... the first one looks unconventional, but there's no way I'm paying the exorbinant amount of money for the second. It looks to me like they'd both be equally effective... but since I don't know what the shit I'm talking about, what do you all think (or know)? I could make $229 in two weeks, but it's still not an amount I'd like to waste...
Ok, a couple things. To simply answer your question? I'd get the first one for $229. Reason? It's a vertical setup. Much more work for your quads. The second machine (like you see in gyms) is set up so that you don't have to work as hard. Confused? Example: At one point (don't know now since I don't belong to a gym) I could do 1035 lbs on the leg press (like the second $1000 one) and I couldn't even squat 300 lbs! The positioning of the machine puts your quads at an advantage.
The first machine does not have that advantage. Now, I've never used one of those but it definitely appears to me to be a more useful leg builder.
Now, if I may offer some unsoliciated advice? I personally wouldn't spend the money. Squats and deads are going to get you much more bang and for what kind of $$ ? Free if you've already got a bar and weights. You can do hack squats with a bb. Front squats, deep squats, partial squats, and so on and so on. So many, many varieties....
I just wouldn't spend the money.
Now, that's just me, if you really want to get one I'd put my 2 cents in for the first one.
Let me just add that buying one on-line would concern me. Simply because you're literally putting your life on the line when you're lifting in the first one. I'd want to actually inspect a piece of equipment that I'm going to have to trust my life with. How well built is it? How sturdy? How are the stops? All questions to DEFINITELY consider before you buy.
buy a squat rack instead! you get much better workout and can do more exercises in the rack then you will ever be able to do on a leg press machine.
... hmm. Maybe I should get both.
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Example: At one point (don't know now since I don't belong to a gym) I could do 1035 lbs on the leg press (like the second $1000 one) and I couldn't even squat 300 lbs! The positioning of the machine puts your quads at an advantage.
The first machine does not have that advantage. Now, I've never used one of those but it definitely appears to me to be a more useful leg builder.
... humph. Lulling people into a false sense of contentment like that irritates me.
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Now, if I may offer some unsoliciated advice? I personally wouldn't spend the money. Squats and deads are going to get you much more bang and for what kind of $$ ? Free if you've already got a bar and weights.
Ah... well... I'm trying to follow the Home-Grown Muscle program, so all of those things would be included, of course...
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Let me just add that buying one on-line would concern me. Simply because you're literally putting your life on the line when you're lifting in the first one. I'd want to actually inspect a piece of equipment that I'm going to have to trust my life with. How well built is it? How sturdy? How are the stops? All questions to DEFINITELY consider before you buy.
Agree with the first two... Forget the leg press. In fact, it makes Lou and Alwyns top 10 "exercises we hate" list, and for good reason. Honestly, I have $2,500 leg press machine in my gym that I have not touched in years. Today's workout whupped my legs up just fine though. I did bulgarian split front squats. YOUCH!
You really should look into buying Lou and Alwyn's book. It would save you a ton of money on equipment, and get you much better results!
That first leg press (the cheap one) makes my back hurt just looking at it. I don't think there is any way you could avoid serious spinal flexion with anything more than a 2 inch range of motion.
Danny
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Limitations are for people who have them.
I did HGM and substituted out the leg press exercises, stick to squats, deadlifts and all their variations. Bip found a good study showing why compound exercises (squats) trump isolation exercises (crappy machine :P);
Quadriceps EMG/force relationship in knee extension and leg press.
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 32(2):459, February 2000.
ALKNER, BJORN A.; TESCH, PER A.; BERG, HANS E.
Abstract:
ALKNER, B. A., P. A. TESCH, and H. E. BERG. Quadriceps EMG/force relationship in knee extension and leg press. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 459-463, 2000.
Purpose: This study compared the relationship between surface electromyographic (EMG) activity and isometric force of m. quadriceps femoris (QF) in the single-joint knee extension (KE) and the multi-joint leg press (LP) exercises.
Methods: Nine healthy men performed unilateral actions at a knee angle of 90[degrees] at 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). EMG was measured from m. vastus lateralis (VL), m. vastus medialis (VM), m. rectus femoris (RF), and m. biceps femoris (BF).
Results: There were no differences in maximum EMG activity of individual muscles between KE and LP. The QF EMG/force relationship was nonlinear in each exercise modality. VL showed no deviation from linearity in neither exercise, whereas VM and RF did. BF activity increased linearly with increased loads.
Conclusions: The EMG/force relationship of all quadricep muscles studied appears to be similar in isometric multi-joint LP and single-joint KE actions at a knee angle of 90[degrees]. This would indicate the strategy of reciprocal force increment among muscles involved is comparable in the two models. Furthermore, these data suggest a nonuniform recruitment pattern among the three superficial QF muscles and surface EMG recordings from VL to be most reliable in predicting force output.
