Stronglifts 5x5 - Squats v Leg Press

[Bebetto]

Hi All,

I am doing the Stronglifts programme at the moment. I am up to about 120kg on the squats at the moment. The problem is I train on my own and sometimes there is no one else in the gym to spot me. As weights are increasing I am getting closer to my failure and don't want this to happen whilst i'm on my own!

Is there a way I can replace squats with a seated leg press? Will this make a big difference to my programme? I have done seated press before and can do more weight but am concerned that I will not benefit as much as squats.

Any advice/opinions/anecdotal evidence much appreciated

Cheers

Rob

[LiE]

Don't you do squats in a rack with catches?
Leg press isn't a replacement for squat.

[DavidRugby]

Is there a squat cage at your gym (not sure that's the right name for it)? I set the safety bars just below the lowest point of my squat so if i run out of power i can safely allow the bar to rest on the bars. I also train my squats alone and have found this is a great way to train safe, and it also helps you maintain your depth as the reps increase - you go deep every time, just above the safety bars.

I'd stick with the squats if possible, but the seated leg press is better than nothing! 120kg is alot of weight so if you're not confident with it i'd say stay safe. You could always decrease the weight and increase the reps? I know the programme is 5 x 5 but squats are a great exercise so they're worth doing if possible.

[Waterfield]

If you're using bumper plates they're designed to be dropped. This is one way to dump a bar off your back:

[Big Lench]

even dumping metal weights is ok..ish. the gym staff wont like you for it though and if you do it all the time they might kick you out.

I squat without a rack or safeties or anything. Its a good way of making sure you don't fail a set

[Bebetto]

Thanks for the advice all.

There is a squat rack at the gym but it always seems a bit low to me (I'm quite tall) even at it's highest setting.

I'm probably just not squatting low enough!!

[George641]

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I'm probably just not squatting low enough!!

If your not going low enough as you say your probably best to cut the weight in half break parallel and the safety bars will then be at the right height ish. Then work your way back up.
You'll end up stronger, I did for sure.

[Bebetto]

George,

I've done exactly that. Cut back to 90kgs and going as low as i can (I have some problems with my knees due to old injuries and operations).

Feels harder work already so hoping the strength will follow.

[Gaztastic]

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I squat without a rack or safeties or anything. Its a good way of making sure you don't fail a set

So how do you get the bar onto your back?

[Big Lench]

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So how do you get the bar onto your back?

Worded that a bit badly lol. I meant without a power rack, just a normal set of squat/ bench stands with no safeties etc.