Am I using enough weight on the leg press?
KimmalyS
Posts: 131 Member
Hey everyone! I have been weight training about 2-3x per week for the past 5 months. I'm 5'5" 130lbs. just wondering about how much weight I should be able to press on the leg press machine. I started at a weight equal to my body weight and am now pressing 155lbs.
Just read articles online and all of them states that I should be able to press twice my body weight.. which would be 260lbs?? Doesn't seem right to me.. what I'm pressing is challenging already, I can't imagine pressing 260lbs without injuring myself. But hey, haven't tried!
Does it depend of the type of leg press machine in using? Sitting up pushing as supposed to lying down (plates)?
Just read articles online and all of them states that I should be able to press twice my body weight.. which would be 260lbs?? Doesn't seem right to me.. what I'm pressing is challenging already, I can't imagine pressing 260lbs without injuring myself. But hey, haven't tried!
Does it depend of the type of leg press machine in using? Sitting up pushing as supposed to lying down (plates)?
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Replies
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It's all subjective to what kind of training and program you are running to achieve your gosls.
If you are not progressively increasing weights, you will not leg press as heavy as if you were.
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Thanks for the feedback! I do squat, but definitely can't squat a lot of weight. Right now, I'm squatting 40lbs on each side. I'm not seeing too much progress which is another reason why I am curious if i am lifting enough. Iv been eating well, and am consistent. Am I being realistic? Is 5 months enough time to see progress?GuitarJerry wrote: »If you are using progressive training, twice your body weight can be achieved fairly quickly, relatively speaking. I'm surprised how much I can Leg press compared to how much I can squat. I can press 12 plates 5 times for several sets. I def cannot squat anywhere near that much.
However, I've been training for years.
Ignoring things that say you should be doing X. Just do what you can do. If you do leg press once or twice per week, you should be able to add 5 lbs to each side per week for months before it really starts feeling super heavy. Stick to lower reps, like 5 per set. If you want, do the 5x5 style, 5 sets of 5 reps each, and each week add 5 lbs per side. You'll be amazed how quickly your strength will increase.
But, is there any reason you're not squatting? Squatting is a superior exercise to leg press. Do what makes you comfortable, just wondering. And, by no means do you have to squat. I'm just asking out of curiosity.
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You will see more progress if you follow a progressive full-body compound lifting program (like stronglifts or strong curves, etc.) Free weights are better than machines because they will incorporate your core and stabilizing muscles. Pick a program, follow the program.0
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Thanks for the feedback! I do squat, but definitely can't squat a lot of weight. Right now, I'm squatting 40lbs on each side. I'm not seeing too much progress which is another reason why I am curious if i am lifting enough. Iv been eating well, and am consistent. Am I being realistic? Is 5 months enough time to see progress?GuitarJerry wrote: »If you are using progressive training, twice your body weight can be achieved fairly quickly, relatively speaking. I'm surprised how much I can Leg press compared to how much I can squat. I can press 12 plates 5 times for several sets. I def cannot squat anywhere near that much.
However, I've been training for years.
Ignoring things that say you should be doing X. Just do what you can do. If you do leg press once or twice per week, you should be able to add 5 lbs to each side per week for months before it really starts feeling super heavy. Stick to lower reps, like 5 per set. If you want, do the 5x5 style, 5 sets of 5 reps each, and each week add 5 lbs per side. You'll be amazed how quickly your strength will increase.
But, is there any reason you're not squatting? Squatting is a superior exercise to leg press. Do what makes you comfortable, just wondering. And, by no means do you have to squat. I'm just asking out of curiosity.
40lbs on each side with a squat? So 125lbs? I'm guessing you can do at least twice that on the leg press in comparison (for the same reps). I'm guessing you're just holding back on the leg press.