Agree with Danny that first machine looks simply dangeroud for the back. I can actualy push more on them than the other but your spine is taking the full amount of pressure and that aint good.
Am sure you can find far more options than that, but as GR said I would go try them out in a show room rather than buy on line straigh away as some varieties I hate and others I love. The ones where you push the seat rather than lifting the weight stack direct are awful.
JP I'd always have one in my routine he he
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BFG
"The time for talking has passed, actions are speaking louder than words."
Casey, don't even consider both, just get a good rack or cage. On top of what GymRat said, about half the weight is supported on a sled (physics and vectors), on top of that, there is no stabilzer work, so you're just not doing the same work.
Get a good rack or cage. The cage is prefered, but a rack with spotting ability is good also.
You can even build your own! I built my own squat rack about 15 years ago and it lasted till I put about 200 lbs on it. Granted I was 15 years old at the time.
Now with my age, experience and wisdom could whip something up to hold alot more weight! Only your imagination can limit you.
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GLOBOGYM - We're better than you, and we know it!
You really should look into buying Lou and Alwyn's book. It would save you a ton of money on equipment, and get you much better results!
I see... so you think it would be a better idea to listen Lou and Alwyn's book (Where can I buy it?) rather than the Home-Grown Muscle program?
Ah, and Cynic. We already have a Lat pulldown. =P Goes up to 200 pounds. It shouldn't become obsolete for a while...
Thanks, everyone. The individual sections for HGM seem to be down now, but if anyone know what I'm talking about... is it important to do the "Good Morning Barbell" exercise from Part 2? That workout scares me. <_<
I see... so you think it would be a better idea to listen Lou and Alwyn's book (Where can I buy it?) rather than the Home-Grown Muscle program?
It is a great book with routines included. HGM is also a good routine, buying the book would not preclude you from doing HGM. You would still get alot out of the book without starting the routines right away. I have the book, but have not started the routines.
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Originally Posted by Dr. Casey
is it important to do the "Good Morning Barbell" exercise from Part 2? That workout scares me. <_<
This scared me too at first. You should not have any problem if you keep good form. Start with a light weight and gradulally increase. If your hammies are that flexible you may have to bend your knees a bit more. Keep your back STRAIGHT
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Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend
Alright, I'm guessing some of you are familiar with HGM... so... are there any other exercises besides the leg-press you guys don't recommend? If need be, I'll post each of the ten steps one at a time and we'll go through it that way.
Also, are the alternates as effective as the main exercises, or are they more of a "These aren't as good as the main exercises, but they're not too bad" thing?
I'm generally against any machines which limit mobility. This includes the leg press, smith machine, and most everything else that doesn't juse a cable.
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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit."-- Aristotle
Agree with the first two... Forget the leg press. In fact, it makes Lou and Alwyns top 10 "exercises we hate" list, and for good reason. Honestly, I have $2,500 leg press machine in my gym that I have not touched in years. Today's workout whupped my legs up just fine though. I did bulgarian split front squats. YOUCH!
You really should look into buying Lou and Alwyn's book. It would save you a ton of money on equipment, and get you much better results!
shameless plug. hope they pay you for that.
you can complete homegrown muscle and then try out new rules of lifting or even my favorit the book of muscle.
So, would you people recommend all of these workouts? I omitted the Leg Press because I've already gotten an opinion on it... but yeah. So the squats work out the same muscle groups as the leg press?
Okay, I have the necessary equipment to perform most of the exercises. All I need to buy is a...
Dip Station
Chinup Station
Back Extension Station
Now, tell me. Before I spend my money, are these exercises I should do... or, like with the legpress, do you recommend that I substitute it for something else?
Okay, I have the necessary equipment to perform most of the exercises. All I need to buy is a...
Dip Station
Chinup Station
Back Extension Station
Now, tell me. Before I spend my money, are these exercises I should do... or, like with the legpress, do you recommend that I substitute it for something else?
If you buy a power rack like this, you will be able to do dips, chinups/pullups, and squats (instead of leg press) safely, and it only costs around $400:
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I want to be pushing weights when I'm 70 instead of a walker in an old folk's home.
If you buy a power rack like this, you will be able to do dips, chinups/pullups, and squats (instead of leg press) safely, and it only costs around $400:
It is a Powertec Power Rack and I paid $450 Canadian at a local fitness store for mine. It is one of the best purchases I have ever made. This site is selling them for $389 with free shipping:
... question about leg-press machines.
he he
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