Squats and deadlifts

So, we all agree that squats and DLs both work a lot of the muscles in the body and also a lot of the same muscles in the body. (DLs just adding the additional dimention of the upper body as well).

So what are your thoughts on alternating them, so you are only doing one of them, once a week. As opposed to squats once a week, DLs once a week. Would the extra rest for those major muscles not encourage more growth?

Just something my TP and I were discussing and I wanted to get your thoughts.

I actually do squats and deadlifts on the same night, right in a row. Squats first for the quads, then deadlifts for the hams. I don't use deadlifts for my lower back at all.

As for one tiring me out for the other, I haven't felt that way on any night.

I don't use deadlifts for my lower back at all.

Do you mean that you do stiff leg deadlifts, or do you mean that you don't use regular deadlifts as a back exercise?
Sure, they both work a ton of muscles, and they use a lot of the same muscles- But to differing degrees. When you do squats, does your lower back feel as challenged as it does when you do deadlifts? If you're using proper form, the answer should be no. Deadlifts target the back more than they target the legs, and squats target the legs more than the back. I wouldn't cut either one of them out from a weekly routine, or switch them up from week to week- Even though it seems like they might get more rest that way. Think about it- Plenty of muscles are used in other exercises on days when they're not being targeted- For example, as Jenn pointed out in another post, I love to talk about the relationship between shoulders, triceps and chest workouts. All three are used in chest workouts, but you still have to hit the other two during the week- And even then, shoulders and triceps are both used in shoulder workouts also. The thing is, in my opinion, all these muscles that are used on days when they're not targeted aren't really challenged on those days- They're just used as stabilizer or support muscles, it's not like they're getting a full workout. Again, after doing deadlifts, do your legs feel the same as though you'd just done three nasty sets of squats? Same muscles are getting used, but at varying degrees.
Just my opinion.

I agree with cpl.

I do deadlifts on sundays and squats on wednesdays. They each stress on different areas. eg. deadlifts- upper body, squats -lower body, so it is fine to do both in the same week. It is important to have enough rest between them though, since your legs are getting a bashing from both exercises.
IMO you dont need to alternate them.

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Considering the squat is a quad dominant and the DL is a hip dominant, I recommend BOTH while appreciating the impact each has on the muscles that act on the hip.

I'm very happy to hear that you all do deadlifts. For some reason they've unjustly got a bad rap because most people don't know how to do them safely and effectively. I think I saw somewhere else an explanation on how to do it well.

I've developed programs for athletes and for regular 'joes' that include them in the same day (and other hip dom exercises like cleans, snatches, etc) AND others that separate them into more than one day. Just preference for the person and requirements.

Great topic!

Matt

For a BBing program, I would do them once a week on the same day. For a strength training program(at least in the begining of a cycle) you can do them both twice a week on the same days. Mon/Fri, or Tues/Sat. Something like that. Later in the training cycle, you would perform each once a week on separate days. Mon/Fri etc.

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ORIGINAL: dougdarock

edited !

ah, you prefer the squat.....

sorry, that wasn't me..my friend did it for a joke
 
He is actually gay and tried to convince me to be like him...
 
but I told him to deal with his own gayness

Motivation comes by itself when improvement is seen!

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ORIGINAL: toolman4052

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haha, yeah i know! lol

What an awesome thread. 

lol thats funny baha. but yeah i def would include them every week. i like squats more for some reason

ORIGINAL: egsbike

lol thats funny baha. but yeah i def would include them every week. i like squats more for some reason

Dude... the girl who started this thread hasn't logged in in over a year... And the post is over 3 years old... she's not going to see that.