I’m a disabled lifter and leg press machines literally the only thing that are keeping my legs from wasting away, I can’t perform a body weight squat against gravity without help form my arms, but can get pretty good leg activation doing leg press.
@@harleyzeth That was my method during the pandemic, but because my condition is neurological in nature I have all sorts of muscle activation problems that are lessened by being in a seated leg press position.
@@steffanofumo I gotcha. If you don't mind me asking, what is your condition called? It sounds like something I'd like to look up information on incase I ever come across it in person
Sounds like you and me are dealing with a version of the same thing. I was doing hack squats for a while because of the support but I've been doing leg press lately.
this made me laugh, love your humor and these videos. It shows how all these exercises are all just great tools in the tool box and nothing is really better than the other, just how you use them in your programing.
For me personally, Squats only really work my glutes unless I use squat shoes or a wedge, whereas with a machine I can really play around with foot positioning and make sure I feel it in the quads.
Leg machines have transformed my quads recently! My favorites right now are reverse band (not a lot of tension) cannonball stance hack squats, and sissy leg presses on the flat leg press. Traditional squats, even SSB and highbar, tend to build my hips more than my quads - unless I drop the weight, use a tempo and stay as upright as possible, which is no fun. The machines let me push sets hard while still biasing my quads.
I just watched 7 videos with essentially the same title and this is the most comprehensive explanation of all. I'm 50 and female and at the VERY beginning of my fitness journey. I have had a hard time explaining why the machines are a NECESSARY step BEFORE I even ATTEMPT regular squats. Literally to the point of arguing with people! I need to work my way up to it in a stable way. Then AFTER I have a suitable base of muscle, I will incorporate squats. Once I'm confident that I won't injure myself. Thank you!!
Horizontal leg press is outstanding, the level of intensity on this exercise is incomparable, after 5 sets done to failure and/or with myo reps I truly feel that I fatigued my legs, something I was never able to replicate with barbell exercises. Doing 181 kgs for 12 reps now, the stack goes up to 235 so I still have room for improvement.
Can you do a video on "How to get a bigger Squat for Dummies 101" I'm 6'2 (long torso and long limbs) , my quads are not small but my squat is embarrassing, so any tips would be great
Old comment, but hopefully you will see my reply. I'm 6'4" and have long legs relative to my height and squats have always been an incredibly difficult exercise for me. In fact, there have been many times I've had issues doing this exercise, whether that be getting mild injuries or just feeling that my body was being misaligned from the exercise. I never really felt the exercise in anything but my back muscles. I eventually gave up on doing squats and instead do other lower body work. My favorite exercise is by far using the sled, whether that be pushing it or pulling it going backwards or forwards. Hip thrusts are another staple of mine, bands or barbells or even bar+bands, etc. Back extensions are another one but I have to be very meticulous with my form to avoid aggravating the SI joint. I also really like glute ham raises, nordic curls, machine leg curls, etc. Some other ones that I like to occasionally throw in would be step ups, split squats, hip abuction work, etc. I've never had any real injuries from those exercises and have a very developed lower body from utilizing them, far more than I ever did with squats.
@@corenko IF you still want to squat, I'd highly encourage you to try out box squats. I used to do these and it was the one variation that I actually felt was comfortable. I think the biggest reason for this was due to it forcing you to sit back. Aside from that and the exercises I mentioned, I'd also try out some of the leg presses and hack squat machines at your gym. I don't know what your training goals are, but unless you are actively trying to compete in powerlifting, oly weightlifting or crossfit free weight squatting variations are not a requirement. I'm 33 and been at this for almost 20 years with no real injuries and incredibly fit. I don't do heavy barbell squats or deadlifts for the reasons I mentioned earlier. I also don't do heavy barbell bench pressing and instead do weighted dips and dumbbell bench pressing. Little things like this are what keep you in the game instead of a snapped up has been.
I do deep overhead squats and front squats, but strained my Achilles tendon going too deep on the leg press. For me squats are safer because I know the movement.
