Leg Presses...amazing results!

[Goldprospector]

I have always had trouble getting my legs to match up in both size and strength to the rest of my body. My genetics have a lot to do with it...everyone on both sides of my family have always had "bird legs" and being 6'5" tall makes a little difference too.
Anyway...I would always do my squats just like every one else, but the amount of weight was just not always that great. When I would try to get more weight on the bar...I would get a very incomplete workout or I would throw my back out....So I invested in a hack squat/leg press machine from "Body Solids" (I have my own home gym). Imediately, I went up on the weight for the squats and thought I was really going to get somewhere. But to no avail, I rapidly it a plateu and things dried up.

Anyway, I recently tried a leg extention/leg press only routine for the quads and I am really impressed with the results that I am seeing. Here is how imy last workout looked.
Warm up with 10 minutes on the eliptical machine
Then leg extensions w/ 3 SETS OF 8 @ 190lbs
Then Leg Press w/ 5 SETS OF 5 @ 700lbs
Then Leg Press w/ 3 SET OF 8 @ 600lbs
Then Leg Press w/ 3 SET OF 8 @ 500lbs
The couple of each of the last sets are slightly assisted for the "forced reps"
Then go back to the leg extention for a final set of as many as possible @ 150 lbs. which happened to be 12 with the final 2 forced.

Each workout, I have added weight and I have basically not been able to walk for several minutes afterwards.
Iwill stick with this routine for a while to see how it plays out with actual growth. My legs are pumped as hell with veins bulging at then end now, so maybe it will play out well for me.

 

[Cynical Simian]

When I would try to get more weight on the bar...I would get a very incomplete workout or I would throw my back out....

It sounds like your legs aren't really the issue at all: the machines you've tried seem like a crutch for a weak core or improper squat form. I guess it's good that you've found something that allows you to work your legs, but in the long run, you'd be better served by fixing the aforementioned two issues so you can squat.

 

[view]

It sounds like your legs aren't really the issue at all: the machines you've tried seem like a crutch for a weak core or improper squat form. I guess it's good that you've found something that allows you to work your legs, but in the long run, you'd be better served by fixing the aforementioned two issues so you can squat.

amen.

 

[Goldprospector]

It sounds like your legs aren't really the issue at all: the machines you've tried seem like a crutch for a weak core or improper squat form. I guess it's good that you've found something that allows you to work your legs, but in the long run, you'd be better served by fixing the aforementioned two issues so you can squat.

I guess maybe I should have gone into further detail about back problems so people would not automatically jump to conclusions and make assumptions that are not justified...and then still other just jumping on the bandwagon.
When you have had multiple surgeries on your back from injuries...it is kind of dificult not to "throw it out". I can sleep a little wrong and have to go to the chiropractor to fix it....But maybe I need to work on my form while I sleep!

This shit just miffs the hell outta me. Come on here to make a general statement that may help others who either can't or won't do squats or those who have the same troubles that I do...then you get bashed for having bad technique.

 

[MikeMartial]

He's not bashing you, he's making a very valid point that you may have overlooked.

I would suggest a "thanks" was in order.

 

[bignate73]

just a thought, but if moving wrong in your sleep throws your back out, then some rehab is in order to make you functionally strong. make it so you CAN move in the world without injuring yourself. squats being a more functional exercise that uses your body's muscle groups, perhaps throwing some dynamic motions that challenge your core in a multi planed fashion. ie...some rotation. I havent had surgeries and i threw my back out alot early on in my training....until....i began specific training to strengthen it statically as well as dynamically (through ranges of motion). makes all the difference in the world.

the point everyone is making is...why have great wheels if you throw your back out because you sneezed going up some stairs, or the bag of groceries you picked up was a little off center?

I see you had good intentions with this post, just don't get defensive if you get constructive feedback ala "tough love" on here.

 

[blut wump]

I'm in the same situation as bignate73, I had a shitty back for a couple of years which drove me back to the gym. This year I got serious again about my training and, while my back still slips out occasionally, deep squatting and posterior chain work along with a lot of abs strengthening have made me normal again.

This is from a state where I expected to live the rest of my life in pain. I sometimes think of it as having a spine made of muscle rather than bone. Obviously, that's nonsense but having a strong core and posterior chain will help tremendously with your back and leg presses aren't going to do a lot for that problem. Do you have a good mattress?

I don't think anyone's ragging on you here. I like my muscles to be large as much as anyone else does but functional strength is a much higher priority.

 

[Protobuilder]

i threw my back out alot early on in my training....until....i began specific training to strengthen it statically as well as dynamically (through ranges of motion). makes all the difference in the world.

the point everyone is making is...why have great wheels if you throw your back out because you sneezed going up some stairs, or the bag of groceries you picked up was a little off center?

Ditto. I was in the same boat. Doing direct core strengthening and adding in stretching etc. has made a big difference. It's stupid having big arms, etc., but having your back go out when you load your 30 pound kid in his car seat, or twist to put your lunchbag into the passenger seat of your car.

 

[Madcow2]

What typically happens is that someone has an injury or some problem and then spends their time avoiding exercises which stress the area. The problem with that is that without work and conditioning this leaves them far far more prone to reinjury which simply reinforces the need to not stress the area - sort of a vicious cycle.

Core is the center of your body, it is the link between lower and upper. It allows you to apply your strength and is integral to functioning. It is a recipe for disaster to have strong upper and lower with a weak core - this is how people get hurt. The purpose of exercise is to strengthen your body. The whole reason why weights come in incriments is to make the load adjustable to a specific level. If one is worried about their back, the best thing they can do is to safely strengthen the muscles supporting and stabalizing it. The worst thing one can do is build stronger extremeties, leaving the core weak and then engage in an active lifestyle which is likely to call upon their body's strength and require proportional core power (which might be squatting with weight and might just be putting something on running and making a quick cut).

Lots of guys have had major back issues and returned to lifting - some better than before. Granted some won't be breaking records anymore or equal their best but they certainly can strengthen the muscles which support the area to protect it by maintaining reasonable balance.

 

[kethnaab]

hey, tall dude

lots of tall dudes have issues with squats

deadlifts will work in place. start your leg workouts with deadlifts, then hit up the leg extension/leg press thingee

you'll work your core just as well, get your direct quad stimulation, and not have the "i'm a tall-ass lerch" type of problems.