Hey guys,
i've been doing my new routine now for a couple of weeks. and i have a couple of questions regarding some exercises:

What is the difference between doing squats and deadlifts? With regards to muscles worked.

I have been having trouble with the deadlifts, more just i'm not that comfortable when doing them. Is there any alternatives? I am doing barbell squats. Can I do some isolation exercises to work the muscles that deadlifts hit, but squats don't?

Also, what are the different muscles hit by military presses and shoulder presses? Because it seems to me they are largely similar movements?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Squats are quad-dominant most of the time, while deadlifts are glute-dominant most of the time.

Lower the weight and keep at it until it is comfortable.

..Yes, actually, sort of. Romanian Deadlifts and Good Mornings. Though, beginners should do Romanian Deadlifts first.



Look something like that. Knees bent slightly, rotate at the hip while keeping an stable arch in the lower back, go as low as comfortable without losing your arch - and no need to hit the floor. Should slam your hamstrings and glutes, and bring your lower back along for the ride.

What kind of deadlifts are you doing, or have been trying to do?

Squats are quad dominant exercise, a lower pushing exercise they hit other groups too though, especially depending on what type of squats you're doing, how low you go, and your stance (wel that's the type). You'll feel it in the lower back some, particularly on really heavy or high rep sets. If you go low enough you hit the glutes and hams more, they do get worked in squats, but are worked more the lower you go.

Deadlifts are a lower pulling/hip dominant exercise. Depending on what kind of deadlift you are doing, again, changes what is worked. The hams and lower back are the primary focus. With conventional deadlifts the quads do get worked more than in other deadlifts. Arguably, deadlifts hit other areas of your back as well, I've felt it in my traps before, but only after being away from deadlifts and moving up in weight.

Timmy, that's a really bad gif of a RDL. It looks a lot like a SLDL with the ROM of a RDL.

yeah that's what I was thinking, the knees should be bent more and the butt going out more, his arch could be better too...

Best I could do. What's important is that the lower back is protected, and there's no knee flexion. Bent, yes, flexion, no.

Yep, which sadly is how a personal trainer showed me how to do still leg deads about 5 years ago. my knees were more bent, but it had all the hip swingign of romanians and kept the weight right up next to the legs instead of out like they should be.

Testosterone Nation - Romanian vs. Stiff-Legged Deadlifts