Sadly, I can't leg press :( I haven't heard anybody else talk about it so this might be a kind of rare-ish anatomy thing. I can squat really deep, almost ATG while being very upright. High bar squats and hack squats are my bread and butter and I can go hard and heavy for many reps and recover with pretty much no problem. However, after trying many different machines at different points in my lifting journey I have decided that I am not built for leg pressing. It genuinely fucks up my hips like nothing else. I can do hack squats but I cannot do leg presses and I believe that is because of the way the hip joint is situated during a leg press. Even in the starting positing the torso is basically perpendicular with the legs and the end range of motion is much deeper for the hips than any kind of squat maybe except for a very exaggerated low bar. This deep hip position is probably not compatible with my hip anatomy. I cannot say for certain that I couldn't adapt to leg pressing, but even when I first started lifting, I had this pain with the leg press and not with squats, lunges or anything else, which leads me to believe I was predisposed to suck at leg pressing. Anyway, I am sorry to have made this so wordy, just thought somebody might find it interesting.
Your case is an interesting one, I have trouble leg pressing at least with the machine at my gym. It has an artificial stop even when I have more range of motion, and it hurts my low back. Starting tomorrow I will swap it out for heel Elevated front squats
Leg presses aggravate the HELL out of my SI joint. Never ever. (Haven't done them in over 5 years but have done plenty of squats, front squats, box squats, deadlifts, RDLs etc) I still don't understand how people withstand the extreme stretch of the hips in the bottom position of a leg press. All it does is cause me pain and inflammation
Hey; keep going man. Your content is refreshing. Could you do a video on which lift is more important out of the squat and the deadlift? Personally, I feel that a good squat and rows carry over well to everything but the deadlift, well, not so much. I don't have a rack and do Zercher squats*. They hammer the upper body just like front squats and feel amazing. People think squats don't work the back but I disagree.
while that maybe true, I'm a home gym struggler with neither the room nor the money to buy a home gym leg press machine, so i'm stuck with squats and lunges
Maybe give Bulgarian split squats a try but only hold one weight in one hand and hold on to something in the other for stability. You can use less weight on one leg but still have it be heavy instead of doing regular squats with no stability
I honestly miss drop set leg presses. They work my legs far more than the heaviest of barbell squats. I have a method that goes by a rep range of 8-10-12-15-20-25 with a minor to moderate drop in weight (I try not to drop it by too much because I still want my muscles to feel challegned despite their heavily fatigued state) for anywhere from 3-4 sets. By the second set, my legs would be calling me all kinds of slurs and I could barely walk. So yeah; leg presses can be, and totally are, effective especially when you're creative with them.
Good video. I alternate my exercises and seem to get best range of motion on leg press and worst on hack squats (Matrix brand). May have something to do with 71 year old knees(LOL)
leg presses let you put more effort in. whereas squats are risky. most i squstted was 170kg but even then i still love the leg press. going to do it today due to knee pain from walking 31k steps in tough soled boots on concrete all day
I love barbell squats but recently ive put them aside to focus on quad growth and ive been doing leg extension superseted with sissy and ive made significant progress with my quad gains
@EnkiriElite valid point. I still feel way more leg muscle activation on leg press. My body feels good after squats , but my legs aren't really feeling a pump. I've even asked for people to check my form to which they said it's good. Not sure the problem
What about hack squat? Isnt it essentially same as leg press but its not as annoying to load all the plates because you wont need as many. Leg press is great but considering I can use a lot more weight than on squats its annoying loading it.
I don't agree. I mean, to me there is no point to strengthen some certain group of muscles separately when in daily activities your weaknesses limit you.. I prefer the ones that are very much like the natural movements like squat deadlift overhead press farmer carry etc.. you got the idea.. I personally find no point of being able to lift heavy in gym but not outside.
From years of power lifting and construction work I’m now suffering from DDD so looking for safe alternatives to the squat since it puts to much load on my spine
Your reverse hack squat kinda looks like just a squat minus the instability of the free weight since your whole back is still involved, no? To me the point of doing leg press is to take work off the back in order to isolate the legs harder.
How on earth is my back involved in lifting an apparatus that cannot fall over or have it's pattern deviate? Lol come on now. It's all leg moving the sled bud.
*knocking on door* Enkiri opens the door and sees Tom Platz with an axe wearing Patrick Bateman style coat.
10/10 would shit myself
I’m a disabled lifter and leg press machines literally the only thing that are keeping my legs from wasting away, I can’t perform a body weight squat against gravity without help form my arms, but can get pretty good leg activation doing leg press.
