Leg Presses - what weight do you do?

[kdot28]

I've recently just started going to the gym. Did some strength training for thighs and butt today and found that I quite like the 'leg press' machine. Just wondering if you use it and if so, what weight do you do it on and how many reps/sets before you get tired?

[Legendsneverdie]

well in all honesty it depends on your depth. and chances are this was ur first time using a leg press ur doing quater range of motions. quater range of motion is so common on squats and leg presses some may think it is the proper way to perform those excersies.

[bekkiss]

Friday I did 3 pps (plates per side). I am rehabbing an injury so I am not going as heavy as I can. I switch up my foot position depending on what I want to work. Some days I do 4x15 and some I do 100's. It really just depends on what type of leg workout I am doing that day. The one thing that is consistent, I always go full ROM. I bring the weight all the way down until I "touch" the stops.

[IronCitGrl]

IMO the leg press is overrated. Nothing works legs better than squats, deadlifts, an d lunges. Usually leg press machines are at a 45 degree angle so you are able to press much more weight than a squat or deadlift. Also when you are sitting on the machine you don't have to balance the weight, and when that is taken out of the equation the less your muscles have to work.

The leg press helped me build stronger quads, but as a woman its highly probable that you already have strong quads in relation to your glutes and hamstrings. The leg press really didn't do much for my glutes and hams--not saying it didnt do anything but it was when I started doing deads and squats that I REALLY hit those areas.

As for how much weight I do..I really don't know or care for that matter since I have no idea how much the sled weighs-- all machines vary. Plus if the machine is 45 degree you really aren't lifting that much.

And another thing about leg press machines is that people don't know how to use them. Either they hardly go down enough or they go down too far and lift their butt of the seat. Then I see people who go up on their toes as they lower the weight down and also, especially women, who push their knees together when they lower the weight.

[Miranda]

And another thing about leg press machines is that people don't know how to use them. Either they hardly go down enough or they go down too far and lift their butt of the seat. Then I see people who go up on their toes as they lower the weight down and also, especially women, who push their knees together when they lower the weight.

that goes for any exercise. i see people use pretty horrible form on squats all the time. it's more a question of imbalances than the equipment you use.

i'd also note that the leg press DOES work the quads and is very handy if you're not biomechanically suited to squat properly (= use enough weight to trigger growth).

granted it doesn't do much for core, butt and hams, but that's what deadlifts are for.

[jagadzie]

the leg press machine that i use has the weights going on a slight incline upward to i guess make it more challenging. i have been doing one-leg presses and having 35 lbs on. it's hard for me to have one leg to do 10-12 of those for 3 sets!

[Adelaide.]

I only have access to a horizontal leg press, not one of the 45 degree 1/2 upside down ones. I alternate leg presses with squats depending on how I'm feeling that day. Right now I'm doing 220lbs 3x12, so I will be going to 240lbs 3x8 the next time I do them.

[hyacinth30]

IMO the leg press is overrated. Nothing works legs better than squats, deadlifts, an d lunges. Usually leg press machines are at a 45 degree angle so you are able to press much more weight than a squat or deadlift. Also when you are sitting on the machine you don't have to balance the weight, and when that is taken out of the equation the less your muscles have to work.

The leg press helped me build stronger quads, but as a woman its highly probable that you already have strong quads in relation to your glutes and hamstrings. The leg press really didn't do much for my glutes and hams--not saying it didnt do anything but it was when I started doing deads and squats that I REALLY hit those areas.

As for how much weight I do..I really don't know or care for that matter since I have no idea how much the sled weighs-- all machines vary. Plus if the machine is 45 degree you really aren't lifting that much.

And another thing about leg press machines is that people don't know how to use them. Either they hardly go down enough or they go down too far and lift their butt of the seat. Then I see people who go up on their toes as they lower the weight down and also, especially women, who push their knees together when they lower the weight.

I would agree with the above. When I do use the leg press I usually get up to 5 plates on each side. However, I honestly feel I get a better workout from squats, deadlifts, lunges ect Sometimes Ill throw it in at the end.

[michpc]

I do the incline leg press at about my body weight, though I should up that. I do it because I have early osteoarthritis in my knees and it was recommended by my orthopedist as a low impact (on the knees) way to make my quads stronger, which lessens the pain from the arthritis.

[Bonny_Lassie]

Squats, Deadlifts, lunges etc are definately the 'elite' when it comes to exercises, because they work so many muscles at the one time.

However, IMO legpress does have a number of advantages. It is great for people who (due to injury or other factors) are unable to perform squats. It is also good if you want to go really heavy on the legs. For instance, I used leg press in my workout today and was pressing double my bodyweight with full ROM. There's no WAY I'd be able to squat that heavy - I'd just crumble under the barbell!

So if you like leg press, then use it! Just ensure that squats, lunges, deadlifts etc are the predominant exercises in your programme !

[lauren921]

I do the plate loaded leg press; 300 pounds for 10-12 reps.

[PressEnter]

I don't really do leg presses at all. Maybe for a warmup. I do not consider myself all that strong, but I think I get more benefit from squatting 225 than leg pressing 600 lbs. At that weight it gets a little ridiculous, at least in my opinion, and negates the issue of leg pressing being safer. I once failed a rep at 700-ish, and man it comes down fast

Edit - sorry, did not realize this was female section

[AustJulie]

Hmm my max is 5 sets of 10 reps with 395 pounds.. or 180 kilos...so..

[amberly]

I usually do 450lbs 3 sets 6-8 reps. I don't prefer to do the leg press, I just do it while I'm waiting for a squat rack to open up.

[triangle]

IMO the leg press is overrated. Nothing works legs better than squats, deadlifts, and lunges.

