Jay Cutler hasn’t forgotten the go-to exercises that defined his bodybuilding career. In a YouTube video aired on June 30, 2026, he revealed why the leg extension machine was his number one movement for a quad pump.
Cutler paid his dues before reaching the top of the Men’s Open class. He finished runner-up behind Ronnie Coleman four times before etching his name into the history books. The 2006 Mr. Olympia was Cutler’s crowning moment, and many thought he’d hold down the throne for years to come.
However, two years later, Dexter Jackson caught him slipping and took the Sandow trophy. Cutler was counted out ahead of the 2009 Mr. Olympia, but the outside noise didn’t affect his preparations. He earned the nickname ‘Comeback Kid’ with his iconic quad stomp pose, and before calling it a career, secured a total of four Mr. Olympia titles.
In retirement, Cutler’s legs are still a massive strength. He continues to train seven days a week, offering fans and bodybuilders workout advice backed up by experience. This led him to break down why the leg extension machine was critical to his success and lower-body dominance.
4x Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler’s #1 Exercise for a Quad Pump
In the Instagram reel, Cutler named the leg extension machine as his number one exercise for a quad pump. He added that this was ideal because it warmed up the quads before more intense compound movements, like the barbell squat.
“I usually use it to warm my knees up. It gives me a little bit of pre-exhaustion also. It gives a little blood in the muscle. It gets the muscle pumped up a little bit so we can roll into the heavier exercises.”
He shared that keeping constant tension on the target muscle and achieving a strong stretch and contraction set the table for gains:
“All controlled,” he shared. “Pretty much constant tension, getting the stretch, and getting that contraction at the top, very important. Four sets of about ten repetitions. 45-60 seconds [of rest in between each set].”
Aside from the quads, Cutler has laid out his number one delt exercise for maximum size and roundness. He credited the standing barbell press as his all-time favorite.
“Listen, it’s all preference. Ideally, I was always a dumbbell guy; I’d do a lot of seated dumbbell presses, but when I did standing, I always focused on the barbell. I love the feel. For some reason, it just gave me more power. It’s great for core. I think it’s a great standard exercise when you first start training to get used to holding a bar standing.”
Even though he no longer competes, Cutler remembers exactly which exercises transformed his physique. He believes the leg extension machine can be an effective tool during training, especially as a pre-exhaust tool.
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