Any advice for legs that WILL NOT get to failure?

[exer_cited]

I'm trying to finish up my 1RM for legs. I'm having a really hard time getting to failure and am getting rather frustrated.

With barbell squats, it was fairly easy since I could load up my barbell, but any exercise that requires dumbells is very difficult. I have 35lb dbs and plate mates to bring them up to 40lbs. Even if I was to purchase a pair of 45's, I'm fairly certain that my arms would fail me before my legs, even with a pair of lifting hooks.

Any advice?

 

[fit_fairy]

There ya go again Melissa, LOL!! Man I want your leg strength

 

[exer_cited]

I knew I would hear from you, Catherine!!

Now if only I knew what to do with all this leg strength! Chris suggested my joining the powerlifting team , but I really don't want to have to wear one of those unitard thingys!!! Do they even have women powerlifters? I might have to look into that. Maybe I missed my calling...

 

[lightening16]

Same issue with Deadlifts

I am having the same issue with dead lifts... except that I am afraid to go to failure on them and somehow wreck my back. I had the barbell at 70lbs and still did not have any problems. The crazy thing is that I was doing deadlifts before with two 15lb dumbells. I had no idea I could lift so much.

I don't have a squat rack so I don't know about squats but none of the dumbells I have are getting me to failure.

The question is where to go next.

 

[exer_cited]

The question is where to go next.

EXACTLY, lightening16! If we are maxing out on the weight and can't get to failure, what's next?

And should there be a "next'"? Do I really want or need my legs to get any stronger than they already are?

 

[lcobb2]

I'm trying to finish up my 1RM for legs. I'm having a really hard time getting to failure and am getting rather frustrated.

With barbell squats, it was fairly easy since I could load up my barbell, but any exercise that requires dumbells is very difficult. I have 35lb dbs and plate mates to bring them up to 40lbs. Even if I was to purchase a pair of 45's, I'm fairly certain that my arms would fail me before my legs, even with a pair of lifting hooks.

Any advice?

A Smith Machine at a gym--definitely.

 

[L Sass]

Ummm, my friends, you will be AMAZED at how much weight your legs can handle. You need to go up, although paced and carefully. I never had any idea until I began working with a trainer. I only worked out with her for 4 mos, and am now on a 3-mos break from her to do STS, but will go back to her therafter and train for a competition (YIKES! NEVER though I would even consider that.) But for deadlifts from a 4" platform I was doing 200 pounds after 3 mos. You have to be very careful with deadlifts though. But even on things like walking lunges, where it was def harder to carry the weight on my back than do the exercise, she had me up around 140 lbs. (Again, SLOW and careful) After I complete STS and go back to her, I'm a little askeerd to see what I'll be doing.

I think this is why STS will be so rocking - we've grown complacent with lifting what we think we can. When we really learn what we can handle, our results can be spectacular. On my last day of training 2 weeks ago I rack pulled 240 pounds (back exercise.)

You've obviously got the strength, so I have to agree with Laura - the gym and/or a Smith Machine. Good luck and have fun!

 

[L Sass]

Oh - and one more thing. I know many here will disagree with this, but for me it made all the difference in the world. Get yourself a pair of hard soled shoes when working legs, or try it barefoot. I picked up some boys wrestling shoes. One great article I'd read said that when you use your tennis shoes while working legs, because of all of the cushioning it's tantamount to standing on a mattress and trying to lift. You never get the full mechanical dynamic of the actual exercise because your feet are not feeling it. When you have hard soled shoes or are barefoot, you can PUSH through your HEELS and fully engage the legs and glutes. Again, I know some around here think that's ridiculous, but we all need to find what works for us.

I also just finished reading the e-book Iron Dolls (think Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle, but FOR women BY a woman) and she strongly believes that soft soled tennies have no place in a leg workout. (I'll stop talking now.)

