Question on Squats

[punkin2004]

Hey...I just have a quick question about squats...Is it better to use the bar for squats rather than the smith machine? I have always used the smith machine for my squats just because I feel like I have better control/balance with it...but on my last leg workout, I switched to just the bar. I found that I couldn't do as much weight than I did on the smith machine...why is that?
Even though I did less weight, it still wore my legs out...so I got a good workout, so should I keep using the bar even though I do less weight?

Also, approximately how long does it take to start seeing fab results? I am so impatient and trying not to be...I have seen little changes but how long for dramatic changes? I've been consistent now for 5 weeks...I have already gained 2" in my quads...so I'm seeing something...but my biggest problem is in the upper body..that's where I store it all...
One more question...I do the HIIT cardio in the sticky above, but I do more like 5 days of it, some in the morning and if not, then after my weight workouts (depending what days I work)...Is that too much cardio?

 

[jenscats5]

Sorry, I moved the wrong duplicate post to the Recycle Bin.....so I copied & pasted your original text in your post. Hope that's OK.

 

[Sassy69]

Hey...I just have a quick question about squats...Is it better to use the bar for squats rather than the smith machine? I have always used the smith machine for my squats just because I feel like I have better control/balance with it...but on my last leg workout, I switched to just the bar. I found that I couldn't do as much weight than I did on the smith machine...why is that?
I think you answered your own question - the Smith machine provides a fixed track for the lift motion. The bar relies on your core strength & balance instead. That means you are working that much harder to lift the weight.

Even though I did less weight, it still wore my legs out...so I got a good workout, so should I keep using the bar even though I do less weight?
The point of all the different machines & weights in the gym is to allow variety in your lifting. The smith machine, because it only allows a fixed track, angle & range of motion is actually limiting you on your strength & development because it only allows you to do that one motion. The bar, again relying on your core strength to stay balanced & centered, hits a different angle, etc. And generally if you are always only doing the one exercises (smith), eventually your body adapts to it your improvements will start to flag. You should switch up your training regularly. And also doing less weight is not always a bad thing. Again - variety. There are many ways to make your muscles respond.

Also, approximately how long does it take to start seeing fab results? I am so impatient and trying not to be...I have seen little changes but how long for dramatic changes? I've been consistent now for 5 weeks...I have already gained 2" in my quads...so I'm seeing something...but my biggest problem is in the upper body..that's where I store it all...

THe first thing you need to learn about training & diet is patience & consistency. You CANNOT rush results & you can't let yourself get frustrated if things don't always respond like you expect. Sounds like you are able to build muscle on your lower body (most women can), but you will have to work harder to get some upper body development. And this all is dependent on your diet. Are you eating to fuel muscle growth?

One more question...I do the HIIT cardio in the sticky above, but I do more like 5 days of it, some in the morning and if not, then after my weight workouts (depending what days I work)...Is that too much cardio?
Generally we recommend doing HIIT only a couple times / week because it is a lot of work on your body. You need some recovery time as well. If you wan to do more cardio, you can mix in some slower steady-state cardio as well.

Is it enough cardio or too much? I don't know. You dont' want to overtrain yourself & exhaust yourself. I don't know how you are eating now either. My opinion is that if you aren't in training for a competition or some goal that has a hard deadline on it, you can do more w/ a better diet than w/ a ton of cardio. People often rely on training only to get results and end up overtraining when they could've just as easily made tweaks to their diet. Overtraining = underrecovery and when your body is overtrained & exhausted, it will MAKE you stop training whether you want to or not. To gauge if you are doing too much cardio, do you see a stall in your abilty to build muscle (cuz too much cardio & not eating to fuel muscle growth will result in the cardio consuming your muscle for energy instead of fat) and also are you ever exhausted from it all?