Could you do bodyweight and progress by using your hands less?
Ever tried a belt squat?
@@harleyzeth That was my method during the pandemic, but because my condition is neurological in nature I have all sorts of muscle activation problems that are lessened by being in a seated leg press position.
@@steffanofumo I gotcha. If you don't mind me asking, what is your condition called? It sounds like something I'd like to look up information on incase I ever come across it in person
Sounds like you and me are dealing with a version of the same thing. I was doing hack squats for a while because of the support but I've been doing leg press lately.
this made me laugh, love your humor and these videos. It shows how all these exercises are all just great tools in the tool box and nothing is really better than the other, just how you use them in your programing.
Glad you have been enjoying this series my man. Have a great weekend!
For me personally, Squats only really work my glutes unless I use squat shoes or a wedge, whereas with a machine I can really play around with foot positioning and make sure I feel it in the quads.
Leg machines have transformed my quads recently! My favorites right now are reverse band (not a lot of tension) cannonball stance hack squats, and sissy leg presses on the flat leg press. Traditional squats, even SSB and highbar, tend to build my hips more than my quads - unless I drop the weight, use a tempo and stay as upright as possible, which is no fun. The machines let me push sets hard while still biasing my quads.
I just watched 7 videos with essentially the same title and this is the most comprehensive explanation of all. I'm 50 and female and at the VERY beginning of my fitness journey. I have had a hard time explaining why the machines are a NECESSARY step BEFORE I even ATTEMPT regular squats. Literally to the point of arguing with people! I need to work my way up to it in a stable way. Then AFTER I have a suitable base of muscle, I will incorporate squats. Once I'm confident that I won't injure myself. Thank you!!
Mike Mentzer's ghost gives a thumbs up 👍
Horizontal leg press is outstanding, the level of intensity on this exercise is incomparable, after 5 sets done to failure and/or with myo reps I truly feel that I fatigued my legs, something I was never able to replicate with barbell exercises. Doing 181 kgs for 12 reps now, the stack goes up to 235 so I still have room for improvement.
If you want sheer brutality, try a single leg deficit smith machine hack squat (yeah long name I know). Welcome to hell.
Yes kicking your legs is super intense
Dude you’re a beast of an athlete
But coach Alecccc the rios brothers say that machines aren’t useful for athletes even tho you jump higher and sprint faster and are stronger !
Wait, there are two of them? Lol
@@EnkiriElite yes second one is Martin he’s a PT he makes same kinda videos
@@mattc4266 professional regurgitation is what that is
I wonder what Max’s vertical is
@@Samfrancis0000 I’m thinking he can jump up a sidewalk curb that’s about it
Because you can do calf raises between sets?
Damn! I forgot to include this!
Not that important.
Can you do a video on "How to get a bigger Squat for Dummies 101"
I'm 6'2 (long torso and long limbs) , my quads are not small but my squat is embarrassing, so any tips would be great
Same here
Squat more, do it 3 times per week. Once for intensity, once for volume and once for technique
Old comment, but hopefully you will see my reply. I'm 6'4" and have long legs relative to my height and squats have always been an incredibly difficult exercise for me. In fact, there have been many times I've had issues doing this exercise, whether that be getting mild injuries or just feeling that my body was being misaligned from the exercise. I never really felt the exercise in anything but my back muscles. I eventually gave up on doing squats and instead do other lower body work.
My favorite exercise is by far using the sled, whether that be pushing it or pulling it going backwards or forwards. Hip thrusts are another staple of mine, bands or barbells or even bar+bands, etc. Back extensions are another one but I have to be very meticulous with my form to avoid aggravating the SI joint. I also really like glute ham raises, nordic curls, machine leg curls, etc. Some other ones that I like to occasionally throw in would be step ups, split squats, hip abuction work, etc.
I've never had any real injuries from those exercises and have a very developed lower body from utilizing them, far more than I ever did with squats.
@@oglocbaby520 Thanks, i'll try some of the exercises you mentioned
@@corenko IF you still want to squat, I'd highly encourage you to try out box squats. I used to do these and it was the one variation that I actually felt was comfortable. I think the biggest reason for this was due to it forcing you to sit back.
