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The Greatest Quad Builder… That Almost No One Wants To Do

By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS
www.BurnTheFat.com
It’s axiomatic that the exercises which give you the best results are always the hardest ones to do. If you want a huge back… you row and deadlift. If you want huge legs, you squat… OR… you do THIS leg exercise – that almost no one wants to do because its one of the hardest of them all.

Which one am I talking about? FRONT SQUATS!

In my opinion, front squats are one of the absolute best quad builders. Back squats are a tremendous mass builder as well, but front squats introduce an additional level of challenge because they require flexibility, technique, and core strength because the bar must be held and balanced on the front of the shoulders. As such, the front squat does everything the back squat does and more.

One great advantage of the front squat, especially for someone like me, having previously suffered a low back injury (herniated L4), is that the torso can be held in a more upright (vertical position). Since there is less forward trunk inclination, this removes some of the stress and shear forces from the lower back. At the same time, this upright position is closer to a bodybuilding squat and throws much more emphasis on the quads and less on the hips. It is truly a superb bodybuilding exercise.

There are two styles of front squatting, the Olympic lifting style and the crossed arm style. I find that most athletes, and of course Olympic lifters, use the former, while most bodybuilders seem to prefer the latter. The barbell should generally be your weapon of choice, but for bodybuilders, front squats on the smith machine are an outstanding alternative. The Smith machine front squat takes some of the balance issues out of the picture, which allows the physique athlete to really focus on working the muscle rather than worrying about balance and stabilization. Be sure to rotate between both versions, however– barbell and smith machine – because long term overuse or dependency on machines may lead to stabilizer weakness or muscle imbalances and variety is never a bad idea in the physique game. Incidentally, the barbell front squat is an outstanding “core” exercise.

A third version of the front squat worth considering is the dumbbell front squat (especially the sumo or wide stance version). These can be performed holding a single dumbbell with both hands on the front of the shoulders, cupped between both hands (goblet squat) or with two dumbbells, one in each hand, resting on top of each shoulder. The limiting factor on these front squat variations is often the poundage, as holding heavy dumbbells can become unwieldy. This can be partially overcome by performing the dumbbell front squat last in a leg workout or second in a superset, or by manipulating tempo and range of motion so the exercise is made more difficult. The dumbbell variations are also a great choice for women who usually don’t require as much weight as men for stimulation.

I find that the front squat is particularly effective at developing the tear drop shaped vastus medialis portion of the (“lower”) quads, and you can emphasize this effect even more by elevating your heels on a board or a wedge. Elevating your heels is considered controversial and some say that this is damaging to the knees. I’m not convinced that this is the case with a slight elevation and very strict form and controlled tempo, although I would not recommend this method to anyone with existing knee problems. There is certainly a risk to benefit ratio of every technique variation, and you have to decide if the added potential benefit is worth the potential risk, depending on your particular situation (consult the appropriate medical or training professional if you’re not sure)

You can also emphasize the medialis and increase overall effectiveness by working FULL squats (breaking parallel) and only coming up three quarters (no locking out). Have you ever seen Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman’s workout videos? I realize that Mr Olympia’s bodybuilding video tapes are not “workout instruction” nor do they really have anything to do with us mere mortals, but I pay attention to everything in the world of bodybuilding, and I did find it very interesting to watch Ronnie front squatting 500+ pounds. I also found it interesting that he went rock bottom and he did ¾ reps without releasing tension for even a single rep. Although he certainly has some advantages over other bodybuilders, everything is relative and he has some ridiculous quads, even compared to other IFBB pros. Indeed, continuous tension ¾ reps are a tremendous technique to employ with the front squat exercise, regardless of whether you’re a novice or a pro. Be prepared to leave your ego at home, however.

In addition to the ¾ reps, try manipulating your tempo. It will limit your poundage even further, but what you sacrifice in strength you will make up in hypertrophy.  Whereas a regular rep might be 2011 or 3011 tempo, or even a full-out explosive concentric with a controlled eccentric, bodybuilders may want to try utilizing a tempo of 3020, or (even harder) 4030. With sets of 10 -12 reps, this will give you a minimum of 50-70 seconds of continuous time under tension. The lactic acid burn around the 10-12thth rep has to be felt to be “appreciated.” The only thing more difficult than continuous tension/non-lockout ¾ reps are continuous tension, non-lockout reps with a slow tempo. Truly a quad killer!

Note: 4-point tempo prescriptions are as follows:

3020 tempo =
3 = negative/eccentric action
0 = pause in stretch/bottom position
2 = positive/concentric action
0 = pause in contracted/top position

So if front squats are so good, why don’t more people do them? Simple – because they’re damn hard. Here is what I usually see happen: Someone will start front squatting (or try to), and they inevitably put on way too much weight. Their form is horrible, it feels totally uncomfortable and unbalanced, so our novice front squatter quits and writes off front squats for good after only one try, and heads back over to the leg press machine.

