The last two times I've don squats and or lunges I've injured my left knee and been out of commision for weeks. Last time I actually went to the doctor because my knee was swolen terribly. He gave me anti inflamatories and told me to find a different exercise.

My questions is can I get close enough to the same results if I lay on back back/ and or side and do leg lifts with weights on my ankles? Or does anyone know what else I can do to work the leg muscles? I know you can't spot reduce but I need to work my quades, I have terrible saddle bags and hate to do nothing.

Please help me.

Deana

You might want to check out the book Escape Your Shape by Edward Jackowski. It basically tells how you can change your body shape by the exercises you do.

I am a spoon, which means that I have a fairly slim upper body and a larger lower body. Yes, saddlebags too. I haven't started the workout yet, but the basic overview is that for my lower body, I will do exercises with little resistance, and for my upper body, I will do exercises with more resistance. Lunges and squats, BTW, are on his "do not do" list for spoons.

When you think about it, it makes sense. What do weight lifters do when they want to bulk up? They lift heavy weights.

I wish I could give a personal review, but like I said, I haven't started the program yet. His book did get good reviews on Amazon from everyone who tried it, though. I also remember reading about a story Good Morning America did on him. He had staffers of different body types to the exercises particular to their physiques for two weeks, and they lost inches where they wanted to.

You need to have a doctor prescribe some rehibilitation exercises, since other types of movements like extensions and curls are actually worse for your knees than squats or lunges.

I have arthritis in both kness and found the leg exercises using the machines were actually worsening the problem.

The best exercises I've found are for leg lifts laying on a bed and using weights on the ankles. On the back...lifted up on a slant and held in place for a count of five; side raises the same. You can also do the front and side raises standing. Also good for the thighs are resting on hands and knees and lifting a leg of the ground(bed) out side ways fully extended or bent and holding for a count. Also good are back leg extentions.

FrecklFluf - the books sounds like a great idea. I'm going to look into getting that.

I don't have arthritis or any major problems with the knee. I've done extensions and lifts before and not injured it. But I'm guessing my body weight is too much for the muscles around the knee to hold me when I do the squats.

Thanks for the replys.

Deana

Have someone with a knowledge of proper exercize form (like a personal trainer) check to make sure that you are doing these exercizes correctly.