All those leg presses?

[eminenz2]

I have been using Cathe workouts for about seven years now and I'm wondering, are the leg presses as effective anymore as they were when I first started doing them?

She seems to put them into every weight/circuit workout, and I understand why. But I'm wondering even though they still make me tired, in all their incarnations, are they still effectively helping me build muscle and/or shape my a$$? Cos I really don't see a difference. Or am I just spending time?

I reallize there are many variables at work too - diet, age (I'm 40), etc.

Thanks for opinions!

Susan L.G.

 

[crazystepr]

I believe they're incredibly effective and essential for a balanced lower body workout. They really target those deep glute muscles and the "thutt" area. (My favorite part to work!)

In my opinion (I'm no expert, though) they're just as important as any other lower body strength move (i.e. squats, lunges, dead lifts, etc.)


Allison

http://www.picturetrail.com/allisonj90

 

[SRP]

I think they're pretty effective. And lately I've discovered that the slower reps work much better for me. She moves pretty fast in the ME leg presses, for example, but slows them way down in the 4DS workout.

When I was recovering from a calf injury recently, the fast reps put too much strain on it, so I tried slowing them down and really focusing on keeping all my weight and effort on the leg that was on the step. Yowza! I never realized how much I was letting that "floor" leg assist me.

 

[Clarissa]

I have found that it is most effective for me when I increase the height of the step. The weight I hold makes a difference too, but the height is what makes the most difference.

Clarissa

 

[crazystepr]

>I have found that it is most effective for me when I increase
>the height of the step. The weight I hold makes a difference
>too, but the height is what makes the most difference.
>
>Clarissa

I completely agree! I just got two extra risers for christmas so now I can put up to six risers under my high step and it has made SUCH a difference.

Allison

http://www.picturetrail.com/allisonj90