For the record, repping 125lbs on the squat isn't bad at all for your size and gender. Keep up the good work.1 -
For myself in my weight training for strength on the bike. One of the exercises I have to do is a single leg press. I don't have a set weigh but a target number of reps to do set out in my training programme say 8 heavy if I get to 5 weight to heavy get to 12 weight to light , 15 reps medium weight. At the moment I have to do 30 light weight deep burning and boy do they burn when I get to 20 it is really starting to burn. I basically try to push through the pain and idealism fail at 30. Obviously my training will be different to your as my goals are different. Do you have a set number of reps to do and when you are doing do you stop at the number set out knowing you can do a few more. If can keep going. Then next time increase the weight. That's what I do. I personally don't care what the next person can do I'm there for myself and not to lift the heaviest weight of everybody1
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The leg press is an assistance to the squat on a lot of programs. I was using the leg press (the one you load plates on; not the machine) and pressed 180lbs+ on each side for 3x8. My squat PR is 180lbs. Point being, you can press more on a machine than squat with a bar.1
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Pay no attention to what articles say you should be lifting. They're ridiculous, especially for beginners. You should be lifting more than you did a few months ago. That's the only goal.2
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About 7 years ago, I was training for a body building competition. I weighed about 170 lbs and was doing a 700 lb leg press for 5 reps. It took me about 6 months of training almost daily to get there by progressively adding more weight with each session. Of course, I also did squats and deadlifts, leg curls and extensions, and weighted lunges which all contribute to being able to do a heavy leg press. As others have said, don't pay attention to what articles say, as long as you are getting better, then you are doing good. Better means that you're lifting more than you were. Also, as others have said, pick a program you want to do and stick with it and don't worry about what others are doing or lifting. This is about YOU and no one else.2
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SO!! I'm feeling extremity proud of myself tonight! After listening to everyone's advice, I progressed from pressing 155lbs to 245lbs!!! 5x5!! Then lowered the weight to 155 and did what I can. And let me just say... the difference was amazing. Felt almost easy to press!
I was extremely nervous btw! But I made sure my form was on point and voila!! DONE!
Thanks for all the encouragement everyone!!5 -
A question regarding squats vs. leg presses. Going back to the original post; the O.P stated "I'm 5'5" 130lbs. just wondering about how much weight I should be able to press on the leg press machine. I started at a weight equal to my body weight and am now pressing 155lbs."
If a 130# person leg presses 130#s isn't that the same thing as doing a body weight squat? And then isn't doing a 155# leg press the same as squatting 25#s? Doesn't a persons body weight count in squatting weight where it is not included in the leg press? With a squat, you are lifting yourself as well as the added weight, no? So that doing a 245# leg press is the same as squatting 115#s?
Thanks.
FWIT I do squats and shun machines of all sorts save for cardio machines (treadmill, elliptical and rower, and assisted pull-ups {not a cardio, but a machine I don't avoid}).
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A question regarding squats vs. leg presses. Going back to the original post; the O.P stated "I'm 5'5" 130lbs. just wondering about how much weight I should be able to press on the leg press machine. I started at a weight equal to my body weight and am now pressing 155lbs."
If a 130# person leg presses 130#s isn't that the same thing as doing a body weight squat? And then isn't doing a 155# leg press the same as squatting 25#s? Doesn't a persons body weight count in squatting weight where it is not included in the leg press? With a squat, you are lifting yourself as well as the added weight, no? So that doing a 245# leg press is the same as squatting 115#s?
Thanks.
FWIT I do squats and shun machines of all sorts save for cardio machines (treadmill, elliptical and rower, and assisted pull-ups {not a cardio, but a machine I don't avoid}).
Wouldn't the placement of where the load is make a difference? I can definitely push more with my legs than having the barbell on my back/shoulders, going down and then pushing my way back up.0 -
260 lbs. is definitely not impossible. It takes patience and progressive training. Slowly, week by week increase your reps or weight. This can even be done at each work out. Eventually, you'll be amazed at how much you can press. Honestly, leg press is one of the easiest exercises to increase strength with in my opinion. I've been lifting for like two years and can max out the entire machine - 405 lbs - and I'm not huge. I think that's only 3.5 x my bodyweight or something like that. You're more powerful that you think you are, just increase weight slowly and use proper form to ensure you don't injure yourself.1
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samanthaluangphixay wrote: »A question regarding squats vs. leg presses. Going back to the original post; the O.P stated "I'm 5'5" 130lbs. just wondering about how much weight I should be able to press on the leg press machine. I started at a weight equal to my body weight and am now pressing 155lbs."
