Leg press "sleds"

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

Anyone know how much a Leg press sled weighs???
And I don't mean the whole thing. ;-)
Just the part you lift...

I'm trying to figure out how much total weight I'm leg pressing.
3 plates per side is 270 lbs. plus the weight of the sled.
I will be increasing that of course, but I'm trying to figure out how
much I might be able to Smith Squat.

My knees are bothering me so I'm avoiding squatting for now until I can
build up the support muscles around the knees better.

What difference does it make? You are going to have to start light in
the squat anyhow.

IMO this is a screwed up way to rebab knees. You'd be better off doing
bodyweight squats for high reps to strengthen the ligaments and tendons
around the knee. Ligaments play a bigger role in supporting the
structure of the knee than so-called 'support muscles'. (What do you
consider the support muscles anyhow?)

And the Smith squat can be very hard on the knees.

Bodyweight squats and get your ass to the grass. As many reps as you can
manage.

--
Keith

In article <[email hidden]>,

Hobbes said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

Anyone know how much a Leg press sled weighs???
And I don't mean the whole thing. ;-)
Just the part you lift...

I'm trying to figure out how much total weight I'm leg pressing.
3 plates per side is 270 lbs. plus the weight of the sled.
I will be increasing that of course, but I'm trying to figure out how
much I might be able to Smith Squat.

My knees are bothering me so I'm avoiding squatting for now until I can
build up the support muscles around the knees better.

What difference does it make? You are going to have to start light in
the squat anyhow.

Pain? ;-)

Quoted message said:

IMO this is a screwed up way to rebab knees. You'd be better off doing
bodyweight squats for high reps to strengthen the ligaments and tendons
around the knee. Ligaments play a bigger role in supporting the
structure of the knee than so-called 'support muscles'. (What do you
consider the support muscles anyhow?)

Well, I was hoping to work the quads and front shin muscles up a bit
before doing "real" squats again.
I've had a rather long layoff and have only been (seriously) back for
about 3 months.

Quoted message said:

And the Smith squat can be very hard on the knees.

Granted, it limits your range of motion, but I can squat more weight
with it and it causes me no knee pain like free squats do as I can
change my foot stance forward. If I tried this foot stance with a free
bar, I'd literally fall on my ass.

One of the personal trainers at the gym showed me this move.

Quoted message said:

Bodyweight squats and get your ass to the grass. As many reps as you can
manage.

Sissy squats. :-P
Ok.

What about hack squats?

And what's wrong with leg pressing?
Not arguing, just really curious as to why leg presses are not good for
me?

I don't have a knee injury. I have mild osteoarthritis and it just plain
HURTS to squat. I'm trying to work around it. :-P I'm hoping that if I
can build up the tendons and ligaments (and muscle) strength around
them, I can do away with the pain.
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Hobbes said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

Anyone know how much a Leg press sled weighs???
And I don't mean the whole thing. ;-)
Just the part you lift...

I'm trying to figure out how much total weight I'm leg pressing.
3 plates per side is 270 lbs. plus the weight of the sled.
I will be increasing that of course, but I'm trying to figure out how
much I might be able to Smith Squat.

My knees are bothering me so I'm avoiding squatting for now until I can
build up the support muscles around the knees better.

What difference does it make? You are going to have to start light in
the squat anyhow.

Pain? ;-)

Quoted message said:

IMO this is a screwed up way to rebab knees. You'd be better off doing
bodyweight squats for high reps to strengthen the ligaments and tendons
around the knee. Ligaments play a bigger role in supporting the
structure of the knee than so-called 'support muscles'. (What do you
consider the support muscles anyhow?)

Well, I was hoping to work the quads and front shin muscles up a bit
before doing "real" squats again.
I've had a rather long layoff and have only been (seriously) back for
about 3 months.

Quoted message said:

And the Smith squat can be very hard on the knees.

