In a captivating 30-day fitness challenge, Laurie Shaw set out to explore the impact of integrating resistance bands into their daily squat routine. His goal was ambitious yet simple: to perform 100 squats every day using resistance bands to enhance the workout’s intensity.

This challenge was not just a test of physical endurance but also an experiment to visibly build leg muscle and increase strength, measured through a comparative analysis of their squat max before and after the challenge.
100 Resistance Bands with Squats Every Day for 30 Days
The resistance bands introduced a novel element to their workout regimen. Unlike free weights, which maintain consistent resistance throughout an exercise, resistance bands escalate resistance as they stretch. This dynamic tension promised a unique challenge and potential benefits distinct from traditional weightlifting.
With enthusiasm and a bit of trepidation, Laurie embarked on this journey, documenting his progress to share with an eager audience. The initial phase involved assessing his starting point with a max squat test, setting a baseline for the challenge ahead.
His initial squat capability was modest, with a max squat of 125 kilograms after warming up. This served as a benchmark for the challenge’s effectiveness.
As the days unfolded, the routine quickly intensified. The initial ease of single squats gave way to the cumulative burn of consecutive reps, revealing the challenge’s true nature. By the second day, the soreness had set in, indicating the workout’s impact and the body’s adaptation process.
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To enhance the challenge, he later incorporated light free weights with the resistance bands, aiming for a synergistic effect that would maximize muscle engagement and growth. This adjustment marked a new phase in the challenge, increasing the difficulty and, hopefully, the benefits.
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Throughout the challenge, he faced the expected hurdles of fatigue and the logistical challenges of fitting the daily routine into Laurie’s schedule. Nonetheless, he adapted, performing squats in various locations and times to maintain consistency. The flexibility and portability of resistance bands played a crucial role in this adaptability.
As the challenge neared its end, anticipation for the results grew. Despite the physical demands and the occasional need for rest days to prevent overtraining, he completed approximately 25 days of the challenge with a hundred squats each.

The final test of progress was a repeat of the max squat, a moment of truth that would reveal the challenge’s impact on his strength. Remarkably, he exceeded his own expectations, achieving a new max squat of 140 kilograms, a significant improvement from the beginning of the challenge.
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This 30-day journey was not only a test of physical endurance and strength but also a testament to the power of consistency and adaptation.
The use of resistance bands in his squat routine proved to be a valuable addition, offering a new dimension of challenge and growth. The experience was a reminder of the potential within us to surpass our limits and achieve new heights, one squat at a time.
image sources
- Squatting-with-Barbell: Corey Young
- resistance band ab exercises: Photo Courtesy of CrossFit Inc