Comments and questions about leg day

[AKIRA]

Today I decided to do leg press before squatting. I did 3 warm ups then 4 sets of gradual increase of weight. I got up to 8 plates, which isnt all the much, but I noticed something. My back was bothering me. I tried to keep my lower back on the seat, arched off the seat, nothing worked. I have never seen anyone on here say their back hurt on a leg press. Am I the only one? This was the 3rd or 4th time it really bothered me. This time was the worst I suppose cuz it was my heaviest. THen I hit the squats...no problems.

In my golds, the calf raise machine is a bit...old. And the weight is a bit...light. I can rep all the weight, so I decided a new approach. I have done this maybe 4 times now, but I have been doing calf raises on the smith machine. I put a pad on the bar, get a block of wood and go to town. It give me a better stretch, more comfortable, more weight, and the pad doesnt give me the fucking disgusting stretch marks that the pads on the calf raise machines give. And is it just me, or is anyone strong as hell with their calfs, but notice that they arent that big? Well mine are. WHich is why I fired the shit outta them on the smith, then went to the seated calf machine and did more.

All in all, I say it was a great Monday workout.

And my hands are still shaking from those Redline Drinks. Good stuff.

 

[Arnold]

were you going deep on the leg press?

 

[CowPimp]

Don't know the deal with the leg press, that's kind of strange.

My calfs are definitely a lot stronger than they look. I used to rep like 600 pounds a boatload of times on the leg press doing calf raises.

 

[squanto]

I've heard of people saying they don't use leg press because it hurts their lower back.... no first hand experience with that though.

 

[jwg]

My back sometimes hurts while doing leg presses. Usually the lower right part. I go as deep as possible when I do them (knees almost to chest).

Maybe that has something to do with it.

 

[MyK]

My back sometimes hurts while doing leg presses. Usually the lower right part. I go as deep as possible when I do them (knees almost to chest).

Maybe that has something to do with it.

dont curl your lower back off the seat. come down deep, but stop when tou feel you lower back wanting to part with the seat STOP!!!!. Your back will thank you in later years,

also, make sure your pushing through your heels and NOT the ball of your feet!!!!

 

[jwg]

I'll keep that in mind when I go workout today (it's leg day).

 

[Zinthar]

Leg day for me as well...but I skip leg presses and just do squats -- a few good sets more than fry my quads.

 

[myCATpowerlifts]

Leg day here also!
Not doing leg presses though....it's just a crappy squat alternative imo.

 

[Arnold]

Leg presses are a great exercise, but don't go to deep on them.

 

[jwg]

Well I definitly felt a difference this evening doing leg presses.

I went to do them after regular squats and only went down about half as far. I noticed a lot less stress on my back. I really didn't notice any pain a month or so ago. I guess when I increased the weight by a few plates is when I noticed a little pain.

I don't know why I was thinking the deeper the better. I guess cause most people tell you to go deep on squats, I was thinking the same held true for leg presses

 

[MyK]

Well I definitly felt a difference this evening doing leg presses.

I went to do them after regular squats and only went down about half as far. I noticed a lot less stress on my back. I really didn't notice any pain a month or so ago. I guess when I increased the weight by a few plates is when I noticed a little pain.

I don't know why I was thinking the deeper the better. I guess cause most people tell you to go deep on squats, I was thinking the same held true for leg presses

did you push through your heel?

And I reccommened that you do one leg at a time! just my personal preference!

 

[largepkg]

Leg presses are a great exercise, but don't go to deep on them.

Completely agree!

When I first started going relatively heavy on leg press my back was really grabbing me bad after my workout. I finally realized it's because I was going to deep. Now I will not go past 90 degrees and all is good.