{"id":639,"date":"2010-08-16T17:39:32","date_gmt":"2010-08-17T00:39:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/leanmeanvirilemachine.com\/?p=639"},"modified":"2010-08-17T12:01:34","modified_gmt":"2010-08-17T19:01:34","slug":"squat-workouts-your-secret-weapon-for-building-an-attractive-body","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/theguycancook.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/16\/squat-workouts-your-secret-weapon-for-building-an-attractive-body\/","title":{"rendered":"Squat Workouts: Your “Secret Weapon” for Building an Attractive Body"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"squat<\/a>Is there any exercise more controversial than the squat?<\/p>\n

On the one hand, it is the “King of Exercises,” a seriously old-school lift, one of the Powerlifting Trinity along with the bench press and the deadlift, and a way to move a lot of weight around and look like a total badass.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, many people now claim squats mess up your back over time and lead to a grotesquely disproportionate lower body composition.<\/p>\n

As it turns out, squats can be BOTH a boon and a blessing. I’m here to cut the crap and give you the low-down on squat workouts and help you to intelligently integrate them into your fitness routine – which you must – because squats will give you a leg up with building a body that women find irresistible.<\/p>\n

The Squat Is Dead!
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

For years, I did no resistance training or weightlifting with my lower body. I was definitely the guy who spent 80% of his time in the gym on his abs, pecs, and biceps, but I figured since I was running miles every day training for marathons as well that I didn’t need to focus on my lower body in the gym at all.<\/p>\n

I heard the rumors that doing squats would dump massive muscle poundage into my hips and make me look more, um… LADY-like than I was hoping to appear. And if that isn’t enough, Mike Boyle thoroughly dethroned back squats by illuminating how dangerous they can be to your lower back in this video:<\/p>\n

<\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n

Long Live the Squat!<\/strong><\/p>\n

But squatting is one of the most fundamental movements of the human body. Before comfy couches and chairs, people squatted down in order to rest. This is still found in many cultures in the world, particularly in Asian and hunter-gatherer groups.<\/p>\n

Dr. Devendra Singh has done some outstanding research in the field of evolutionary psychology and has found that women are magnetically attracted to a small, muscular butt on a guy (specifically, a waist-to-hip ratio of about 0.9). In other words: building a V-shaped torso isn’t enough, you gotta start moving everything south of your abs as well.<\/p>\n

In reality, guys focus so much on getting pumped pecs, bulging biceps, and a six pack that the last thing they need to worry about is building too much mass in their lower bodies. I don’t see many guys with hips too big for the rest of their bodies, but I do see plenty of men who look like this:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

or like this:<\/p>\n

<\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n

(Okay, that was an exaggeration, but it’s funny ‘cuz it’s true.)<\/p>\n

I started doing Crossfit workouts a while back, including plenty of squats, cleans, and deadlifts, and can truthfully say that they haven’t left me with ginormous hips. On the contrary, I look more balanced and symmetrical than I ever have before.<\/p>\n

I believe that the reason that squats and deadlifts have gotten such a bad rep among guys who just want to become more attractive is simple: the only people most people see doing these exercises anymore are bodybuilders and powerlifters, and who wants to end up looking like them? But take a look at your average squatting Crossfitter and let me know if they are carrying too much junk in the trunk.<\/p>\n

The problems with back issues are the result of taking a movement that is traditionally done with just our own body weight and adding more weight on top of it. There’s a right way and a lot of wrong ways to do this.<\/p>\n

Squatting the Smart Way<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’s the skinny on how to make the most of your squat workouts:<\/p>\n