Squats have always been one of the most important exercises that are often touted to be the best for one’s legs. However, the six-time Mr. Olympia, Dorian Yates has questioned giving unnecessary importance to any such exercise during one’s fitness journey. He pointed out how he believed in using the trial-and-error method before sticking to a fitness routine.

Dorian Yates aka The Shadow, has never been afraid to go against the grain and still promotes the same way of approaching fitness. Thus, he not only asked his fans to step away from squats if it did not work out for them but also suggested some effective alternatives for the same.

Dorian Yates’s alternatives for squats

Taking to Instagram, Yates confessed how he got a hip injury back in the 1980s while doing free-weight barbell squats. Years later, he talked about how one need not do squats just because it has become a standardized requirement for building legs. “Don’t do squats,” he made it plain and clear. He further added, “What made logical sense to me was the fact that intensity was the key trigger. So I applied it in the gym and got very good feedback.”

Moreover, Yates also had a list of alternatives one can rely on instead of squats. He mentioned, “I tried other exercises and they worked well for me; smith machine squats, hack squats, and leg press.” According to Yates, asking a ‘why’ with regard to every exercise that one engaged in became extremely crucial.

Dorian Yates had once also tried experimenting with his diet. However, the shredded state came with a shocking demerit, which made him regret his choices.

The time when Yates went overboard with his diet

The six-time Mr. Olympia title winner, Dorian Yates, once revealed how he had dieted more than necessary. He later realized how his muscles also got reduced in the process. He stated, “I over dieted, overdid it, getting ready for that contest”. Later on, Yates noticed that he lost, “a whole lot of muscle.” despite of looking extremely shredded.

According to Yates, this occurred because the progress photos he had clicked during the process took over a week to develop. Back in the days when smartphones and DSLRs were not even heard of, it was too late when Yates realized that he had gone a little too far with his attempt.

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As shown by his tips, Yates understands the need to adapt when one’s body does not allow one to engage in traditional methods. Especially after his injury, he found the workout methods that were the best for him and still influenced people to look into techniques that made more sense to them. What do you think of Yates’s advice? Let us know in the comments below.

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