Granted, it limits your range of motion, but I can squat more weight
with it and it causes me no knee pain like free squats do as I can
change my foot stance forward. If I tried this foot stance with a free
bar, I'd literally fall on my ass.

One of the personal trainers at the gym showed me this move.

Quoted message said:

Bodyweight squats and get your ass to the grass. As many reps as you can
manage.

Sissy squats. :-P
Ok.

What about hack squats?

And what's wrong with leg pressing?
Not arguing, just really curious as to why leg presses are not good for
me?

I don't have a knee injury. I have mild osteoarthritis and it just plain
HURTS to squat. I'm trying to work around it. :-P I'm hoping that if I
can build up the tendons and ligaments (and muscle) strength around
them, I can do away with the pain.

You build up tendons and ligaments by doing high rep work. You aren't
going to get pain-free ROM without pushing into the pain area initially.

Neither the partial smith squat or leg press will rehab the knees by
themselves. Why not do the leg press as a strengthening exercise and do
the bodyweight squats for strength endurance, ligament strength and ROM?

There is nothing wrong with the leg press. Instead of the smith machine
squat you could learn the wide stance sumo squat - keeps the knees back.
But the best thing to do is to work full ROM - bodyweight squats - if
you want to get rid of the osteoarthritis. I'm betting in about 3 weeks
the pain will go away if you do 200 bodyweight full squats everyday.

The hack squat is pretty much like doing the smith squat. You can do it
and keep your shins vertical and do a partial. But you are better off
just doing the leg press and bodyweight squats.

Try it for 3 weeks. 200 every day - ATTG. Do as many as you can, call
it a set and rest a bit. Then do some more. Watch what happens.

--
Keith

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

Anyone know how much a Leg press sled weighs???
And I don't mean the whole thing. ;-)
Just the part you lift...

Maybe nothing, a lot of them are counterweighted.

Quoted message said:

I'm trying to figure out how much total weight I'm leg pressing.
3 plates per side is 270 lbs. plus the weight of the sled.

If it's a 45 degree sled you're only lifting 71% of the plate weight, the
incline plane does the rest.

Quoted message said:

I will be increasing that of course, but I'm trying to figure out how
much I might be able to Smith Squat.

Zero. Deep knee bends would be safer and more effective than Smith.

Quoted message said:

My knees are bothering me so I'm avoiding squatting for now until I can
build up the support muscles around the knees better.

Practice deep knee bends; not to failure or exhaustion or anything, just try to
get the form down; rock bottom, heels down, flat back, head up, sitting between
your knees instead of on top of them, et cetera.

Hobbes said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

Anyone know how much a Leg press sled weighs???
And I don't mean the whole thing. ;-)
Just the part you lift...

I'm trying to figure out how much total weight I'm leg pressing.
3 plates per side is 270 lbs. plus the weight of the sled.
I will be increasing that of course, but I'm trying to figure out how
much I might be able to Smith Squat.

My knees are bothering me so I'm avoiding squatting for now until I can
build up the support muscles around the knees better.

What difference does it make? You are going to have to start light in
the squat anyhow.

IMO this is a screwed up way to rebab knees. You'd be better off doing
bodyweight squats for high reps to strengthen the ligaments and tendons
around the knee. Ligaments play a bigger role in supporting the
structure of the knee than so-called 'support muscles'. (What do you
consider the support muscles anyhow?)

And the Smith squat can be very hard on the knees.

Bodyweight squats and get your ass to the grass. As many reps as you can
manage.

Great minds....

T said:

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

Anyone know how much a Leg press sled weighs???
And I don't mean the whole thing. ;-)
Just the part you lift...

Maybe nothing, a lot of them are counterweighted.

Few of those are counterweighted. Almost no machines
in the gym are properly counterweighted to zero tare.

If you're lucky they're marked with the tare wieght*.

Though it doesn't really matter. What matters is
relative change from your beginning strength to your
ending strength.

Unless you plan on comparing strength across the internet
or something. But someone else would have to be using
the exact same machine to be doing the exact same motion
to be able to make a valid comparison.

