Bodyweight Exercises...

[speed dawg]

The following post got me curious:

Bodyweight squats. Just crank out as many as you can, work your way up to 250 or so. It get's you huffin' and puffin' like crazy and just builds the **** out of your legs. Some guys say bodyweight exercises can't increase your ability to lift weights and after 25 reps you're only building endurance, but I did nothing but bodyweight exercises while in my first year of college and my weightlifting maxes went through the roof. If you think they are too easy, try doing a one-legged squat, using a wall or chair to steady yourself, and lower your ass until it almost touches the ground and then stand up. Guys I know who squat 400-500 pounds find these pretty challenging.

I love doing bodyweight exercises but it seems I don't get the benefit that I get from lifting weights, but it's tough for me to find time to drive to the gym, etc. when I could crank out a 15-20 min. workout at home. Question is, can you make serious gains doing pushups, pullups, dips, squat jumps, BW lunges, chinups, etc.?

 

[doctoroxygen]

Pullups and bodyweight squats are perfect. When they get too easy, try changing your body position: in pullups, put your legs out in front of you, and try doing one-legged squats. Changing the position changes the leverage of your body, making it very hard. After that, you can add weight if you want.

Try Pavel Tsatsouline's "The Naked Warrior" for exactly how to do this.

 

[seanchai]

Hell yeah, one-legged squats are awesome. Don't grab anything to steady yourself - just tense really tight. Plus they're kind of a cool party trick.

 

[Phoenix_of_the_ashes]

I also highly recommend "The Naked Warrior", also check out the video with the same name.