I loathe leg presses!

jharris

jharris

Cathlete
Hi

I have a pyramid lower body on tap for tomorrow and I'm dreading the leg press section. My heart rate spikes, I get out of breath and feel like I'm dying. Kinda how I felt during HIIT 40/20.:p

What is the purpose of the leg press and what can I do to make it more doable? Is there any other exercises that have the same effect without the dread factor?

TIA

Jenn
 
That's funny, Jenn. I actually love doing leg presses! I did ME lower body premix on Saturday and I'm still feeling it today! I was crazy enough to use 15# dumbells instead of a 10# plate like Cathe:eek: The leg press works your hamstrings, glutes, and quads. Maybe try going lighter with your weights or don't use any weights at all. You'll still get a good burn.

Good luck!
 
Not my favorites either. But I know they will be VERY effective at keeping my butt from sagging, so I just do it and get it over with. LOL!
 
I like leg presses also--really one of my favorites. I started doing them with the Firm and my knees hurt. But as I got used to them my knees didn't hurt at all. I have always credited them with strengthening my knees. Go lighter and/or lower your step height.
 
Thank you for the replies. I know they are good for me but I don't like the winded feeling I get from the exercise. I do do them with only 4 risers and a topper + a 10lb weight. I think it is more mental then anything else. I guess I just have to suck it up and do what I can. :D I certainly don't want a saggy booty. :p

Jenn
 
Leg presses are great for your legs and glutes, and it's a fantastic exercise for runners! I suggest using lighter weights and/or lowering the height of your step until your strength and endurance improves.
 
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I´m with you, don´t look forward to leg presses, but like the other posters, I know they are great for the glutes. Lower your step height even more, and you could also do them with a band like Cathe does in MM (I think that´s the one).
 
Miss Lee said:
Leg presses are great for your legs and glutes, and it's a fantastic exercise for runners! I suggest using lighter weights and/or lowering the height of your step until your strength and endurance improves.
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Great idea Miss Lee, . . . .I HATE leg presses too. :(
 
Miss Lee said:
Leg presses are great for your legs and glutes, and it's a fantastic exercise for runners! I suggest using lighter weights and/or lowering the height of your step until your strength and endurance improves.
Click to expand...

Hey Jenn

I think this is a "the more you do the better it gets" kind of thing, clearly I haven't done enough! :eek:

Keep Going!
Linda
 
Miss Lee has it down! Also, have you tried slowing your reps down or doing 1 to each of their 2? Do one, pause, do the next one, etc. That way, you still get the work and benefits of them, but not the heightened HR and gasping breathing.
 
I hate leg presses too. I'm happier when I use a shorter step and put more focus on feeling it in the right places rather than just trying to step up as high as I can. If I really don't want to do them, I sub in split squats (one leg on box, one on floor, squat down and then stand up on box and do a leg lift with the floor leg out to the side), split lunges (hind leg on box) or single leg deadlifts.

Lisa
 
syzygy314 said:
Miss Lee has it down! Also, have you tried slowing your reps down or doing 1 to each of their 2? Do one, pause, do the next one, etc. That way, you still get the work and benefits of them, but not the heightened HR and gasping breathing.
Click to expand...

Hi Tricia! As others have stated, try lowering you step height and weight a bit. Gradually build your way back up when that gets too easy. Good Luck and try not to call me too many names ;)
 
lala1 said:
I´m with you, don´t look forward to leg presses, but like the other posters, I know they are great for the glutes. Lower your step height even more, and you could also do them with a band like Cathe does in MM (I think that´s the one).
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I'm not a big fan either, but I completely forgot about using the band. Thanks lala1!!!

I guess I don't use MM enough...:eek:
 
I absolutley hate LP's. I dread them. I even lower the step height (I use 3 risers) and use an 8 lb weight, and I'm still huffin and puffin. :confused:
 
I love leg presses and like a previous poster said, started doing them WAY back with the classic Firms. I usually use my 30 lb barbell because it's more comfortable for me to hold. It also depends on the speed for me. The faster I go, the higher my heart rate gets. Maybe you could add more weight and just do every other one!!

Now Low Ends...O...M...G. Those are what I dread. Especially in I think it's Step, Jump and Pump where she does like 3 sets of 7!!! Just kill me now Cathe.
 
I hear ya! I have a total love/hate relationship with them. I drop down to three risers if I'm really tired or like others mention, just don't use a weight. It depends on the day and my energy level. It's funny, 'cuz I did the Advanced Hgh Step DVD today and felt like every other exercise was MORE leg-presses!! :eek::rolleyes::p In that case I observe Cathe and the gals working out and think to myself, I have to EARN that kind of booty and those legs!! :D

Also, remember a couple of Cathe's favorite sayings--- you can do ANYTHING for a minute, You get out of it what you put into it!! And the funniest one- "you know which cheeks I'm talkin' about!!":D:D

Listen to your body and have fun!! LOL!

Pam
 
I loathe them too. They spike my HR. Big time. I usually pause the DVD to catch my breath after each set. That's often the only way I can match Cathe's weight and risers.

I just keep telling myself that if they were easy they wouldn't be worth doing. And I always feel accomplished afterwards.
 
I hate them too. I actually did a KPC/L&G premix this morning that I had never done before, and SURPRISE... it was FILLED with leg presses. And they use a 15 lb weight on those!! It got to the point that I was like, "Really? More leg presses?? REALLY??":eek::eek::eek: They are rough, but I just suck it up and do them because I figure anything that unpleasant MUST be good for me! (Kind of like brussel sprouts.) :p
 
I don't hate leg presses (step ups, right?) but I just don't find them very effective for the glutes. Not for me anyway.

I prefer to do a combo of lots of firewalkers while keeping the body in a squat position, together with fast paced low end squats using no weight but very high reps. Use music with a good beat and churn out 100-200 of these and you will feel it in the glutes more than with leg presses.

Just alternatives,

Clare
 
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