So you'd be using the same tare weight, so the only
significant fact would be the plate weight and reps,
anyway.

--Blair
"YWMV."

* - Hammer Strength machines are, and they take Olympic
plates. If it weren't for the big mechanical advantages
due to leverages, and the low inclinations of the plate
motion, they'd be a good way to do comparisons. I think
they do the inclinations that way to get a progressive
effect from the change in lifting angle as the plates
rotate around the fulcrum, but if they're not going to
tell you the leverage and percentage change in force,
then the tare markings are kind of pointless...

Just call it 45 pounds and go with it, a O bar is 45, a empty sled is
45 (roughly) Keep it simple.

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

Anyone know how much a Leg press sled weighs???
And I don't mean the whole thing. ;-)
Just the part you lift...

I'm trying to figure out how much total weight I'm leg pressing.
3 plates per side is 270 lbs. plus the weight of the sled.
I will be increasing that of course, but I'm trying to figure out how
much I might be able to Smith Squat.

My knees are bothering me so I'm avoiding squatting for now until I can
build up the support muscles around the knees better.

TIA!
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

Hobbes said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

I don't have a knee injury. I have mild osteoarthritis and it just plain
HURTS to squat. I'm trying to work around it. :-P I'm hoping that if I
can build up the tendons and ligaments (and muscle) strength around
them, I can do away with the pain.

You build up tendons and ligaments by doing high rep work. You aren't
going to get pain-free ROM without pushing into the pain area initially.

I can deal with that. :-)
It actually hurts like hell just to do machine leg extensions after 3 or
4 reps.

Quoted message said:

Neither the partial smith squat or leg press will rehab the knees by
themselves. Why not do the leg press as a strengthening exercise and do
the bodyweight squats for strength endurance, ligament strength and ROM?

Uh, that was my original question about how much that sled weighs.
I intend to continue leg presses for awhile, and just wanted to know how
much I was actually lifting on top of the 270 lbs. of plates.

Thanks for the suggestion of sissy squats. I can probably just start out
with body weight then, and use dumbells to increase the weight over time?

Quoted message said:

There is nothing wrong with the leg press. Instead of the smith machine
squat you could learn the wide stance sumo squat - keeps the knees back.
But the best thing to do is to work full ROM - bodyweight squats - if
you want to get rid of the osteoarthritis. I'm betting in about 3 weeks
the pain will go away if you do 200 bodyweight full squats everyday.

And I can do those at home!
Thanks for the suggestion.

I also need to pick up a jar of Glucosamine sulfate.

Quoted message said:

The hack squat is pretty much like doing the smith squat. You can do it
and keep your shins vertical and do a partial. But you are better off
just doing the leg press and bodyweight squats.

Got it.

Quoted message said:

Try it for 3 weeks. 200 every day - ATTG. Do as many as you can, call
it a set and rest a bit. Then do some more. Watch what happens.

200, broken up into, what, 70 reps per set?
Or 3 sets of 200?

Ok, so I have the "3 set" mentality. I s'pose it'd be better to do 4
sets of 50 reps. I do that for ab crunches. ;-)

ATTG?
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

T said:

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

Anyone know how much a Leg press sled weighs???
And I don't mean the whole thing. ;-)
Just the part you lift...

Maybe nothing, a lot of them are counterweighted.

Quoted message said:

I'm trying to figure out how much total weight I'm leg pressing.
3 plates per side is 270 lbs. plus the weight of the sled.

If it's a 45 degree sled you're only lifting 71% of the plate weight, the
incline plane does the rest.

Quoted message said:

I will be increasing that of course, but I'm trying to figure out how
much I might be able to Smith Squat.

Zero. Deep knee bends would be safer and more effective than Smith.

Quoted message said:

My knees are bothering me so I'm avoiding squatting for now until I can
build up the support muscles around the knees better.