I usually advise them to unload the bar and master the form first with very light weights, but invariably, ego gets in the way, and 315-405 squatters and 1000+ pound leg pressers don’t want to be seen with a single “wheel” (45 pound plate) on each side of an Olympic bar while they patiently master the technique for a new exercise. Alas, they never learn to front squat, they go back to what is easy and familiar and they never gain all the benefits of this awesome exercise.

Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS
Lifetime Natural Bodybuilder
www.BurnTheFat.com

About the Author:

Tom Venuto is an NSCA-certified personal trainer, NSCA- certified strength and conditioning specialist, a lifetime natural bodybuilder and author of the #1 best-selling e-book “Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle” (BFFM). You can visit Tom on the web at: www.burnthefat.com

Quote for the day:

“You become what you think about.”  -Earl Nightingale

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Work Less and Earn More by Mastering Your Time

http://www.TheTimeCommandments.com

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How to Transform Pain into Pleasure Through the Law of
Attraction

By Jill Koenig
Author, Coach, Motivational Speaker

This week I feature a question submitted by a GoalGuru reader.

This week’s question:

Question: What is the difference between the Law of Attraction
and Goal Setting?

Answer: There is not so much a difference as the two principles
work hand in hand.

In fact, Goal Setting is the first step in activating the Law of
Attraction.

In order to empower the Law of Attraction, you must take the
first action, which is to decide with positive intention,
exactly what you want in clear, concise detail.

This step, this action, within the Law of AttrACTION is the
ignitor that activates the process.

When I ask people what they want, most respond with a list of
all the things they DON’T want.

The average person invests more energy and thought on what
they DON’T want than what they DO want.

And that is what they attract. More of what they DON’T want.

Most people focus their thoughts and energies on their fears
rather then focusing on gratitude for what and whom has already
blessed them, and their heart’s deepest desires.

So what’s wrong with that?

The Law of Attraction mandates that you become what you think
about.

The more you dwell upon what you don’t want, the more you are
empowering the negative emotions.

Let me clarify how focusing on what you DON’T want works against
you within the Law of Attraction.

Where focus goes, energy flows.

Let me say that again, it is worth repeating.

Where focus goes, energy flows.

When you are focusing all of your thoughts and attention on the
things you fear, that is what you will manifest, create, and
attract more of.

You have a choice.

You can focus on the problem or you can focus on the solutions.

When you focus all of your thoughts and attention on your
problems or blame others, that is what you will manifest and
attract more of. You are actually actively creating more of what
you DON’T want.

You cannot manifest joy and create your highest destiny when
your thoughts and actions are consumed with fear, anxiety,
problems, complaints, blame, worries and all of the other
negatives that present themselves to you during a given day.

You always have a choice how and where to direct your thoughts
and energy.

If your dominant emotions are fear, anger, resentment, worry and
blame, that is what you will attract more of. When you are
experiencing those negative emotions, you stop giving. You no
longer breathe life into your dreams. When in those states, you
are not making positive, joyful contributions to your dreams.
Those negative thoughts and emotions actually repel what you
desire. Negative emotions suck the life out of your Goals.

To combat those negatives, and instantly transform pain into
pleasure, the solution is to choose the positive.

Focus on the solutions.  Focus on what you can joyfully do to
create positive changes.

The surest way out of any rut is to accept complete
responsibility for your circumstances and joyfully identify the
positive changes you can make within yourself. Then take action.
When you can joyfully, freely choose to make positive contributions,
everything around you will change.

If you want to experience more abundance, express more
gratitude.  Give abundantly.

If you want to experience more love, give more love.

If you want more intimacy, give it, create it, nurture it.

Get grateful for all that you have.

Focus on how blessed you are.

Remember that you have responsibilities within the Law of
Attraction.

There are actions you must consistently take.

If focus goes where energy flows, then focus more on your Goals
than you do on your problems. Focus more on your Goals than you
do on your fears.

Focus on what you DO want.

Focus on what and whom you are grateful for.

Focus on your most cherished, beautiful, treasured deepest
desires.

Focus on the positive.

You become what you think about.

Focus on the Goal.

What beautiful, worthy Goal do you want to ignite by expressing
more gratitude?

What vision or dream do you have that you can inject with
positive, loving thoughts and actions? What area of your life
would you like to inject with a burst of positive energy?

Give it your all and watch it manifest.

The best way to predict the future is to create it.

Live Your Dreams,

Jill Koenig

http://www.goalguru.com

Jill Koenig, the “Goal Guru” is America’s Top Goal Strategist.
A best selling Author, Coach and Motivational Speaker, she is
an expert on the subjects of Goal Setting, Time Management and
Business Success. Her Goal in life is to help you UNLEASH
your untapped potential. Learn cutting edge Goal Strategies at
http://www.GoalGuru.com