Substitutions in PS Series...

[lounsbury]

Hi Cathe... I have a weight bench at home that has high pulleys (for lat pulldowns, etc.) and a leg extension/ham curl bar. This set-up uses barbell plates to adjust the weight. Anyway, here's my question... what exercises on the PS tapes could I replace with lat pulldowns, leg extensions and ham curls using the weight bench? I like to mix things up a little sometimes, just to keep it interesting.

Thanks!

Lynne

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Lynne!

That home unit sounds like one I would like to get. I enjoy units that use barbell plates for weight increments rather than having tension bands or pins for this purpose.

As far as exercise substitutions for variety, I would suggest using the lat pull down to replace the wide grip bent over barbell rows(in PS B/B/A). As far as leg extensions are concerned, I feel that this is the one exercise that cannot be as effectively substituted with free weights and therefore, I suggest doing these in addition to the tape. Hamstring curls can be substituted for the hamstring floor work exercise(in the second half of the PS Legs tape) where we are on the floor with one leg on the step and the other in the air, pushing into the step and contracting the hamstring muscle. Hope this helps!

 

[lounsbury]

Thanks Cathe!

I'm especially glad to know I can do lat pulldowns instead of bent over rows -- sometimes those bother my lower back a little bit (only sometimes, though!

). The weight bench we have is one made by Weider. I forget which model, though -- something like 585, I think. The only thing I don't like is that it doesn't have a single lat bar; just the two high pulleys which are about 3.5 feet apart. Makes it kinda tough to do that close-grip work. It has a squat rack built in, the high pulleys, a bench that adjusts to different angles (including decline), plus the leg extension/ham curl contraption. It's a pretty good piece of equipment. We bought it mostly for my hubby, but I think I've been using it more than him lately!

Lynne