Practice deep knee bends; not to failure or exhaustion or anything, just try
to
get the form down; rock bottom, heels down, flat back, head up, sitting
between
your knees instead of on top of them, et cetera.

That's pretty much what Hobbes suggested. ;-)

Thanks!
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

T said:

Hobbes said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

Anyone know how much a Leg press sled weighs???
And I don't mean the whole thing. ;-)
Just the part you lift...

I'm trying to figure out how much total weight I'm leg pressing.
3 plates per side is 270 lbs. plus the weight of the sled.
I will be increasing that of course, but I'm trying to figure out how
much I might be able to Smith Squat.

My knees are bothering me so I'm avoiding squatting for now until I can
build up the support muscles around the knees better.

What difference does it make? You are going to have to start light in
the squat anyhow.

IMO this is a screwed up way to rebab knees. You'd be better off doing
bodyweight squats for high reps to strengthen the ligaments and tendons
around the knee. Ligaments play a bigger role in supporting the
structure of the knee than so-called 'support muscles'. (What do you
consider the support muscles anyhow?)

And the Smith squat can be very hard on the knees.

Bodyweight squats and get your ass to the grass. As many reps as you can
manage.

Great minds....

Indeed... ;-)
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Hobbes said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

I don't have a knee injury. I have mild osteoarthritis and it just plain
HURTS to squat. I'm trying to work around it. :-P I'm hoping that if I
can build up the tendons and ligaments (and muscle) strength around
them, I can do away with the pain.

You build up tendons and ligaments by doing high rep work. You aren't
going to get pain-free ROM without pushing into the pain area initially.

I can deal with that. :-)
It actually hurts like hell just to do machine leg extensions after 3 or
4 reps.

Quoted message said:

Neither the partial smith squat or leg press will rehab the knees by
themselves. Why not do the leg press as a strengthening exercise and do
the bodyweight squats for strength endurance, ligament strength and ROM?

Uh, that was my original question about how much that sled weighs.
I intend to continue leg presses for awhile, and just wanted to know how
much I was actually lifting on top of the 270 lbs. of plates.

Okay, but it is difficult. First, every manufacturer is different.
Second, the angle of the sled means you are not actually lifting 270 lbs
of plate anyhow - you have a mechanical advantage. So really I'd just be
satisfied with a relative progression and leave it at that. Sometimes
precision isn't worth the effort.

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the suggestion of sissy squats. I can probably just start out
with body weight then, and use dumbells to increase the weight over time?

I don't. I do 8 sets of 20 seconds (as many as possible) with 10 seconds
rest between sets - the 'Tabata' interval. I do my basic olympic lifting
workout with weights and almost everything else is bodyweight.

If you are going to add weight I'd suggest an overhead dumbbell squat. T
will like that as well, I think.

:^)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There is nothing wrong with the leg press. Instead of the smith machine
squat you could learn the wide stance sumo squat - keeps the knees back.
But the best thing to do is to work full ROM - bodyweight squats - if
you want to get rid of the osteoarthritis. I'm betting in about 3 weeks
the pain will go away if you do 200 bodyweight full squats everyday.

And I can do those at home!
Thanks for the suggestion.

I also need to pick up a jar of Glucosamine sulfate.

Quoted message said:

The hack squat is pretty much like doing the smith squat. You can do it
and keep your shins vertical and do a partial. But you are better off
just doing the leg press and bodyweight squats.

Got it.

Quoted message said:

Try it for 3 weeks. 200 every day - ATTG. Do as many as you can, call
it a set and rest a bit. Then do some more. Watch what happens.

200, broken up into, what, 70 reps per set?
Or 3 sets of 200?

Ok, so I have the "3 set" mentality. I s'pose it'd be better to do 4
sets of 50 reps. I do that for ab crunches. ;-)

ATTG?

Ass To The Grass. Get down as low as you can, but don't let your back
round.

--
Keith

In article <[email hidden]>,

Blair P. Houghton said:

T said:

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

Anyone know how much a Leg press sled weighs???
And I don't mean the whole thing. ;-)
Just the part you lift...

