I currently train with 15kg dumbbells in each hand when doing lunges, I have worked my way up fast from 6kg dumbbells in each hand. I was wondering at what sort of weight should I be aiming for before I get ‘big’ legs? cheers, shaun
Lunges are great and all, but I have to tell you, as much as you probably don’t want to hear it… Squatting will benefit you much more than lunges. Squats and deadlifts will make not only your legs massive, but your whole body will grow from them.
Surely they are just as effective for the quads if I push myself to the limit and am lifting heavy enough in the correct rep range?
Youre question is completely retarded. Even for the beginners forum. How can make the claim that somehting is just as effective as something else without having the experience to back it up?
And flipHKD: this is the second or third time I’ve seen you say that squats will make your whole body grow. Yet you have been here for 2.5 years and are smaller than most of the people posting in the beginners forum. I’ll try to put it nicely. Squatting simply will not make someones whole body grow. And there’s nothing wrong with doing lunges as a part of a leg routine. No one should be doing squats only. But I understand you point of emphasizing squatting, youre right about that.
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You guys do get that the OP is a troll
[quote]ONeill89 wrote:
I currently train with 15kg dumbbells in each hand when doing lunges, I have worked my way up fast from 6kg dumbbells in each hand. I was wondering at what sort of weight should I be aiming for before I get ‘big’ legs? cheers, shaun[/quote]
22.5kg
[quote]ONeill89 wrote:
I was wondering at what sort of weight should I be aiming for before I get ‘big’ legs?[/quote]
“Big” is a kinda relative term. What’s your current height and weight?
Let’s set a goal of 50% of your bodyweight per hand for 10-12 reps. When you’re there, we’ll check how the progress has been.
“Just as effective”… not exactly. Unilateral exercises (when you train one arm/leg at a time) should definitely play a part in any bodybuilding program, like Bonez was saying.
But if you were on some kind of reverse-Biggest Loser game show and you were only allowed do one leg exercise to get big, you’d be better off doing squats instead of lunges. Squats allowed you to use a heavier total weight, which will be more beneficial to more muscles than dumbbell lunges.
[quote]MrDan500 wrote:
You guys do get that the OP is a troll[/quote]
Here in the Beginners forum, I give them the benefit of the doubt unless it’s way over the top.
I’m chalking this one up as being simply misinformed, rather than being a troll. Either way. I’ve been burned before… ::teardrop:: … but I keep coming back.
Squat, Front and Back Squat. Afterward do 100 yards of body weight lunges. Since you area beginner - that is all you need for now.
Why use DB’s? Youll be able to rock a shit ton of weight with less fuss if you just do the lunges with a barbell on your back. Once you can do about 10 walking lunges with about 100kg on your back you’ll be at a good spot to start building some legs that dont fit into skinny jeans.
-chris
[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
Youre question is completely retarded. Even for the beginners forum. How can make the claim that somehting is just as effective as something else without having the experience to back it up?
And flipHKD: this is the second or third time I’ve seen you say that squats will make your whole body grow. Yet you have been here for 2.5 years and are smaller than most of the people posting in the beginners forum. I’ll try to put it nicely. Squatting simply will not make someones whole body grow. And there’s nothing wrong with doing lunges as a part of a leg routine. No one should be doing squats only. But I understand you point of emphasizing squatting, youre right about that. [/quote]
I’d really like to justify myself to you, yet, I see nothing good in it. Unless I’m wrong?
Thanks for the replies guys, It was a simple question really, but I got some detailed answers and learnt more than I thought I would. I do Squats regularly, but prefer lunges as I injured myself the second time I ever done squats so therefore I am slowly building my confidence as well as my legs with regards to squats.
[quote]flipHKD_6 wrote:
[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
Youre question is completely retarded. Even for the beginners forum. How can make the claim that somehting is just as effective as something else without having the experience to back it up?
And flipHKD: this is the second or third time I’ve seen you say that squats will make your whole body grow. Yet you have been here for 2.5 years and are smaller than most of the people posting in the beginners forum. I’ll try to put it nicely. Squatting simply will not make someones whole body grow. And there’s nothing wrong with doing lunges as a part of a leg routine. No one should be doing squats only. But I understand you point of emphasizing squatting, youre right about that. [/quote]
I’d really like to justify myself to you, yet, I see nothing good in it. Unless I’m wrong?[/quote]
My point is. How can you say that squatting and deadlifting will make somoene grow all over if you yourself have not grown. Unless your answer is that you don’t squat or deadlift. Squatting will give someone a big ass and maybe big quads if they are naturally efficient squatters. Deadlifts will give somone strong hamstrings, gluts and spinal erectors and a good grip if straps aren’t used much. Not much else will grow.
Even further, how does “you should squat and deadlift” help someone who is so lost that they are asking how much they need to lunge before theyll have big legs? Thats like someone asking how many calories are in “a burger” and you replying “eat steak”. Take responsibility for the information in your posts or change your posting style.
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[quote]ONeill89 wrote:
I currently train with 15kg dumbbells in each hand when doing lunges, I have worked my way up fast from 6kg dumbbells in each hand. I was wondering at what sort of weight should I be aiming for before I get ‘big’ legs? cheers, shaun[/quote]
to the OP since your question is or isn’t “retarded” but is “special”, i have a “special” answer for it:
focus more on depth than on weight for your lunges
enjoy
Lunges are better when used to strengthen the whole leg as one moving unit, or for size as an accessory exercise done with excellent technique. In otherwords going up in weight while sacrificing the feel of the muscle your trying to work is not worth it. Maybe you should decide on what your trying to work with the lunges first…
OP. This is a very nice article describing how to effectively perform a lunge (and what not to do) and how to progress.
Note Error # 4. I think this is a common one. My PT told me lunges were fine (light ones were even part of my rehab). Yet, when I increased load, my knees started to bother me. After reading this article, I realized I was pushing off of my toes and really took a hard look at my form. Focus on getting the correct movement down and you’ll be lunging (pain free) with 50 pounders in each hand in no time!
I’m a big fan as lunges. I prefer barbell to dumbbell because it sometime can become tougher to hold the weights. I perform them following squats and I believe that if done correctly, can really hit every muscle in your legs. They’re great, but you must do some sort of squatting if you are interested in adding size to your legs. Lunges are a great secondary exercise, but squatting should be your prime one, especially as a beginner.
I’m also a fan of lunges, but I prefer the dumbbell walking variety. Especially fairly heavy for a decent amount of reps. With dumbbells your traps get fried something fierce, too. Nothing quite like walking lunges to make your glutes sore.
if nobody’s already said it, go in and move the biggest weight you can. take up the motto, what would you do if there were no numbers on the weights? there’s no good weight or magical weight… just get in there and push yourself until you get the results you want. and eat like a beast 
I actually have no clue how to do a lunge. BEFORE when I used to do them, I would take LONG wide steps with each lunge…then I see everyone else just doing a small step and bending the leg…I dunno that just seems dangerous.
So for the best alternative…split squats on the bench, other ppl know it as bulgarian split squats…those you defianetly want to put your foot out wide and what not…they are a killer…your glutes, quads…will be on FIRE!
Probably the hardest exercise for me…seriosuly…it’s brutal. Use 80’s for sets of 10 and you will want to die lol. (of course that’s after a brutal squat session as well).