Just because being obese or moderately overweight may hinder a woman’s ability to perform squats and leg presses doesn’t mean she needs to first lose weight to effectively do these exercises.
Some women just give up even before beginning.
Others stick in there and figure out how to get it done safely.
Then there are those who are better off waiting.
In my years in the gym, I have seen all cases.
Which one are you?
When Women Must Lose Weight Before Doing Squats and Leg Press
There is nothing like the results that squats and the leg press can bring. Of the two, squats happen to be one of my most favorite exercises, both to do and to recommend.
Freepik.com
As a former personal trainer, I’ve had overweight female clients who questioned their ability to perform a squat with a weighted bar across the top of their back.
I started them out gradually, having them get comfortable with bodyweight squats before adding the bar.
A woman (and man) can be TOO overweight to squat, however.
But we’re talking, in this case, severe obesity that clearly interferes with mobility.
How to Do Squats and Leg Press Safely When Overweight
The thing about most overweight women who want to lose weight is that they lack the confidence that they can do the moves.
Shutterstock/Aleksey Boyko
Yes, they can do squats. The uncomfortable feeling that results is their bodies getting into shape, not further out of it.
Squats can prove to be a pain in the knee, hip and back if performed improperly.
But again, starting out with bodyweight-only squats will enable a novice to grow comfortable with this compound exercise.
The squat is actually a natural movement; young children and toddlers do it all the time.
Shutterstock/LightField Studios
Overweight women need to build up their confidence. They may be surprised at just how much they can actually do.
An overweight woman who walks into a gym without difficulty most likely will be a good candidate for learning how to do the squat efficiently — without having to first lose weight.
The squat works the buttocks, front and back of the thigh, even the abs!
Lorra Garrick is a former personal trainer certified through the American Council on Exercise. At Bally Total Fitness she trained women and men of all ages for fat loss, muscle building, fitness and improved health.
.