Aside from that and the exercises I mentioned, I'd also try out some of the leg presses and hack squat machines at your gym. I don't know what your training goals are, but unless you are actively trying to compete in powerlifting, oly weightlifting or crossfit free weight squatting variations are not a requirement.
I'm 33 and been at this for almost 20 years with no real injuries and incredibly fit. I don't do heavy barbell squats or deadlifts for the reasons I mentioned earlier. I also don't do heavy barbell bench pressing and instead do weighted dips and dumbbell bench pressing. Little things like this are what keep you in the game instead of a snapped up has been.
*grabs popcorn*
As long as it's butter flavored. Not real butter though. Just butter flavored.
@@EnkiriElite Good thinking. Can't lose this twink figure just yet
I do deep overhead squats and front squats, but strained my Achilles tendon going too deep on the leg press. For me squats are safer because I know the movement.
Thats great because i have a birth defect that makes unassisted squads dangerous. I can do hack squats and leg presses tho.
Same with my feet
Recumbent bike is one of my favs for conditioning the legs and heart together when I was using it frequently I made some crazy gains in the squat
Sadly, I can't leg press :( I haven't heard anybody else talk about it so this might be a kind of rare-ish anatomy thing. I can squat really deep, almost ATG while being very upright. High bar squats and hack squats are my bread and butter and I can go hard and heavy for many reps and recover with pretty much no problem. However, after trying many different machines at different points in my lifting journey I have decided that I am not built for leg pressing. It genuinely fucks up my hips like nothing else. I can do hack squats but I cannot do leg presses and I believe that is because of the way the hip joint is situated during a leg press. Even in the starting positing the torso is basically perpendicular with the legs and the end range of motion is much deeper for the hips than any kind of squat maybe except for a very exaggerated low bar. This deep hip position is probably not compatible with my hip anatomy. I cannot say for certain that I couldn't adapt to leg pressing, but even when I first started lifting, I had this pain with the leg press and not with squats, lunges or anything else, which leads me to believe I was predisposed to suck at leg pressing.
Anyway, I am sorry to have made this so wordy, just thought somebody might find it interesting.
Your case is an interesting one, I have trouble leg pressing at least with the machine at my gym. It has an artificial stop even when I have more range of motion, and it hurts my low back. Starting tomorrow I will swap it out for heel Elevated front squats
I remember vertical leg press machines being good. Less loading required. They were popular before the angled leg press machine came out.
I, too, absolutely freaking love the reverse hack squat (aka reverse V Squat)! Love it.
Yeah you're definitely an algorithm genius or a wizard i just started doing leg press work again aftet a big 8 month off
Leg presses aggravate the HELL out of my SI joint. Never ever. (Haven't done them in over 5 years but have done plenty of squats, front squats, box squats, deadlifts, RDLs etc)
I still don't understand how people withstand the extreme stretch of the hips in the bottom position of a leg press. All it does is cause me pain and inflammation
Hey; keep going man. Your content is refreshing.
Could you do a video on which lift is more important out of the squat and the deadlift? Personally, I feel that a good squat and rows carry over well to everything but the deadlift, well, not so much.
I don't have a rack and do Zercher squats*. They hammer the upper body just like front squats and feel amazing.
People think squats don't work the back but I disagree.
while that maybe true, I'm a home gym struggler with neither the room nor the money to buy a home gym leg press machine, so i'm stuck with squats and lunges
Maybe give Bulgarian split squats a try but only hold one weight in one hand and hold on to something in the other for stability. You can use less weight on one leg but still have it be heavy instead of doing regular squats with no stability
Legpress is best because i can load the whole gym on that thing. Squat is a struggle with 3 plates.
Ego boosting is the whole reason this machine exists if we're being honest bahaha
Good vid man. The barbell mafia morale enforcers have been notified of this video and will be "communicating" with you soon for some re-education. 😆
I'm a horizontal pulling machine.😁
U had to put in Doakes! ROFL! KILLER😃
I honestly miss drop set leg presses. They work my legs far more than the heaviest of barbell squats. I have a method that goes by a rep range of 8-10-12-15-20-25 with a minor to moderate drop in weight (I try not to drop it by too much because I still want my muscles to feel challegned despite their heavily fatigued state) for anywhere from 3-4 sets. By the second set, my legs would be calling me all kinds of slurs and I could barely walk. So yeah; leg presses can be, and totally are, effective especially when you're creative with them.
