Weight and Resistance Training - Help with reps and sets BFL!

I'm getting in to the weight lifting now - have moved over to the 'mens' side of the gym (!) and just want to clarify that I am on the right track... This is what I'm doing with the quads:

Squats -

12 x 10kg
10 x 12kg
8 x 14kg
6 x 16kg
12 x 12kg

Leg press -

12 x 82kg

Is this right? Am I supposed to be lifting to failure on each set or just the last two sets of 12? Also, is just 12 reps of the second exercise enough?

Thanks for any advice!

Yes, to all questions and congratulations on moving to the :strong: side!!

Are you using dumbbells or a free bar for the squats? If you are using dumbbells, you are probably limiting yourself by what you can hold. If you learn to do a barbell squat, I'm sure you can go heavier already. Just a thought.

Mel

Hey Mel - my gym only has a smith machine, no actual free weight barbell - is a smith machine okay to use? Or are the free weight DB's better?