Workout routine without squats?

[scootermaster]

So I posted before about getting a [minor, relatively speaking] hemorrhoids from doing squats. I remember straining and a couple of days later, boom, there ya go.

So I held off on doing squats for awhile. I wanted to get back into it, but I've been traveling a lot lately, and hemorrhoids + airplane rides = bad.

But at the gym, after doing my sets of Pendlays, I just squatted the bar, just to get back in the motion, and lo and behold, a day or two later, another one (this one even more minor, to the point where it's possible I got it from something else and just didn't notice).

Now, none of these are the end of the world, but they ARE uncomfortable, and I certainly don't want this to become a chronic problem. Also, it's going to be tough to "push" myself to squat heavy if I'm worried about it.

So, yes, I know you're a total gay homosexual if you don't do squats, but I think I'd rather be a gay homosexual than have my ass hurt constantly (T-minus to when that's in someone's sig....).

I'm going to go onto a Starting Strength routine when I get back from my travel, and I know the whole entire thing is predicated on squats. I'm going to give it one more shot, but if it happens again, I'm pretty much going to give up. So what are my options here? Leg press?

(And I hope I've explained myself well enough, so I'm not anticipating any "well, no workout routine is worth anything without squats" responses, since I doubt any of you would just deal with hemorrhoids for the sake of getting big. The reality is I'm already 6'4", about 208 and in pretty good shape, so while I'd love to be able to do them, it's not the end of the world if I can't)

Thoughts?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I think you should try to focus on the right muscles groups firing. If you're engaging your glutes and hammies well enough, there shouldn't be any strain affecting your rectum. You need to learn what muscles to tighten up and what muscles NOT to. Practice some squats and see if you feel yourself tensing up in the wrong place(s). Learn from that and push onward. Squats are good for you, and if you can get past this, you'll appreciate it.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: scootermaster
I'd rather be a gay homosexual than have my ass hurt constantly

Thanks for sig material :laugh:

of course being a happy homo is better than having your ass hurt constantly!

 

[Delerious]

If you were gay wouldn't your ass hurt anyway? Sorry couldn't help it

I've done the Ripptoe starting strength and it's gg. to the OP, you might want to re-evaluate your form and make sure you are doing them properly.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

where could one learn how to properly do squats? i'm hesitant to learn off a gym buddy, but is that it? just ask someone as they do it?

 

[presidentender]

Originally posted by: makoto00
where could one learn how to properly do squats? i'm hesitant to learn off a gym buddy, but is that it? just ask someone as they do it?

The best advice I ever got on squat form: find a chair, and sit down. Then stand. That's squat form.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: presidentender

Originally posted by: makoto00
where could one learn how to properly do squats? i'm hesitant to learn off a gym buddy, but is that it? just ask someone as they do it?

The best advice I ever got on squat form: find a chair, and sit down. Then stand. That's squat form.

Not quite right, but it's a start. You wanna refer to videos and such. Many times, people with form trouble will video themselves and ask for help and critiques on a forum with people who know what they're doing. I wouldn't ask one person since they themselves could 1) not have good form, 2) not be able to tell problems in your form.

 

[biggestmuff]

This thread confused me when I began reading it. I saw the OP's avatar and thought moshquerade created the thread. Then I read the first sentence.

 

[presidentender]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: presidentender

Originally posted by: makoto00
where could one learn how to properly do squats? i'm hesitant to learn off a gym buddy, but is that it? just ask someone as they do it?

The best advice I ever got on squat form: find a chair, and sit down. Then stand. That's squat form.

Not quite right, but it's a start. You wanna refer to videos and such. Many times, people with form trouble will video themselves and ask for help and critiques on a forum with people who know what they're doing. I wouldn't ask one person since they themselves could 1) not have good form, 2) not be able to tell problems in your form.

It's mostly about getting parallel without bending your back too much. You obviously have to change things when you're carrying a couple of hundred pounds on your shoulders. He's right, though, videos are good. As is asking other people in the gym.

 

[saechaka]

i'm not an elite lifter but i heard someone mention breathing correctly was very important, so maybe your not breathing right during your lifts.

 

[gramboh]

I've just read about breathing recently in Starting Strength and it is huge, holding in a deep breath to keep your core solid makes a big different, I used to breath during reps, now I hold it and take a new one at the top on squats.

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: gramboh
I've just read about breathing recently in Starting Strength and it is huge, holding in a deep breath to keep your core solid makes a big different, I used to breath during reps, now I hold it and take a new one at the top on squats.

I have to admit I hadn't considered that.

To everyone else, my form, at least structurally, is very, very good. I held off on doing squats for a long time because I was worried about hurting myself. I've had multiple people critique my form, and not that it matters, but I wasn't doing "much" weight (the first time I hurt myself it was heavy for me, but we're still talking less than 150 pounds here, so it's not like I was trying to show off).

So in conclusion, I'm going to read up on the breathing thing, and try and focus on the correct muscle movements. We'll give it one more shot, and hopefully things will turn out okay.

The doctor I saw didn't really like squats -- and yes, I know some doctors hate squats, and some love them. He even mentioned that just the squatting motion, even without weight, can put undue pressure on one's nether regions, irrespective of the typical knee/back stress issues they usually complain about.

 

[schizoid77]

I don't do squats and I'm not gay!

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: schizoid77
I don't do squats and I'm not gay!

That's unpossible!

(Also, your name is suspicious. You could never be the REAL schizoid! That dude ruled! And, ironically enough, was born in 1977. Not that I know a lot about him or anything....)

 

[schizoid77]

I started under Schizoid77 on teh Intarwebz about 9 years ago. I still rule though.

 

[skace]

Why don't you work on some air squats and stay away from the weights for awhile. You should be able to get a decent workout squatting your weight. You can up the #, work on form and hopefully avoid the hemorrhoids for the time being. Once you feel comfortable you can re-add the bar and then the weight.