If a 130# person leg presses 130#s isn't that the same thing as doing a body weight squat? And then isn't doing a 155# leg press the same as squatting 25#s? Doesn't a persons body weight count in squatting weight where it is not included in the leg press? With a squat, you are lifting yourself as well as the added weight, no? So that doing a 245# leg press is the same as squatting 115#s?
Thanks.
FWIT I do squats and shun machines of all sorts save for cardio machines (treadmill, elliptical and rower, and assisted pull-ups {not a cardio, but a machine I don't avoid}).
Wouldn't the placement of where the load is make a difference? I can definitely push more with my legs than having the barbell on my back/shoulders, going down and then pushing my way back up.
Do you account for your own body weight when making this determination? Again, is doing a 245# leg press as a 130# person the same as doing a 115# squat (115+130=245). Of course you can press more. You aren't lifting yourself with the leg press machine, no?0 -
I leg press roughly 5.5 times my body weight or 4 times my squat working set weight. Heavy leg press is going to directly feed into increasing your squat and deadlift numbers when used as an accessory exercise in a progressive overload program.0
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Well, I just had to try this out today! I maxed out the machine at 200kg (440lbs) - I'd have liked to have known if I could have gone heavier! I think so.1
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A question regarding squats vs. leg presses. Going back to the original post; the O.P stated "I'm 5'5" 130lbs. just wondering about how much weight I should be able to press on the leg press machine. I started at a weight equal to my body weight and am now pressing 155lbs."
If a 130# person leg presses 130#s isn't that the same thing as doing a body weight squat? And then isn't doing a 155# leg press the same as squatting 25#s? Doesn't a persons body weight count in squatting weight where it is not included in the leg press? With a squat, you are lifting yourself as well as the added weight, no? So that doing a 245# leg press is the same as squatting 115#s?
Thanks.
FWIT I do squats and shun machines of all sorts save for cardio machines (treadmill, elliptical and rower, and assisted pull-ups {not a cardio, but a machine I don't avoid}).
Leg press still doesn't carry over like that. There's also a difference in types of leg press- some you move the foot board thing, others the foot board is fixed and your seat moves.
Also, you're missing out on some good weight machines by shunning everything but cardio and assisted pull ups. I machine lifted my way to a stronger squat/bench/and deadlift.1 -
Hey everyone! I have been weight training about 2-3x per week for the past 5 months. I'm 5'5" 130lbs. just wondering about how much weight I should be able to press on the leg press machine. I started at a weight equal to my body weight and am now pressing 155lbs.
Just read articles online and all of them states that I should be able to press twice my body weight.. which would be 260lbs?? Doesn't seem right to me.. what I'm pressing is challenging already, I can't imagine pressing 260lbs without injuring myself. But hey, haven't tried!
Does it depend of the type of leg press machine in using? Sitting up pushing as supposed to lying down (plates)?
That's something you work up to...you don't come out of the gate pressing our squatting twice your body weight...it is fairly standard strength goal to work up to.
Personally, I'd get into the squat rack and use the leg press as an accessory movement.2 -
Question about leg presses -- yesterday I was waiting for the machine and a woman was doing leg presses with very little weight (30 or 50 lbs). She looked athletic, maybe a rower or dancer, with strong legs. I wondered why she wasn't simply doing squats. Maybe she was trying to maintain weight to remain within a weight class or something. Any ideas on why someone might leg press 30-50 lbs?0
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Question about leg presses -- yesterday I was waiting for the machine and a woman was doing leg presses with very little weight (30 or 50 lbs). She looked athletic, maybe a rower or dancer, with strong legs. I wondered why she wasn't simply doing squats. Maybe she was trying to maintain weight to remain within a weight class or something. Any ideas on why someone might leg press 30-50 lbs?
Are you sure she didn't squat before she leg pressed?
I like to do my compound lifts first, and if I do leg press it might be like a burn out set/drop sets, so I can't use a lot of weight.
