The Motto "If You Ain't Squatting, You Ain't Training" Is A Myth

 Listen up, although I'm not very controversial, this article most likely will get flack and some words from the Peanut Gallery. With that in mind, let's see how this goes.

 You've heard it probably a few dozen times (me personally, only heard this from 2 people but I digress) echoing through the gym halls or by gurus, shouted by bro-scientists, old-school lifters or even bodyweight maniacs: "If you ain't squatting, you ain't training." It's that "sacred" mantra that's been drilled into our skulls like a barbell loaded with ego plates or those hitting an extreme amount of reps. But let's hit this with some realistic points of view—no bullshit, just straight facts from someone who's been in the trenches, crushing reps and training every single day. This so-called "rule" is nothing but a myth, a overhyped legend that's holding back more gains than it's creating. Today, let's dismantle it piece by piece, because true power comes from smart training, not blind dogma. Buckle up; this is gonna be a wake-up call that may be called out on which is fine (just no anonymous crap).

First off, let's take a step back to where this myth even came from. Squats have been crowned the "king of exercises" since the dawn of modern bodybuilding, even pseudo-bodyweight weirdos get in on it. Think about legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Ronnie Coleman—they squatted heavy, built quads like tree trunks, and dominated stages. Bodyweight guys will do hundreds even more than a thousand squats in training. Powerlifters swear by it for building raw strength, and CrossFitters treat it like gospel for functional fitness. Hell, even the military uses squat variations in PT tests. Why? Because squats torch multiple muscle groups at once: quads, hamstrings, glutes, core, even your back gets in on the action. They spike testosterone, boost metabolism, and mimic real-life movements like standing up from a chair or exploding in a sprint. On paper, it's a beast of an exercise. But here's the kicker—it's not the ONLY beast in the jungle.

Training isn't about one move. It's about consistency, progression, and listening to your damn body. If squats are wrecking you or just not vibing with your goals, ditching them doesn't make you a quitter—it makes you smart.

Let's break down why squats aren't the end-all-be-all. Number one: Anatomy ain't one-size-fits-all. We're all built different, folks. If you've got long femurs and a short torso, back squats might feel like torture, putting insane stress on your lower back while barely hitting your quads. Forcing it? That's a fast track to the sidelines. Instead, why not pivot to alternatives that deliver the same bang without the risk? Leg presses, for starters—load up that sled and fry your legs in a controlled environment. No spinal compression, just pure quad and glute annihilation. Or hack squats: They isolate the lower body while keeping your back supported. You can also do Step-Ups, Squat Variations that give a better outlook that doesn't give your legs or lower back fits. Isometrics are great for building tendon strength which you can find plenty of that here on the blog.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not anti-squat. I've done tons of them myself, hitting PRs that made me feel like a god like doing 1000 squats in 33 minutes or doing 500 Squats before a workout or even a hike, brutal stuff. But I've also evolved. Bands, Sprints, Animal Movements. They're killer for athletic performance too—think better jumps, greater speed and that explosive pop in sports. Then there's lunges and step-ups: Unilateral work that fixes imbalances, boosts stability, and carves out those teardrop quads. Bulgarian split squats? Nasty AF, but they torch calories and build symmetry without a rack in sight. And for the home warriors or those dodging crowded gyms, goblet squats with a kettlebell or slow bodyweight squats (Not Extremely High Reps) keep things functional and joint-friendly.

Care to talk science for a moment, because I ain't just spitting opinions. Studies from the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research show that compound leg exercises like leg presses, Duck Walks and others can elicit similar hypertrophy (muscle growth) responses as squats, especially when volume and intensity match up. Hormonal boosts? Yeah, squats edge out in testosterone spikes, but consistent resistance training overall cranks up your anabolic hormones—Push-ups, Pull-Ups & other things included. A meta-analysis in Sports Medicine even found that free-weight squats aren't superior for athletic transfer if you're not a powerlifter; machine-based or plyometric alternatives can build speed and power just as effectively. Bottom line: Gains aren't squat-exclusive. They're earned through progressive overload, recovery, and variety.

But the myth persists because of ego and tradition. Vets with bad backs who crush hack squats and build tree-trunk quads. Even pro athletes sideline squats during injury recovery and come back stronger. Remember Kobe Bryant? He ditched heavy squats later in his career for plyos and unilateral work to save his knees—still dominated like a GOAT. Or Tom Brady (not the biggest fan of his but he did have a long and crazy career), focusing on functional strength over max lifts. These icons prove: Elite performance isn't tied to one exercise.

So, if squats aren't mandatory, what's the real key to training like a beast? Balance, bro. Build a program that hits all angles—push, pull, hinge, squat (or squat-like), and carry. Prioritize recovery: Sleep like a champ, fuel with protein-packed meals, and keep those joints loose. Track progress not just in pounds, but in how you feel—energy levels, mobility, confidence. And mindset? That's the ultimate power-up. Screw the "all or nothing" bullshit. If squats work for you, crush 'em with a fucking vengeance. If not, adapt and conquer like a man on a mission. I've seen too many folks quit training altogether because they couldn't "squat right." Don't be that statistic. Own your own damn journey.