Good video. I alternate my exercises and seem to get best range of motion on leg press and worst on hack squats (Matrix brand). May have something to do with 71 year old knees(LOL)
leg presses let you put more effort in. whereas squats are risky. most i squstted was 170kg but even then i still love the leg press. going to do it today due to knee pain from walking 31k steps in tough soled boots on concrete all day
I love barbell squats but recently ive put them aside to focus on quad growth and ive been doing leg extension superseted with sissy and ive made significant progress with my quad gains
"Life fitness leg press" helps my legs look bigger.
Nxt video is going to be why hack squats are better than squats 😂
Some (chest)flies mothafucka
xD
BB Squats just make me winded. Leg press I can actually feel my legs working.
Get better cardio
@EnkiriElite valid point. I still feel way more leg muscle activation on leg press. My body feels good after squats , but my legs aren't really feeling a pump. I've even asked for people to check my form to which they said it's good. Not sure the problem
why leg extensions are better than squats
Bro in a couple of these training clips, I can tell which gyms you’re in. Some of them are by my house. I need to meet you lol
The training footage is from all over the place man! Which gyms do you recognize?
Two of the gyms are in Covington, LA, right?
An Anytime fitness and Covington Athletic Club
@@ezravall1677 they are! I visited there last year as I have a friend who lives there. That's a pretty good call man haha
Now bro is yapping
I don't have anythibg to add. I'm just commenting so you can get a few cents from my interaction.
You actually did it lollllllllllllll
Too easy bro. What did I tell you?
Any value in doing leg extensions as a secondary quad exercise?
Sure, why not?
You'll train the vastus lateralis muscle more in comparison to squat pattern movements so yeah.
What about hack squat? Isnt it essentially same as leg press but its not as annoying to load all the plates because you wont need as many. Leg press is great but considering I can use a lot more weight than on squats its annoying loading it.
Hack squat and leg press have vastly different feels but largely the same purpose in a training program, imo.
Try a horizontal leg press with a weight stack then, it should go to as high as 235 kgs.
I don't agree. I mean, to me there is no point to strengthen some certain group of muscles separately when in daily activities your weaknesses limit you.. I prefer the ones that are very much like the natural movements like squat deadlift overhead press farmer carry etc.. you got the idea.. I personally find no point of being able to lift heavy in gym but not outside.
From years of power lifting and construction work I’m now suffering from DDD so looking for safe alternatives to the squat since it puts to much load on my spine
Friendly comment as requested😅
Where does a smith machine fall in this equation
It's a machine. The weight can't fall anymore than it can during a hack squat.
What is your opinion on barbell leg presses?
A fun idea, but probably not the most practical thing in the world.
@@EnkiriElite I've been enjoying them in the rack as a home gym alternative.
@@randybowman more power to you brotha! I've messed with them, but never really got into them because they just didn't feel that practical...for me!
Just saw you on nightline!
Say wut
I'm surprised you're just now finding this out? Squats are trash because of axial fatigue. Belt squat machines and leg press are both far superior.
Not really
I can't take these tricks anymore x)
No tricks here!
Your reverse hack squat kinda looks like just a squat minus the instability of the free weight since your whole back is still involved, no? To me the point of doing leg press is to take work off the back in order to isolate the legs harder.
How on earth is my back involved in lifting an apparatus that cannot fall over or have it's pattern deviate? Lol come on now. It's all leg moving the sled bud.
How much did that new intro cost ya?
ATG pendulum squats, paused if youre feeling extra frisky, are the definition of getting more out of less weight
*The rest of the Internet* You're joking right
Gotta confuse the viewers
First of all he’s using that leg press wrong please lower the seat back you’ll feel way better about yourself
to each their own, right? wrong! god put barbells on this planet for a reason.
:^) squats are more moral.
I jake, belt squats are goated
For the algo
It is not better trust me
Friendly comment
thank you sir!
AH sh***************
Sheeeeeeit
@@EnkiriElite HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Ogla
thanks for the knowledge fitness freak
I look like Jason Blaha 😢