She could be recovering from an injury, warming up, etc..?0 -
TresaAswegan wrote: »A question regarding squats vs. leg presses. Going back to the original post; the O.P stated "I'm 5'5" 130lbs. just wondering about how much weight I should be able to press on the leg press machine. I started at a weight equal to my body weight and am now pressing 155lbs."
If a 130# person leg presses 130#s isn't that the same thing as doing a body weight squat? And then isn't doing a 155# leg press the same as squatting 25#s? Doesn't a persons body weight count in squatting weight where it is not included in the leg press? With a squat, you are lifting yourself as well as the added weight, no? So that doing a 245# leg press is the same as squatting 115#s?
Thanks.
FWIT I do squats and shun machines of all sorts save for cardio machines (treadmill, elliptical and rower, and assisted pull-ups {not a cardio, but a machine I don't avoid}).
Leg press still doesn't carry over like that. There's also a difference in types of leg press- some you move the foot board thing, others the foot board is fixed and your seat moves.
Also, you're missing out on some good weight machines by shunning everything but cardio and assisted pull ups. I machine lifted my way to a stronger squat/bench/and deadlift.
I squat, bench, overhead press, row and dead lift with free weights. Is there a benefit to using a machine I'm missing?0 -
TresaAswegan wrote: »A question regarding squats vs. leg presses. Going back to the original post; the O.P stated "I'm 5'5" 130lbs. just wondering about how much weight I should be able to press on the leg press machine. I started at a weight equal to my body weight and am now pressing 155lbs."
If a 130# person leg presses 130#s isn't that the same thing as doing a body weight squat? And then isn't doing a 155# leg press the same as squatting 25#s? Doesn't a persons body weight count in squatting weight where it is not included in the leg press? With a squat, you are lifting yourself as well as the added weight, no? So that doing a 245# leg press is the same as squatting 115#s?
Thanks.
FWIT I do squats and shun machines of all sorts save for cardio machines (treadmill, elliptical and rower, and assisted pull-ups {not a cardio, but a machine I don't avoid}).
Leg press still doesn't carry over like that. There's also a difference in types of leg press- some you move the foot board thing, others the foot board is fixed and your seat moves.
Also, you're missing out on some good weight machines by shunning everything but cardio and assisted pull ups. I machine lifted my way to a stronger squat/bench/and deadlift.
I squat, bench, overhead press, row and dead lift with free weights. Is there a benefit to using a machine I'm missing?
I've trained/been mentored under the philosophy that weak point training (often done with cables/machines) is a great asset to barbell training. For me, this has been mainly triceps, upper back, hamstrings, and glutes. Sure, there are barbell movements more specific to these than just the ones you mentioned, such as close grip bench press or SLDL's, but I've been able to add a lot more volume by adding isolation exercises after my barbell movements. I can use the dip machine/cable push downs to go beyond what would have been my point of fatigue when training my triceps with a barbell, and isolate my weak areas more efficiently.
One of my coaches squats 800+ lbs, he believes cables and machines have their place in a well rounded program. I'm sure there are plenty of elite lifters out there who do strictly barbell lifts as well though. Different strokes for different folks. Just how I've been taught and seen improvement in my strength.0 -
Question about leg presses -- yesterday I was waiting for the machine and a woman was doing leg presses with very little weight (30 or 50 lbs). She looked athletic, maybe a rower or dancer, with strong legs. I wondered why she wasn't simply doing squats. Maybe she was trying to maintain weight to remain within a weight class or something. Any ideas on why someone might leg press 30-50 lbs?
I can't say 100% why she would be doing light weight exactly. The reason why I have to do light weight is deep burning inside the muscles also it's not always about lifting heavy as you can. Full movements in a controlled manner with good technique is just as important. Also a light weight when the rep count can be high compare to a heavy weight with low rep count. Things like muscle endurance comes into play. When the weight is low and you have to try to get to 30 and the leg is screaming in pain and you're only at 20 by the time you get to 27 the legs are ready to buckle and you get to 30 with a push the legs have being worked despite the low weight. What the person before or after lifts is irevalant.
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