This may be the case but due to a birth defect I'm unable to lunge with any decent weight, squat, or deadlift! So I'm fairly reliant on machines to train my legs. I really like the leg press and have made good gains with it. I'm currently pressing about 610lbs plus the sled, which I've been told is 154lbs, for 10. My ROM is deep enough for my glutes to get in on the action. Any deeper and my lower back would be coming off the seat, and I believe that's a good way to get injured!

[healthy525]

would you say that the leg press makes your legs bigger? I usually throw em in at the end and rep out around 180-200lbs (not that heavy i know..)

What i have found lately, since I have been doing heavier weights for leg days, is that to me my legs look better, tighter esp hamstring and underneath the glute area..the thing that is frustrating is that my jeans feel snug in the legs, i mean not tight in the sense that my legs feel fat, but def tighter then a few months ago. It is possible that this is just due to muscle growth right?

[nunu713]

huh. I'm kind of surprised - I love the leg press machine. I make sure to keep my knees steady (that is, no buckling together on the negatives), my heels planted on the sled and I find that pressing my back into the pad actually helps, so no arching of the back for me. I lower the weight until right before I would have to lift my butt to get the weight lower, so I feel I'm doing a pretty full range of motion. I find that I get all parts of my legs involved - glutes, quads and hams. Granted, I can't do them terribly heavy - maybe 200lbs for 7-9 reps - but I can barely walk when I step out of the machine.

[michelleski1965]

I use the leg press as well. I haven't really done deadlifts and will only squat using a machine because I don't have a spotter and don't wish to injure myself. This week I loaded 410 lbs on the sled and did 9 sets of 8 (3 with toes pointed out, 3 with them straight up and 3 with them pointed in). The reason for the foot position is to target my whole leg and glutes. I really feel my glutes working when my toes are pointed in!! My legs are rock hard and I'm getting more and more definition in the muscles themselves. My hamstrings went from being one of the weaker parts of my legs to growing nicely. I do also do leg curls for them.

[Artemisia510b]

I can do more on some machines than others. On the plate-loaded leg press machine at my school gym, I can do 4 plates per side for 10 reps, or 5 plates per side for 5-7 reps. On the seated leg press, I can do 300 lbs for 5 reps. On the horizontal lying leg press machine on the Mt Scott Community Center, I can do 190 lbs for 13 reps last I tried, but I haven't used that machine in a while. On the plate-loaded leg press at the rec center in Colorado, I can do 4 plates per side for 6 reps.

Because it varies so much based on the machine, I prefer to measure my lower body strength by how much I squat and deadlift, since free weights are the same everywhere. Right now I can squat 215 lbs and deadlift 265 lbs.

[MadCatLady]

I use it on one of my leg days. Sometimes first sometimes last. At the moment I am doing a high and wide leg placement, which activates more glutes. 200kg x 8 reps, but no idea what the sled weighs on its own.

Agreed though, is that squats and deads are king, provided one doesn't have a medical issue which prevents them.

[sweetkissees918]

The most ive done is 680lbs ...thats 7 1/2 plates each side.. i usually just rep 7 each side for 8-10 reps.

[IronCitGrl]

Just a question....

Why do so many people care what OTHER people are doing?? Everyone is different and at different levels of training. Worry about YOURSELF. You should be competing against yourself not others. If you walk out of the gym faster and stronger than the day before why does it matter what other people do?

[sweetkissees918]

Just a question....

Why do so many people care what OTHER people are doing?? Everyone is different and at different levels of training. Worry about YOURSELF. You should be competing against yourself not others. If you walk out of the gym faster and stronger than the day before why does it matter what other people do?

People are curious of other people... that's how its always been and will be. People will always wonder how big someones biceps are or how much they bench. We do compete against ourselves when it comes to working out but curiosity will always be there of others.

[BleachedPink]

I signed up for a gym membership finally and was finding where I'm at on all the machines. I can do 200-220lb depending on how I'm feeling that day. Hopefully I'll see those numbers go up as I keep working at it.

[Jass79]

I've recently just started going to the gym. Did some strength training for thighs and butt today and found that I quite like the 'leg press' machine. Just wondering if you use it and if so, what weight do you do it on and how many reps/sets before you get tired?

You will get a hell of a lot more benefit from doing Squats (ATG) then leg press. Lots of people at my gym putting around 200kg+ on the leg press but can't even squat 100kg. Leg press is a good accessory exercise, unless you have some problems with your lower back or knees ect, i wouldn't incorporate this as my main bread and butter for legs.

[paleorainy]

You will get a hell of a lot more benefit from doing Squats (ATG) then leg press. Lots of people at my gym putting around 200kg+ on the leg press but can't even squat 100kg. Leg press is a good accessory exercise, unless you have some problems with your lower back or knees ect, i wouldn't incorporate this as my main bread and butter for legs.

Good post, repped!

[wannabefit69]

I've recently just started going to the gym. Did some strength training for thighs and butt today and found that I quite like the 'leg press' machine. Just wondering if you use it and if so, what weight do you do it on and how many reps/sets before you get tired?

Ok up to 508lbs 2x10 at the end of a worko usually (first set was 450, but added more weight as it was to easy)

[GregosIE]

I know this is an old thread but that's Google's fault

How come such high numbers ? :O
We have a sort of leg press machine at the gym but the maximum is like 300 lbs on it, and pressing something above 150lbs will be tough

this is the machine :
build-muscle-101.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/leg-press.jpg

a proper weight for me was around 100lbs, I took the machine behind a big girl and she was using 130lbs (...which I first I tried to use and I was like oh wow she's got strong legs lol )

[roxie411]

200 on a good day

[f00d]

4.5pps (25s) 4 sets of 8.