Maybe nothing, a lot of them are counterweighted.

Few of those are counterweighted. Almost no machines
in the gym are properly counterweighted to zero tare.

If you're lucky they're marked with the tare wieght*.

Though it doesn't really matter. What matters is
relative change from your beginning strength to your
ending strength.

Unless you plan on comparing strength across the internet
or something. But someone else would have to be using
the exact same machine to be doing the exact same motion
to be able to make a valid comparison.

So you'd be using the same tare weight, so the only
significant fact would be the plate weight and reps,
anyway.

--Blair
"YWMV."

* - Hammer Strength machines are, and they take Olympic
plates. If it weren't for the big mechanical advantages
due to leverages, and the low inclinations of the plate
motion, they'd be a good way to do comparisons. I think
they do the inclinations that way to get a progressive
effect from the change in lifting angle as the plates
rotate around the fulcrum, but if they're not going to
tell you the leverage and percentage change in force,
then the tare markings are kind of pointless...

What I REALLY wish he had was the old vertical leg press!
He had one many years ago, but he got rid of it. 🙁
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

mct546 said:

Just call it 45 pounds and go with it, a O bar is 45, a empty sled is
45 (roughly) Keep it simple.

I had considered that... so thanks for the confirmation.
I just was not sure!

I know it's not counterbalanced to zero it out as I've lifted it by
itself.

Cheers!
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

Hobbes said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Hobbes said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
OmManiPadmeOmelet <[email hidden]> wrote:

> I don't have a knee injury. I have mild osteoarthritis and it just
> plain
> HURTS to squat. I'm trying to work around it. :-P I'm hoping that if I
> can build up the tendons and ligaments (and muscle) strength around
> them, I can do away with the pain.

You build up tendons and ligaments by doing high rep work. You aren't
going to get pain-free ROM without pushing into the pain area initially.

I can deal with that. :-)
It actually hurts like hell just to do machine leg extensions after 3 or
4 reps.

Quoted message said:

Neither the partial smith squat or leg press will rehab the knees by
themselves. Why not do the leg press as a strengthening exercise and do
the bodyweight squats for strength endurance, ligament strength and ROM?

Uh, that was my original question about how much that sled weighs.
I intend to continue leg presses for awhile, and just wanted to know how
much I was actually lifting on top of the 270 lbs. of plates.

Okay, but it is difficult. First, every manufacturer is different.
Second, the angle of the sled means you are not actually lifting 270 lbs
of plate anyhow - you have a mechanical advantage. So really I'd just be
satisfied with a relative progression and leave it at that. Sometimes
precision isn't worth the effort.

I see.
I even called the gym owner and he does not know.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the suggestion of sissy squats. I can probably just start out
with body weight then, and use dumbells to increase the weight over time?

I don't. I do 8 sets of 20 seconds (as many as possible) with 10 seconds
rest between sets - the 'Tabata' interval. I do my basic olympic lifting
workout with weights and almost everything else is bodyweight.

So you use it as a warm-up.

As soon as I lose a bit more bodyfat, I want to get back into yoga.
It's great for flexibility.

Quoted message said:

If you are going to add weight I'd suggest an overhead dumbbell squat. T
will like that as well, I think.

:^)

I'll google that for form. ;-)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There is nothing wrong with the leg press. Instead of the smith machine
squat you could learn the wide stance sumo squat - keeps the knees back.
But the best thing to do is to work full ROM - bodyweight squats - if
you want to get rid of the osteoarthritis. I'm betting in about 3 weeks
the pain will go away if you do 200 bodyweight full squats everyday.

And I can do those at home!
Thanks for the suggestion.

I also need to pick up a jar of Glucosamine sulfate.

Quoted message said:

The hack squat is pretty much like doing the smith squat. You can do it
and keep your shins vertical and do a partial. But you are better off
just doing the leg press and bodyweight squats.

Got it.

