Why You Should Start Doing Lumberjack Squats, According to Andrew Demetre, Charleston-Based Fitness Expert

Squats are highly regarded as one of the best exercises you can do to build muscle in multiple areas of your body. Andrew Demetre, a Charleston-based fitness expert, says squats are one of the essential exercises that everyone should try to do at the gym.

Some people struggle with squats, though. Having heavyweights rest on your shoulders and gripping them with your hands and wrists while squatting down can be difficult. It can cause pain in your shoulders, elbows, or wrists if you don’t do it right.

Squats are challenging, and you might not be able to get enough depth on them to receive the proper exercise. If you fall into any of these categories, it’s worth doing lumberjack squats instead.

Below is a full description of how you can do this alternative squat exercise.

What Are Lumberjack Squats?

Lumberjack squats are an exercise that you can use as an alternative to the traditional squat. They don’t put as much pressure on your body, yet they still produce outstanding results in your workout.

It’s easier to do lumberjack squats more often than traditional squats, and you can vary the number of reps and sets you do and the tempo by which you do them.

That’s why they’re a great exercise that can either replace traditional squats altogether or can be integrated into your workout as a switch-up now and again.

Instead of holding a weight bar with weights resting on your shoulders and behind your head, you’ll do this with the bar propped up in front of you.

How to Do Lumberjack Squats

You’ll need two things for lumberjack squats — a bench and a weight bar. When you’re first getting started, just go with the weight bar by itself. Once you get comfortable doing the exercise, then you can add weights on one end.

Start by setting up the bench in front of you, and stand to one side of the bench. Your feet should be facing toward the bench, about a foot behind it.

Place the weight bar on a diagonal out in front of you. One end of the bar should be angled on the ground while you grip the other end of the bar in your hands.

Then, do the squat as you would a traditional squat, bringing the bar down with you toward the ground. Make sure that your elbows and arms stay locked in tight to your chest, and don’t bend as you squat.

Increasing the Difficulty

Andrew Demetre, a Charleston-based fitness expert, says that you can increase the difficulty level of lumberjack squats once you get comfortable with the exercise.

The easiest way to do so is to add some 45-pound weights to the end of the bar closest to you. When you squat, you should have the bottom of the weight touch the bench, and then you can go back up again.

Another option to add difficulty is to add a band to the exercise. Wrap one end of the band around the weight bar near the end closest to you, and put your feet on top of the other end on the ground. This will add some resistance and make it more challenging to complete.

About Andrew Demetre

Andrew Demetre, Charleston health coach, physical trainer, and bodybuilder, first found his calling during the pandemic when he realized that many of his clients preferred working out from home. These days, Demetre uses his expertise to train clients from home, whether in the greater Charleston area or worldwide. Andrew firmly believes every client can achieve their ideal body through hard work and dedication — no gym membership needed.