Leg Press question

[Brad224]

After seeing what the folks at this site can leg press (some, like Fade, into the thousands - very impressive!!) and comparing that to their squat limits, I have a couple of questions.

First, I suppose it should be obvious to me, but is it always true that you can leg press more than you can squat? I ask because I can squat 5 sets of 8 reps at 355, but according to my leg press machine, I'm only pressing a measly 140 (actually, the plate says "14", I'm just assuming each plate is 10 pounds).

Which leads me to my second question. My leg press machine isn't like your typical press machine where you load it up with free weight olympic-style plates. It's a cable machine with the square plates where you move a pin to up the weight-level. Also, your back isn't on a stationary back rest-type of thing on the floor, it's on a moving sled. When you press, you're not only picking the plates up, you are also pushing the sled (and your body) up. It's a very awkward machine to use.

In this case, would I also count my body weight and the sled? And if so, and if anyone's seen anything like this, does anyone know what the sled would weigh?

It's depressing to think that while my squat isn't phenomenal, it has steadily been increasing week to week and I'm pleased with that. However, my leg press seems so freaking wimpy and that is driving me crazy. Is it just because of the weird leg press machine or am I just dreaming?

 

[Twin Peak]

Dude, you are being paranoid. Forget the press weights. You obvioulsy have strong legs by those squat numbers but you are using a freaky machine. You can NEVER rely on the numbers when using a cable machine (or any machine for that matter). They all function differently due to a number of factors. So as long as you are improving, that's enough. If you want to compare weights, compare squat weights.

 

[ponyboy]

That machine is more like a lying hack squat than a real leg press machine with a sled. Twin Peak is right, don't worry about the numbers on machines because there are all sorts of factors that can come into play. If you want to focus on something, focus on getting to 15, then 16...at least you know you're getting stronger.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

What does your form look like on squats?

 

[Freeman]

Damn, I can remember the good ol' days of being 15 or 16 years old and squatting upwards of 400lbs in my glory football days. But alas, a back injury an me quitting football set me back years. I just this past year started going back to the gym. And even more recently started squatting....have this mental block on squats, cuz that's how I hurt my back. So, right now, my work out is like based on a max of probably 250lbs..maybe a lil more...ugh, depressing as all hell...especially when I used to be great at it for my age...now I'm almost 22 and look like a puss in the gym, but, hey at least I'm working on it and pushing myself. So don't worry, you'll get stronger...we all do. keep it up and so will I.

 

[Brad224]

To TP and ponyboy: Thanks for the encouragement - it's good to hear. Yeah, even on the weird machine the numbers have been increasing, just not as quickly as on the squats. I appreciate the encouragement, and I guess I'll just continue doing what I'm doing.

To Snake_Eyes: I'm very careful to watch form - not only for muscle gains, but to make sure I don't blow anything out. I keep the back straight so there's absolutely no "rounded-ness", looking at the ceiling, feet shoulder-width apart, and go down til upper legs are at least parallel to the floor.

To freeman1504: When I was 15 or 16 this kind of weight would've snapped my legs! Up until the last year I didn't really care too much about the legs but finally realized how completely insane that thought pattern was. Since then I've been hitting them hard with the intention of making them catch up to my upper body - not only to even every thing out, but because I'm figuring out how important leg strength is to the grand scheme of things. And by the way, my days of being 22 are well behind me now but I'm the strongest I've ever been in my life. I agree - I'll keep going and so can you!!

Thanks everyone.