Weight lifting intensity, going from a high intensity to low question

Fatvaporizer
Fatvaporizer Posts: 139 Member
What would happen if let's say, you have a specific machine, for example a leg machine where you can do about 300 pounds on, but another machine that you can only do 140 pounds per say. Would it affect the gains you make from doing the 140 pounds one if you're doing the 300 on the other one? Even though you still have to work and struggle with the 140 pound one. Hope that makes sense. I don't want my strength training efforts to be negated by doing super heavy weights on one ( that I can manage ) but then reduce it down a lot on one that's hard. Therefore I ask this question.

Replies

  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    What is your goal? What are the two machines?

    I do this to train around injury or target a smaller muscle group. The reps are higher if the intensity is lower.
  • ijsantos2005
    ijsantos2005 Posts: 306 Member
    It depends.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    What makes the weight so different? There has to be a reason you go from 300 on one to 140 on another... Like you're using a different movement pattern and utilising different muscles...
  • dhimaan
    dhimaan Posts: 774 Member
    So I have two leg press machines at my gym: one goes up to 450 lbs and one 215 lbs.

    Usually I try to do 10 sets on the 450 lb machine at max weight but since it was busy I had to go on the 215 lb machine and max that out for 20 sets. You see I doubled the volume because the weight was basically half. My legs were burning, sore and overall the workout was very effective. IMO if you lower the weight you have to increase the volume to make up for it. Mind you I cannot keep doing this as I will stall. Do what you can to push yourself at whatever machine you are using until you can't take anymore. It works for me, maybe it will work for you too.
  • trdrsix0s
    trdrsix0s Posts: 11 Member
    Don't sweat it. Just make sire your weights are progressively increasing in each. Machines vary for a lot of reasons
    Adding a second pully in the a cable machine for example cuts the resistance of a weight in your hand in half
    For legs the best results come from full body exercises like lunges, squats, deadlift variations.
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