saying lunges are worthless
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post #5 of 85
2/7/09 at 10:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JonB27 View Post
He's saying lunges are worthless

Yup.
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post #6 of 85
2/7/09 at 11:55pm
I, (seriously), strained a groin muscle doing a lunge ini high school. Fell right over, in the middle of the weight room.

Don't think I 've done one since!
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post #7 of 85
2/8/09 at 1:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by lance konami View Post
Which is worthless, squats or lunges?

Just do the opposite of whatever "Why" says. You'll be fine.
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post #8 of 85
2/8/09 at 1:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tck13 View Post
Just do the opposite of whatever "Why" says. You'll be fine.

Except squats really do work. In the short and long term they cause unmatchable results.
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post #9 of 85
2/8/09 at 1:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deluks917 View Post
Except squats really do work. In the short and long term they cause unmatchable results.
Huh? "Why" said that lunges are worthless. No one ever said anything about squats being worthless.
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post #10 of 85
2/8/09 at 1:43am
I wouldn't say that lunges are worthless. I haven't squatted nor deadlifted for almost three months now. Because of a bested disk, I am stuck with doing exercises such as:

- lunges (and its varieties)
- Step-ups
- Leg extensions
- Leg curls
- Glute ham raises
- King dead lifts
- Single leg squats on bench

You may not be able to do as much weight with, say a step-up, than on the squat, but see if you can hold a conversation properly after holding two 20kg dumbbells doing 10 reps on each leg. Lunges also work you hard, provided you do enough resistance.

FWIW, I did enjoy squats and deadlifts a lot. However, I wouldn't discount the lunge as a secondary exercise. They will give you results, but not big numbers to put in your stats.
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post #11 of 85
2/8/09 at 2:04am
At the gym I'm at the only people I see doing lunges are women. Not saying its a womanly exercise but I've always wondered why when women workout legs they do lunges but when men workout legs they get on the squats or leg press.
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post #12 of 85
2/8/09 at 2:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by PolePosition View Post
At the gym I'm at the only people I see doing lunges are women. Not saying its a womanly exercise but I've always wondered why when women workout legs they do lunges but when men workout legs they get on the squats or leg press.
Because men typically want to get bigger and women want to tone. However (despite what Why says), you can gain strength, endurance, and cardio through lunges and other bodyweight excercises. Will you get huge? No. Although gymnasts get pretty ripped / big by not doing weight training, so... Link... Nothing against weights but lunges and such are just as important as freeweights especially if training for sports (MMA, etc...).
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post #13 of 85
2/8/09 at 7:21am
Lunges can be both used as a primary or secondary exercise depending on how intense you are already working out on the squats. In fact I view them to be on the same level of importance in the sense that we do as much squat down (to pick things up in our daily lives) as we do "lunging" when we walk or stride forward.

There are many reasons why few people perform lunges and amongst them are space constraints, inability to use heavy weights with good form (for many men), prioritization of exercises etc, .
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post #14 of 85
2/8/09 at 7:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by why View Post
I'd consider them a preliminary exercise for eventually moving into being able to do squats. I think they're pretty worthless too, though.

Just shut up. Your mediocre body and attrocious form speaks for itself. I dont even need to delve into the drivel you dish out on a regular basis. Just shut up.
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post #15 of 85
2/8/09 at 7:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JonB27 View Post
He's saying lunges are worthless

No. Why meant both. Dont help the clown prince here.
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