How to squat lower?

[Baconator]

So I am a 17 year old male who just recently, and I mean very recently started working out. I started last week and I have gone through full body workouts such as chests, arms, legs, back, etc.

Today my friend told me to try squats and that he'd spot me. Every time I would lift the bar itself (45lbs) and squat down, I would only go so far before I felt like I could not go anymore. One problem is is that my friend would give me motivational advice would begin to yell at me to get lower and lower but I couldn't. I would get low to the point where I was barely getting into a squat but it would feel like I was about to collapse and fall because I wouldn't be able to keep up.

Is this normal for a fresh body that has started working out or is this irregular?

[Horatio Nelson]

It's normal. Squatting is not easy, don't be worried you couldn't do it your first time.

If you can't squat the bar then I suggest just practicing your form by holding onto a pole or something similar.

Most importantly, keep trying, don't quit after one failure. :)

[Zenos]

So I am a 17 year old male who just recently, and I mean very recently started working out. I started last week and I have gone through full body workouts such as chests, arms, legs, back, etc.

Today my friend told me to try squats and that he'd spot me. Every time I would lift the bar itself (45lbs) and squat down, I would only go so far before I felt like I could not go anymore. One problem is is that my friend would give me motivational advice would begin to yell at me to get lower and lower but I couldn't. I would get low to the point where I was barely getting into a squat but it would feel like I was about to collapse and fall because I wouldn't be able to keep up.

Is this normal for a fresh body that has started working out or is this irregular?

GIve it time and flexibility will increase

[IAMWILL]

Try bodyweight squats. I'm the least flexible person in the world and I can easily squat will full range of motion. Stand with feet about shoulder width apart or a little wider, toes flared out about 15*, bend your knees and let your hips slide back, go down until your gluteus touch your quads. The balance will come naturally.

[Guitarguy9]

Your posterior chain (butt, hams, lower back) is probably super tight. Find some stretches that focus on those areas. Do them every day. Also, make sure your squat form is PERFECT. There are two approaches to squats: high bar and low bar. Pick one and go with it. Do not confuse the two. Make sure you are sitting back into the squat and not coming down over your toes. You should feel the pressure on your heels as you descend. You will probably have to reduce your working weight significantly until your form improves. This sucks, but check your ego at the gym door and live with it. Otherwise, you are flirting with major knee sheer and, consequently, future knee issues - like surgery - because you've been squatting wrong all your life. I suggest buying the book Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe and reading it. It will give you all the information you will ever need to know about squats, deads, bench, standing press, cleans, etc.

[sprinter]

Your hamstrings are tight, try airsquats or stretching.

[athleticteen]

You need to be able to do perfect body weight squats before you even think about adding weight, otherwise you could hurt yourself. After you can do a perfect body weight squat, add a kettlebell and do goblet squats, then progress to a barbell.

[WengMan3397]

You need to be able to do perfect body weight squats before you even think about adding weight, otherwise you could hurt yourself. After you can do a perfect body weight squat, add a kettlebell and do goblet squats, then progress to a barbell.

yea man. you gotta go ass to grass from the beginning and then ad a bar. or you can try goblet squats before going up to using a bar. they help your form.

[Hyper]

You should first of all define what do you mean lower and how low are you going in terms of angles/degrees.

It could just be that your form is terrible or you are simply using too much weight or some muscles are too tight or a combination of those.

[tret123]

It's all about the technique so don't mess up your form to go lower... Progress your way there

[JamesSuperBoy]

So I am a 17 year old male who just recently, and I mean very recently started working out. I started last week and I have gone through full body workouts such as chests, arms, legs, back, etc.

Today my friend told me to try squats and that he'd spot me. Every time I would lift the bar itself (45lbs) and squat down, I would only go so far before I felt like I could not go anymore. One problem is is that my friend would give me motivational advice would begin to yell at me to get lower and lower but I couldn't. I would get low to the point where I was barely getting into a squat but it would feel like I was about to collapse and fall because I wouldn't be able to keep up.

Is this normal for a fresh body that has started working out or is this irregular?

Yes - squats use a whole range of muscles so you need to build stregth all round and practice. haveing someone yell is no good when you are trying to concentrate and make sure you are getting the breathing right.

[Alen_s]

As soon as you start to lower yourself down to the squat, shove your knees out and keep them shoved out for the duration of the rep.

[dbfordateam]

your hips are tight because of all the new muscle growth simply put. Keep on squatting

[jules1309]

In one of my early morning fitness sessions, my instructor told us that stretching before exercises allows you to increase motion by a substantial percentage - around 8% or so.

I squat frequently (at the most random of times) but stretching before may help you go lower. Keep on squatting and you'll get there! :)

[Flapjack]

So I am a 17 year old male who just recently, and I mean very recently started working out. I started last week and I have gone through full body workouts such as chests, arms, legs, back, etc.

Today my friend told me to try squats and that he'd spot me. Every time I would lift the bar itself (45lbs) and squat down, I would only go so far before I felt like I could not go anymore. One problem is is that my friend would give me motivational advice would begin to yell at me to get lower and lower but I couldn't. I would get low to the point where I was barely getting into a squat but it would feel like I was about to collapse and fall because I wouldn't be able to keep up.

Is this normal for a fresh body that has started working out or is this irregular?
You are lifting too much, if you can't do the exercise properly, reduce the weight.