I suck at lunges!

[Nicolanz 1,484]

Any advice on proper form? Also, I have a dominant leg. How can I even them out?!?!

[TwinsMama 483]

I saw this online. Also check YouTube, they have awesome videos that show you proper form if you need to see it.

http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/know-your-basics-how-do-lunge

[Fiddleman 4,376]

I used to REALLY suck at lunges and hated them before surgery when trying to get in shape. Now I love them. Practice certainly makes perfect, but there are a few tips I can give you.

Keep the weight centered between middle of front foot and heel. Push off heel when switching to other leg. you will find a lot of stability in using your heel to push off of. Try and keep all the body parts at 90 degree angles while you take a big step forward, keeping back foot on ground. Your front knee should be above your front foot. at all costs, do not allow your front knee to project ahead of your foot. it will lead to injury if not careful. Chest up, back straight, look forward and rest fingers behind your head with each lunge.

Focus on the core part of your body as the balance point. Imagine a line that extends from the top of your head to your core region that must remain straight. It is with this attention to vertical alignment where you are going to find your stability. And then practice, practice practice. Your hamstrings and quads will build the strength to support a well formed lunge over time. I like to practice lunges in my warmup every day, focusing on form. After a while they are really enjoyable, yet are good strengthening exercises for your lower legs.

As for a dominant leg, I think this is true with most people, including myself, when starting out with lunges. My left leg was dominant in doing lunges when first starting 6 months ago. It evens out over time as you practice, paying attention to perfect form and going slow. Find your balance point on every lunge and I promise you will be able to do the same high quality lunges on both legs.

Hope this helps.

[aroundhky 1,174]

There are very few lifts/exercises that I despise......but doing lunges is one of them. I love back squats, front squats, cleans and other lower body lifts, but I absolutely hate lunges! I'm not saying they don't help....I'm sure they work well, just hate doing them. But I still try to work them in about once a week, though perhaps I need to do them more frequently.

But I digress.........

[mark! 449]

There are very few lifts/exercises that I despise......but doing lunges is one of them. I love back squats, front squats, cleans and other lower body lifts, but I absolutely hate lunges! I'm not saying they don't help....I'm sure they work well, just hate doing them. But I still try to work them in about once a week, though perhaps I need to do them more frequently.

But I digress.........

At least you work them in every once in a while. My trainer used to have me do them with 135 on my back in the parking lot, luckily I haven't seen them in a few months, but now that I've posted this, I'm sure things will change.

[Fiddleman 4,376]

I guess I am alone in liking lunges.

[Nicolanz 1,484]

Well, Jillian Michaela loves lunges!! So I do them everyday! I found that wearing shoes helps a lot but I'm still wobbly. I will focus on the advice given. Thanks!

[Fiddleman 4,376]

Yes, shoes are a definite must!

[aroundhky 1,174]

I guess I am alone in liking lunges.

Freak!!

[aroundhky 1,174]

Just messin' with ya Fiddle! I say if you like it, go for it man!

[sknyinside 99]

Try walking lunges to increase your weak leg. Start with the weak one and only do as many as your weak leg can do. It'll come up. Never do more on your stronger leg or that side will stay stronger. Watch your form. Keep lower natural curve in your back. If you round your back or exaggerate the lower curve, you can hurt your back if you have weights on your shoulders. Take it slow and easy til you get used to the form.

[LifetimeLoser 208]

I also hate lunges but my trainer makes me do them every time I train legs...something about that's her formula. I also have a dominant leg. One of my ankles is less flexible than the other also which causes difficulty on one side going down. I think like every body else said practice, getting stronger and increasing flexibility will help. I know my lunges aren't perfect, but ten times better than when I started.

[Fiddleman 4,376]

This happens to be a pretty timely thread topic. One of the workouts my trainer had me do today was 3 rounds:

10 front squats @85 lb

18 v-ups

36 jumping lunges.

Let me tell you those "light" front squats sure felt "heavy" after each round of 36 jumping lunges. A jumping lunge is one where you jump between lower lunge positions. For sake of completion, my other WOD (workout of the day) was 5 sets of 10 back squats at 80% max weight. Those jumping lunges better make me sore tomorrow.

[Nicolanz 1,484]

Jumping lunges?!?! Oh hell no!

[Fiddleman 4,376]

Yup - they are tough.