Quoted message said:

Try it for 3 weeks. 200 every day - ATTG. Do as many as you can, call
it a set and rest a bit. Then do some more. Watch what happens.

200, broken up into, what, 70 reps per set?
Or 3 sets of 200?

Ok, so I have the "3 set" mentality. I s'pose it'd be better to do 4
sets of 50 reps. I do that for ab crunches. ;-)

ATTG?

Ass To The Grass. Get down as low as you can, but don't let your back
round.

Got it.
I'm very careful to _never_ allow my back to round, on anything!!!

Thanks!
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Hobbes said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
Hobbes <[email hidden]> wrote:

> In article <[email hidden]>,
> OmManiPadmeOmelet <[email hidden]> wrote:
>
> > I don't have a knee injury. I have mild osteoarthritis and it just
> > plain
> > HURTS to squat. I'm trying to work around it. :-P I'm hoping that if
> > I
> > can build up the tendons and ligaments (and muscle) strength around
> > them, I can do away with the pain.
>
> You build up tendons and ligaments by doing high rep work. You aren't
> going to get pain-free ROM without pushing into the pain area
> initially.

I can deal with that. :-)
It actually hurts like hell just to do machine leg extensions after 3 or
4 reps.

>
> Neither the partial smith squat or leg press will rehab the knees by
> themselves. Why not do the leg press as a strengthening exercise and do
> the bodyweight squats for strength endurance, ligament strength and
> ROM?

Uh, that was my original question about how much that sled weighs.
I intend to continue leg presses for awhile, and just wanted to know how
much I was actually lifting on top of the 270 lbs. of plates.

Okay, but it is difficult. First, every manufacturer is different.
Second, the angle of the sled means you are not actually lifting 270 lbs
of plate anyhow - you have a mechanical advantage. So really I'd just be
satisfied with a relative progression and leave it at that. Sometimes
precision isn't worth the effort.

I see.
I even called the gym owner and he does not know.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the suggestion of sissy squats. I can probably just start out
with body weight then, and use dumbells to increase the weight over time?

I don't. I do 8 sets of 20 seconds (as many as possible) with 10 seconds
rest between sets - the 'Tabata' interval. I do my basic olympic lifting
workout with weights and almost everything else is bodyweight.

So you use it as a warm-up.

Actually - no. I do them every morning as well as the 5 tibetan rites.
So basically I do the rites and then add in hindu squats with tabata
intervals. Six exercises - then I brush my teeth and shower.

Weight training is generally done later in the day, 3-4 days per week.

--
Keith

In article <[email hidden]>,

Hobbes said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Hobbes said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
OmManiPadmeOmelet <[email hidden]> wrote:

> In article <[email hidden]>,
> Hobbes <[email hidden]> wrote:
>
> > In article <[email hidden]>,
> > OmManiPadmeOmelet <[email hidden]> wrote:
> >
> > > I don't have a knee injury. I have mild osteoarthritis and it just
> > > plain
> > > HURTS to squat. I'm trying to work around it. :-P I'm hoping that
> > > if
> > > I
> > > can build up the tendons and ligaments (and muscle) strength around
> > > them, I can do away with the pain.
> >
> > You build up tendons and ligaments by doing high rep work. You aren't
> > going to get pain-free ROM without pushing into the pain area
> > initially.
>
> I can deal with that. :-)
> It actually hurts like hell just to do machine leg extensions after 3
> or
> 4 reps.
>
> >
> > Neither the partial smith squat or leg press will rehab the knees by
> > themselves. Why not do the leg press as a strengthening exercise and
> > do
> > the bodyweight squats for strength endurance, ligament strength and
> > ROM?
>
> Uh, that was my original question about how much that sled weighs.
> I intend to continue leg presses for awhile, and just wanted to know
> how
> much I was actually lifting on top of the 270 lbs. of plates.