In closing, the myth of "if you ain't squatting, you ain't training" is just that—a myth. It's outdated gatekeeping that ignores individuality, science, and smart progression. Training is about building a body that serves you, not bowing to some arbitrary rule and to those who are so dogmatic about it they'll call you a loser or a F*ggot (Don't trust those people, those are charlatans). So, whether you're under the bar or working your own bodyweight, own it with intensity and purpose. Crush your workouts, listen to your body, and watch the gains roll in. If this fired you up, hit that follow for more real-talk tips, and drop a comment (No Anonymous): What's your go-to leg exercise? Let's level up together. 💪 Be amazingly awesome.

The Straight Up Myth Of "No Pain, No Gain"

Hey guys, how about we dive into something that holds close to me? You’ve heard it a million times, screamed from gym maniacs, self-help "gurus", and motivational posters plastered on every corner of the internet: “No pain, no gain!” Like, if you ain’t suffering, you ain’t growing or training. If you’re not grinding ‘til you’re bleeding, you’re just wasting space. Sounds epic, right? Sounds like the kind of fire that gets you hyped to conquer just about anything. But let's take a step back—let’s flip the script and unpack this bullshit old mantra. Spoiler alert: “No pain, no gain” is a myth and it's about to be broken down like life depended on it.

First off, let’s look into where this phrase even came from. It’s the old adage that has 80s bodybuilding vibes, like Arnold Schwarzenegger pumping iron and yelling about “the pump” while sweat drips like a faucet. The idea is quite simple: you have to push past your limits, embrace pain, and only through suffering do you unlock greatness. Sounds like a Hollywood montage, but for real though, it’s a half-truth (if that), and it’s being weaponized to make us think progress has to feel like torture and agony.

Don’t get me wrong—growth ain’t always comfy or meant to be done with easy attempts. You don’t get jacked, master a skill, or build an empire by chilling on the couch with a bag of Cheetos. But the idea that pain is the only path to gain? That’s where the myth creeps in. It’s like saying you got to break your legs to learn how to run faster. Nah, I know what it's like to have broken legs so I say fuck that. There’s a smarter way, and it doesn’t involve worshipping suffering like it’s some kind of badge of honor.

 Don’t play with fluff. Pain is your body’s way of saying, “Yo, something’s wrong here!” It’s a signal, not a participation trophy. When you’re lifting weights or doing bodyweight exercises, bands or whatever and your muscles are screaming, that’s not growth—it’s stress. The actual growth happens when you recover, when your body repairs those micro-tears in your muscles and comes back stronger. Push too hard, ignore the signal, and you’re not gaining—you’re risking burnout, injury, or worse.

Same goes for mental grind. Hustle culture loves to glorify 80-hour workweeks, sleepless nights, and coffee-fueled marathons like they’re the key to success. But science says otherwise. Studies, like ones from the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology (2020), show chronic overwork tanks your productivity, creativity, and mental health. You’re not “gaining” when you’re burned out—you’re just surviving. Real growth happens when you balance effort with rest, not when you’re white-knuckling through misery. It's even good to tone things down a notch like doing something with lower intensity sometimes.

 Here's the thing: you don’t need to destroy yourself to build yourself. Growth is about consistency, not masochism. Let’s look at some real-world examples to prove this myth ain’t it.

1. Fitness Without the Agony

Ever heard of progressive overload? It’s the gold standard for building muscle and strength. You gradually increase the weight, reps, or intensity over time. No need to max out every freaking time or walk out of the gym like you just got hit by a bunch of crowbars. A 2019 study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that moderate, consistent training led to similar strength gains as high-intensity, pain-chasing workouts—without the injury risk. You grow by challenging yourself smartly, not by chasing soreness like it’s a personality trait. Soreness doesn't always mean you had a good workout.

2. Mental Growth Without the Breakdown

Wanna master a skill or crush it in your career? The “no pain, no gain” crowd will tell you to grind ‘til you’re crying into your keyboard. But check this shit out: research on deliberate practice (Ericsson, 1993) shows that focused, intentional work—done in short, high-quality bursts—beats mindless hustle every time. Think of it like sprinting, not a death march. You practice, you rest, you reflect, you improve. No need to sacrifice your sanity.

3. Life Goals Without the Suffering

Big dreams don’t require big pain. You don’t need to suffer to scale your hustle; you need strategy, discipline, and—here’s a reality check—self-care. So why do we keep buying into this “pain = gain” crap? ‘Cause it’s sexy and as many of you know, sex sells. It’s dramatic. It makes for great Instagram captions and viral TED Talks. Suffering feels like proof you’re doing something epic. Plus, society loves to romanticize struggle—think “rags to riches” stories or the starving artist trope. We’re conditioned to think that if it’s not hard, it’s not worth it. Many who busted their asses all their lives still ended up miserable, in pain and barely a penny to their name. But that’s a trap. It keeps us stuck in cycles of overwork, burnout, and guilt for taking a damn break. It’s time to rewrite the narrative. You don’t need to bleed to succeed—you need to work smart, stay consistent, and respect your limits.

