Bands and leg presses

[lala1]

Cathe, when using the band for leg presses, about how much weight would that be equivalent to if I were doing them with weights like in your other workouts? These are tough, but somehow I don't dread them as much as I do with a 10 or 15 lb weight! Also, do these bands ever wear out? Thanks. Leslie

 

[L Sass]

bump

I'd like this addressed too. Thanks.

 

[mogambo]

I don't have the high step (although I broke down and ordered the topper last week) and I've been using 12 lb dbs.

 

[CathydsRNA]

I don't know if you can compare them to free weights. The bands, unlike free weights work the muscles mostly at the top of the press with not much resistance during the rest of the movement ... and boy are they worked at the top of the movement.

 

[clareMc]

Personally, I do not feel the band to be as much as a challenge on leg presses as free weights or the barbell, and I yank that band up as high as I can.

If you prefer to continue doing these with hand weights, go ahead. A set of 10 or 12 pound dumbells is fine, especially for the fast speed Cathe does these at on Gym Style legs.

But if you are happy with the band, then carry on. Just make sure you keep as much tension on the band as you can while you perform the movement safely, and as the previous poster said, the feel of leg presses with the band is different, so it's probably a good idea to do PLB with the barbell and Gym Style legs with the band, and alternate the 2 for max muscle recruitment.

Clare

 

[lala1]

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[mtnmom99]

I've wondered the same thing as you have. I guess if you were to put a bathroom scale on top of your high step (maybe one less riser to compensate for the heighth of the scale), and stand on that while holding the band, that would give you your answer.

Diane