 

[petramom]

Lorrie -I didn't realize the hard soled shoe thing was controversial. I thought that was conventional wisdom in the weight lifting world. I don't have any but keep meaning to switch out my cross-trainers and see the difference for myself.

I've read several times that a big part of weight lifting is getting your head in a place where you are comfortable with the idea of lifting heavy weight. It can be nerve-wracking looking at a barbell loaded up with huge plates and thinking that you are going to be responsible for not only lifting it up but keeping it from falling onto something, like your foot. Or someone else's foot.

 

[cindi1]

Melissa - can you get a day pass/guest pass for the Y or a local gym and use their equipment to get to failure?

Good tip on the shoes, BTW!

 

[goldenpath]

There ya go again Melissa, LOL!! Man I want your leg strength

WOW!!! I would love your leg strength too!! Actually, I my legs are my weak point and my goal is to get them stronger.

 

[NY_SuPerGiRl]

Hey guys, I'm new here but I've realized that I'm having the same problem with leg failure. I am beginning to think the only solution is getting a squat rack because there is no other way I can possibly lift the amount of weight with my arms that I can squat.

 

[kathryn]

I wouldn't try to go to failure on legs unless you have a safety rack AND a spotter.

Another option is some kind of machine. I could safely go to failure on my Soloflex Rockit (it can theoretically hold up to 900# of weight, I think. I'd never get even close to that, but I have used up to #210 pounds).

 

[exer_cited]

My issue is not with squats or anything that requires a barbell since I have a squat rack, it's the leg exercises that call for dumbells. Like one legged deadlifts, for example. Or lunges with the back leg elevated on the high step. I could probably sub a barbell for that one, but balancing that amount of weight while one foot is already elevated might be a little dangerous.

I'm going to go back through this weekend and see where I can sub a barbell for dumbells.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I appreciate it!!

Oh and someone mentioned a Smith Machine: I'd be all over that if I had room for it. I've tried to convince my DH to start parking his muscle car outside in the driveway so that I can turn our garage into a gym since the ceiling is nice and high. He understands my need for a Smith machine, but he isn't going for it...

 

[lcobb2]

If you really want to go to failure on your legs with dumbbells--I don't think it's going to happen unless you do very high reps. Your legs are just way too strong compared to your hands/arms.

Get the free pass for the gym--devote legs to once a week (if you train them hard enough, then that's all you'll need) and shop around at various gyms in your town/city. Ask each gym for a one day pass to check it out as a potential member. If you have four gyms in your area, that's an entire month!

My issue is not with squats or anything that requires a barbell since I have a squat rack, it's the leg exercises that call for dumbells. Like one legged deadlifts, for example. Or lunges with the back leg elevated on the high step. I could probably sub a barbell for that one, but balancing that amount of weight while one foot is already elevated might be a little dangerous.

I'm going to go back through this weekend and see where I can sub a barbell for dumbells.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I appreciate it!!

Oh and someone mentioned a Smith Machine: I'd be all over that if I had room for it. I've tried to convince my DH to start parking his muscle car outside in the driveway so that I can turn our garage into a gym since the ceiling is nice and high. He understands my need for a Smith machine, but he isn't going for it...

 

[kryptychyck]

Not sure if this is the way to go...

But I thought I would suggest it.

I have the same problem. I bought the hooks and it seemed to help for th 1 RM test, but my arms were still fatigued faster than my legs BUT not as fast as before. However it sounds like I am going to hit the same issue as you aftfer I finish STS.

Perhaps try to do a few warm up sets with moderately weight using the hooks to pre-fatigue. Maybe let the hooks do most of the work if that is possible. Then switch to the "real" weight and let your arms take over most of the effort. I feel it more in my upper back and rear delts when I use the hooks. My forearms have already given out at that point.

I think it will be great when Cathe comes out with the Workout Blender online. I believe we will be able to customize and download the workouts to an iPod or MP3 player and take them to the gym. Perhaps that will be an option for you in the future. You might be at a the point where you need the big machines to assist in your workout.

HTH and good luck!