Here’s the vibe shift we need: replace “no pain, no gain” with “work it, but recover with a vengeance.” Growth isn’t about how much you can endure—it’s about how well you can sustain. Here’s how to make it happen:

Prioritize Recovery: Sleep within the 7-9 hour range, eat nutrient-dense food, and do some recovery training like walking, joint loosening, stretching, Yoga (DDP Style recommended) or completely rest all together if needed. Your body and brain need downtime to rebuild. A 2021 study in Nature found sleep boosts cognitive performance more than any “hustle hack” out there.

Set Smart Challenges: Push your limits, but don’t obliterate them. Aim for close to 80% effort most days, with occasional max-effort sprints. Consistency > intensity.

Listen to Your Body: Pain is a warning, not a requirement. If your knees are screaming during a run or your brain’s foggy from overwork, ease up. Adjust, don’t ignore. It may save your life.

Celebrate Small Wins: You don’t need to suffer to prove your worth. Every step forward counts, whether it’s a new PR in the gym or finishing a project without pulling an all-nighter. The smallest fraction of progress still leads to the big picture.

No pain, no gain? That’s old-school noise, guys. You don’t need to break yourself to build yourself. Growth comes from showing up, putting in what needs to be done and giving your body and mind the space to adapt. It’s not about how much you can suffer—it’s about how much you can sustain. So ditch the myth, embrace the grind in a smarter way, and watch yourself level up without the unnecessary drama.

What’s your take? You still buying into the “no pain, no gain” hype, or you ready to work smarter? Drop your thoughts in the comments or shoot me an email using the Contact Form and give me your insights (respectfully of course, don't be an asshole). 💪

Want some ideas on how to train smarter? Check out guys like Matt Schifferle & Zenkahuna.

Be amazingly awesome and keep progressing.

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Mythology & Superhuman Strength

            No matter how you slice it, we've been fans of Mythology for as long as we can remember. We've read the comic books, we've watched the movies, we've practiced certain elements that are based on the gods and we've even trained to be like them but can we really? There are different heroes and villains in the world of Mythology basing on how much we've learned about them. It’s important to have these stories but one must be cautious because we never know what we might find.

            Gods, monsters, heroes, villains, superhuman powers; these things have stretched our imaginations for eons and we still are finding more things about them than we thought to believe. The god Zeus is one of the most prolific figures in Mythology because of not just his power of the thunder bolt but some look at him as a man of great stature and superhuman entities to do good on this world, others see him as a complete asshole for wanting to overthrow his brothers Poseidon & the dark lord of the underworld Hades and control mankind to do his bidding. It is important however to know that a god like that is very powerful and can learn to use his great strength for our own way of training.

            Another great Hero or mythical figure; Thor, he’s one of the strongest gods there is and he’s famous because of that great Hammer of his. When he strikes down the Frost Giants or marches into battle, his hammer is the equivalent to a samurai’s mighty sword. The weapon is apart of who he is, it symbolizes his power unlike anything else and with that power can either be great for saving the world or destroy it b the choices we make.

            How can we tie in these mythological figures into building a foundation for fitness today? Well let’s look back to how real warriors of ancient times trained; they didn't have machines like pulldowns or cardio machines to keep them fit or have barbells and dumbbells to strengthen their muscles so what the hell did they do? Depends on the type of warrior you’re looking at, some were swordsmen, some were archers, others were snipers when they shot arrowheads and even some had special weapons made for specific occasions or battles so they’re training consisted on the type of role they played in. When you look at archers, they have strong shoulders, a keen eye and a great sense of control of on pulling isometrics. That makes me think of Strand Pulling or today’s Lifeline Chest Expander, working the same muscles as an archer did just in a different format.

            If we truly want to put in training like god or a warrior of ancient times, we can’t just march into the gym or get a certain tool of weight or cable and expect to be super strong. Like anything else we progress to become better and stronger and fitter. Think of Hercules, the strongest god of all or should we say demi-god. He was already super strong and had superhuman qualities but at first he didn't understand how to use that strength, it made him awkward and his control was horrible. After learning to use his mind and putting in the effort to control what he was doing, over a period of time his strength helped him in the 12 labors he was assigned by the Greek goddess Hera if you read the stories and the tragic entities that go with this.

            We are inspired by powerful beings, whether they’re gods, extraordinary men and women or even a certain person of status whether an athlete or strong being; it gives us hope that we can be those things to and possibly more if you put your mind to it. The power of our imagination is endless if you really understand it and continue to learn it. We all have great gifts within us and most of us don’t even know it and never learn to unlock them. Learn what you’re good at, progress and turn it into something you can proud of and you can be super strong and powerful. Use your imagination and doors will open to you that you never seen before.