Okay, but it is difficult. First, every manufacturer is different.
Second, the angle of the sled means you are not actually lifting 270 lbs
of plate anyhow - you have a mechanical advantage. So really I'd just be
satisfied with a relative progression and leave it at that. Sometimes
precision isn't worth the effort.

I see.
I even called the gym owner and he does not know.

Quoted message said:

>
> Thanks for the suggestion of sissy squats. I can probably just start
> out
> with body weight then, and use dumbells to increase the weight over
> time?

I don't. I do 8 sets of 20 seconds (as many as possible) with 10 seconds
rest between sets - the 'Tabata' interval. I do my basic olympic lifting
workout with weights and almost everything else is bodyweight.

So you use it as a warm-up.

Actually - no. I do them every morning as well as the 5 tibetan rites.
So basically I do the rites and then add in hindu squats with tabata
intervals. Six exercises - then I brush my teeth and shower.

Weight training is generally done later in the day, 3-4 days per week.

I like yoga, but am not familiar with the 5 tibetan rites.

Is there a good website for that?

If I can ever get my life organized again the way I'd like it, I'd like
to look into Tai Chi.
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Hobbes said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
Hobbes <[email hidden]> wrote:

> In article <[email hidden]>,
> OmManiPadmeOmelet <[email hidden]> wrote:
>
> > In article <[email hidden]>,
> > Hobbes <[email hidden]> wrote:
> >
> > > In article <[email hidden]>,
> > > OmManiPadmeOmelet <[email hidden]> wrote:
> > >
> > > > I don't have a knee injury. I have mild osteoarthritis and it
> > > > just
> > > > plain
> > > > HURTS to squat. I'm trying to work around it. :-P I'm hoping that
> > > > if
> > > > I
> > > > can build up the tendons and ligaments (and muscle) strength
> > > > around
> > > > them, I can do away with the pain.
> > >
> > > You build up tendons and ligaments by doing high rep work. You
> > > aren't
> > > going to get pain-free ROM without pushing into the pain area
> > > initially.
> >
> > I can deal with that. :-)
> > It actually hurts like hell just to do machine leg extensions after 3
> > or
> > 4 reps.
> >
> > >
> > > Neither the partial smith squat or leg press will rehab the knees
> > > by
> > > themselves. Why not do the leg press as a strengthening exercise
> > > and
> > > do
> > > the bodyweight squats for strength endurance, ligament strength and
> > > ROM?
> >
> > Uh, that was my original question about how much that sled weighs.
> > I intend to continue leg presses for awhile, and just wanted to know
> > how
> > much I was actually lifting on top of the 270 lbs. of plates.
>
> Okay, but it is difficult. First, every manufacturer is different.
> Second, the angle of the sled means you are not actually lifting 270
> lbs
> of plate anyhow - you have a mechanical advantage. So really I'd just
> be
> satisfied with a relative progression and leave it at that. Sometimes
> precision isn't worth the effort.

I see.
I even called the gym owner and he does not know.

>
> >
> > Thanks for the suggestion of sissy squats. I can probably just start
> > out
> > with body weight then, and use dumbells to increase the weight over
> > time?
>
> I don't. I do 8 sets of 20 seconds (as many as possible) with 10
> seconds
> rest between sets - the 'Tabata' interval. I do my basic olympic
> lifting
> workout with weights and almost everything else is bodyweight.

So you use it as a warm-up.

Actually - no. I do them every morning as well as the 5 tibetan rites.
So basically I do the rites and then add in hindu squats with tabata
intervals. Six exercises - then I brush my teeth and shower.

Weight training is generally done later in the day, 3-4 days per week.

I like yoga, but am not familiar with the 5 tibetan rites.

Is there a good website for that?

Lots. Google '5 Tibetan Rites'.

http://www.mkprojects.com/fa_TibetanRites.htm

--
Keith

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

My knees are bothering me so I'm avoiding squatting for now until I can
build up the support muscles around the knees better.

If your knees are bothering you I would suggest box squatting a la
Louie Simmons. Until I started box squatting my knees were in constant
pain. I thought that it was just part of being a powerlifter but since
I have started exclusively box squatting my knees are pain free (for 7
years).

