My own version of box squats...

[jenscats5]

Since my gym doesn't have a squat rack or a box, I had to improvise. SO, I used the smith machine and the bench that you can move around. Worked pretty good, if I do say so myself......

I've now realized that I go to a "fluffy" sort of gym --- there aren't many serious lifters there and this gym is the best one to choose from out of the 3 in my area.

 

[red_evil]

hey girl...glad to hear you've figured a way to make it work for you. a milk crate is another good alternative, if the bench is too high. you can stack a 35 on the milk crate if it's a little too low.

i know how you feel, picking the lesser of 3 evils. we pay dues at 2 gyms here, to meet our needs.

hang in there.....

 

[jenscats5]

Hey thanks! Actually the bench is kinda low, so I just used it.

This gym is expensive, but at least it has decent hours & isn't too crowded. The local YMCA is so crowded that you will spend 3 hours there for 30 minutes of work, standing in line & waiting for people to move. I got so frustrated I left. Another option is never open every time I go by the place.

So I'll make use of what I've got......I think I'm the most serious person at the gym. hehehehe

 

[Smurfy]

Another option is useing the step boards/risers if your gym has those. If its a fluffy gym, im assuming they do LOL I think 2Shy is using step boards for her box squats as well.

 

[jenscats5]

They only have 2 risers for each side, so 4 risers all together. That is pretty low to the ground, I think I'd end up falling on my butt!!

They don't have aerobics or step classes so they only have 1 step with the risers indicated.

 

[2Shy]

Yep. I use the step and risers. The YMCA I go to has tons of these stacked up in the aerobics room. I just go and swipe them when it's leg day. The risers are stackable (I don't know if they're all like that?) so I grab a bunch of those. Stacked, each riser is about 2 inches.

I've also used a bench in the power rack. That one's not adjustable, but it's closer. I only do it when there aren't a ton of people working with the dumbbells.

I occasionally see a guy squatting in the power rack. Generally, teenagers doing curls are hogging it, though.

The 5 women who squat all use the Smith machine. No one ever does deads (you'll see someone occasionally doing stiffies with fluffy dumbbells) or good mornings. I only see one other woman benching.

I hear ya about being the "serious" one at your gym, Jenz!

 

[Hannibal]

A smith machine for box squats??! Do the best you can with what you've got, where you are...is all you can do. But that just sounds scarey.

Until you find a better place to lift however, it's better than not doing them at all.

 

[superwife]

I'm going to agree with Hannibal...doing the box squats in the smith machine makes my back hurt thinking about it. Is there no variation of a power rack or squat rack there? You lose so much of your natural range of motion when you try and do a squat there.

Good luck...

 

[jenscats5]

Nope, no power rack or squat rack at all. None.

The gym is set up with one room for the weight machines, 1 room for the ellipticals, bikes, treadmills, etc; 1 room for spinning & pilates classes (no steps or risers) 1 room for ab work & 1 room for the weights which has dumbbells & a bench press (free weight).

My back actually is more sore from the good mornings I did.

Anyone want to come to Delaware to show me the right way? LOL

 

[red_evil]

sucks that you have no power rack. do any of the other gyms in your area have a rack that you could go to on a pay by day basis?