leg press experts please chime in

[chess315]

I had been using squats as my main thigh movement but at times back pains pump have held me back. SO I went out and bought a cheap hip sled. It hold around 600lbs prolly a little more is that heavy enough with high reps to stimulate thigh growth

[Meso_z]

I had been using squats as my main thigh movement but at times back pains pump have held me back. SO I went out and bought a cheap hip sled. It hold around 600lbs prolly a little more is that heavy enough with high reps to stimulate thigh growth

Yes, its more than enough imo..what model have you bought?

[basil]

Is there a difference b/w a hip sled and leg press?  First time i've heard the term hip sled.  

I have had great results in keeping my leg pressing in the 12-20 rep range.  Shorten rests b/w sets if 600 seems too easy/light.  There's a few things you can do to up the intensity, and allow you to get great legs workouts while keeping the weight more joint friendly.  Taking a step back from heavy squatting is more of a psychological barrier to overcome more than anything.  

By 'back pains pump', do you mean you're lower back/lumbar area is fatiguing before your legs are fatigued?  

[jpm101]

With a leg press or hip slide (different versions of each) machine the lower back is being supported. With the squat it is not, so more muscle response will be brought into play. With balance, another factor, the back is receiving more work all the way up to the shoulders when squatting. Including the hams, which help a great deal. Reason why the squat is just about the best single thigh exercise for full development.

Guessing the "back pain pump" is a muscle seizure/cramp/spasm, which may suggest your squatting form needs improvement. Or a nerve or muscle injury problem. A simple longer warmup/stretch, massage or a heating lotion, before squatting, can help.

600lbs (including the actual sled?) may be enough, assuming your going all the way down to rock bottom. Might try the one & one half rep system. There are two versions of this.

1) Start from the bottom position, do a full rep and than only come half way down and than up again to the top position. Than drop down again to the bottom original starting position. That's considered one rep.

2)The other version is starting the rep from the top, go all the way down, return to the half way mark and than drop back all the way down again. From there return to the top starting position.

Take your pick. Either versions requires a slower rep and a  range between 8-10. Another example of TUT, the burn will be felt quite well. As will the pump. Sometimes you can make an exercise much harder and demanding, with a lighter work load.

The one & one half's works well with most any other muscle area. Just another option in BB'ing training to explore, if anyone wishes too. Good Luck.

[Yev33]

Could also try using a true 4 second negative on all of your reps, will definetely make that 600lbs feel a hell of a lot heavier.

[chess315]

its a combo legpress, hack squat by parabody I got it cheap off cragislist it prolly hold 650 or so I think it could prolly handle more havent really fully tested yet. I just didnt wanna not be able to hit legs good if I was hurting to squat. I have started taking pottasium to shore up any possible electro lite imbalances. It was a cheap buy and is just like having money in the bank really

[chess315]

i used it today it for the first time today it wil hold quite a bit more then I thought I did legpress hacks and hack still leg deadlifts it worked great the stif leg deads on the hacks pretty much cuts your lower back out completely

[NaturalWonder83]

i like the way the nebula and flex leg press feel

[mass 04]

I almost always do leg presses one leg at a time now. I don't have to unload a ton of plates and can bang out a couple of high rep sets with two legs after going heavy with one leg.

[chess315]

I plan on doing the 3-4 second negatives in the future and heavy drop sets

[local hero]

if your engineering minded you could remove the plate holding bar and replace with a much longer one

[tbombz]

do it one leg at a time and you will never get up to 600lbs plus your leg symetry will be on point

[Mega Man]

Hey....I sent you a PM the other day did you get it???