Legs really wobbly after a few squats

[ofwarren]

I walk 6 miles every day but my thigh muscles are weak and I find it hard to get up off the floor without using my hands (I'm 43).

Today I just did about 10 squats before the school run and they didn't hurt or anything but when I step off a kerb, my thighs feel like jelly and like they will give way!

Is this normal and will it improve over time?
I can't even walk fast without wobbling.

Normal! I lift heavy weights now but when you first start those compound exercises walking downstairs can often be worse than going up.

You’ll be cracking walnuts on those thighs in no time!

Oh - and stretch the quads.

Totally normal. Tomorrow you will probably ache. Don't stretch your quads straight after exercising, but make sure you do beforehand. I strongly recommend foam rolling your quads before bed though, really helps limit how badly they ache the next day.

Thank you
I thought I'd done something I shouldn't

How often should I do it? Every day or miss a day?
I felt like bambi on the school run. Embarrassingly weak muscles.

Every other day til the day after pain stops (shouldn't take more than a week). Then every day will be a breeze

I've mentioned this before but have a look at Carolyn Girvan on youtube. If you follow one of her series you'll have a variety of upper and lower body days so you'll have recovery time of specific areas.

@MangoBiscuit

Why no quad stretching after exercise? I do HIIT with a group and 1:1 with. PT for strength training and we always stretch quads afterwards. Warm up exercises first too obviously. Never heard of this.

@Tromboncini my coach used to tell me off for stretching immeadiately afterwards. Apparently you need to let your muscles settle a bit first. Straight after weights your muscles are pumped as they swell with blood to repair the micro damage you've just done. Stretching drains them faster, so they repair slower.

I was told to give it a few hours before stretching, and to foam roll before bed (I workout early am). Definitely seemed to help.

Interesting thanks

Another YouTube recommendation is Sydney Cumming Houdyshell, she gives really good explanations of form.
You'll build your legs up in no time, but expect to ache for the first few weeks.

Totally normal. Just start doing more and adding on more weight as you get stronger.

I tried doing a full push up a couple of weeks ago and couldn’t do 1. So I started working on it every day and now I can do 8 in a row.

Agree with other comments but also work on your core too, if you can’t get up without using your hands it will really help if you have a strong core

Opposite of what I've been taught.

Yeah you shouldn’t stretch a cold muscle