Is it worth it: weighted squats – exercise review

What is it? A full-body compound exercise. Basically, it’s sitting down on an invisible chair, then standing up, ideally with weights attached.

How much does it cost? You can do them without equipment, free of charge. But, unless you have weights at home, you will need a gym membership.

What does it promise? Squats are one of the most vital exercises you can do, the kings of the workout world. Julie Kroon, trainer at Speedflex, says: “Squats will strengthen your quads, hamstrings and glutes as well as your core. There’s also a cardio benefit if they are performed quick enough in high volume.” A strong bum is the key to fitness and strength, and will improve almost everything from your lower back to your core.

What’s it actually like? I’ll get the horrible bit out of the way first: whenever I’ve thrown up in a gym, it’s always been thanks to squats. Squats with heavy weights involve such a huge movement that they can very easily bring you right to the point of exhaustion. However, I don’t vomit every time I do squats, so neither will you. The joy of them is their sheer versatility. If you’re new, you can squat without weights. For an explosive burst of energy, factor in a jump at the top of the movement. You can do squats with dumbbells, or barbells, or with weighted belts, and you can go as heavy as your body will allow. Maybe don’t eat a big dinner right before, though.

Best and worst bit Squats work, plain and simple.

Is it worth it? Every trainer in the world will tell you yes, so yes.