This is how to do it:

1. Get a padded box that is an inch or two below parallel. For you,
that will probably be six inches below what you think is parallel. It
is important to go below parallel because stopping above parallel will
jam the knees and you will be able to lift much more weight, further
stressing the knees.

2. Squat to the box by pushing your butt back keeping the shins
vertical to the floor (i.e. do NOT allow the knees to go forward at
all). The key to doing this correctly is to squat down to the box by
trying to not bend the knees. They will bend, but try not to. Just
push your butt back.

3. When you hit the box. Relax the glutes by allowing the box to take
all of your body weight and bar weight.

4. Then drive the bar straight up. Do not lift your butt. Drive the
bar.

This will take the stress off of the knees and put all of the stress
onto the hips.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten. You need to be squattin'!"

In article <[email hidden]>,

Hobbes said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Hobbes said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
OmManiPadmeOmelet <[email hidden]> wrote:

> In article <[email hidden]>,
> Hobbes <[email hidden]> wrote:
>
> > In article <[email hidden]>,
> > OmManiPadmeOmelet <[email hidden]> wrote:
> >
> > > In article <[email hidden]>,
> > > Hobbes <[email hidden]> wrote:
> > >
> > > > In article <[email hidden]>,
> > > > OmManiPadmeOmelet <[email hidden]> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I don't have a knee injury. I have mild osteoarthritis and it
> > > > > just
> > > > > plain
> > > > > HURTS to squat. I'm trying to work around it. :-P I'm hoping
> > > > > that
> > > > > if
> > > > > I
> > > > > can build up the tendons and ligaments (and muscle) strength
> > > > > around
> > > > > them, I can do away with the pain.
> > > >
> > > > You build up tendons and ligaments by doing high rep work. You
> > > > aren't
> > > > going to get pain-free ROM without pushing into the pain area
> > > > initially.
> > >
> > > I can deal with that. :-)
> > > It actually hurts like hell just to do machine leg extensions after
> > > 3
> > > or
> > > 4 reps.
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Neither the partial smith squat or leg press will rehab the knees
> > > > by
> > > > themselves. Why not do the leg press as a strengthening exercise
> > > > and
> > > > do
> > > > the bodyweight squats for strength endurance, ligament strength
> > > > and
> > > > ROM?
> > >
> > > Uh, that was my original question about how much that sled weighs.
> > > I intend to continue leg presses for awhile, and just wanted to
> > > know
> > > how
> > > much I was actually lifting on top of the 270 lbs. of plates.
> >
> > Okay, but it is difficult. First, every manufacturer is different.
> > Second, the angle of the sled means you are not actually lifting 270
> > lbs
> > of plate anyhow - you have a mechanical advantage. So really I'd just
> > be
> > satisfied with a relative progression and leave it at that. Sometimes
> > precision isn't worth the effort.
>
> I see.
> I even called the gym owner and he does not know.
>
> >
> > >
> > > Thanks for the suggestion of sissy squats. I can probably just
> > > start
> > > out
> > > with body weight then, and use dumbells to increase the weight over
> > > time?
> >
> > I don't. I do 8 sets of 20 seconds (as many as possible) with 10
> > seconds
> > rest between sets - the 'Tabata' interval. I do my basic olympic
> > lifting
> > workout with weights and almost everything else is bodyweight.
>
> So you use it as a warm-up.

Actually - no. I do them every morning as well as the 5 tibetan rites.
So basically I do the rites and then add in hindu squats with tabata
intervals. Six exercises - then I brush my teeth and shower.

Weight training is generally done later in the day, 3-4 days per week.

I like yoga, but am not familiar with the 5 tibetan rites.

Is there a good website for that?

Lots. Google '5 Tibetan Rites'.

http://www.mkprojects.com/fa_TibetanRites.htm

Muchas Gracias! ;-)
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson