Thread: Building Muscle/Working out

Originally Posted by jnich67

Since we seem to have so many well informed members, I'll throw this question out for discussion.

I work out at home. I don't have room for a squat rack or even a bench - I use a Swiss ball for bench presses. I do have a barbell and dumbbells and plenty of weight. The problem is that I can't really do squats with appropriate weight because getting a heavy bar up from the floor and then down is proving problematic. I've substituted front squats with heavy dumbbells and started doing weighted step-ups as well (I also do single leg squats and all the lighter weight stuff). Any other exercises that can substitute for heavy squats? Thanks

Jordan

First ditch the swiss ball for weight lifting. That is just a recipe for disaster. A little slip, twist, or pop and you have a crushed throat.

What goals do you have?

If you want to to big and strong, you have to safely move big weights. There just isn't any way around it. You know what equipment would be needed, a bench and a power rack. There is no true substitute for heavy squats, especially one that doesn't require the same equipment as for heavy squats. From the floor the closest you could come is a Trap Bar deadlift.