Don't Skip Leg Day! The Best Leg Workouts for Muscles

a man doing leg workouts

Why You Should Never Skip Leg Day?

With the majority of people hitting the gym to get ripped abs, it looks like we’re skipping leg day. Our legs have a serious job to do and when we skip leg days, we put ourselves at greater risk for pain and injury, as well as all kinds of other health issues.

Leg day is one of the days of the week in the fitness routine or workout plan that can’t be missed. This is because your leg muscles are some of the biggest muscles in your body and are responsible for standing, walking and running. They are also heavily used for squatting, jumping and cycling. No matter what sport you play, the stronger your legs are the better your performance on the field will be.

We live in a society where we tend to focus on our upper bodies more than our lower bodies. This is probably because most of us wear clothes that conceal our legs making them less visible. We also present ourselves in a more physically flattering way while showing off our upper bodies as opposed to our lower bodies.

Benefits of Leg Workouts

Legs are not just for show, they’re there to help you get around and help you have a fully functional life. Legs are also used to carry the weight of your upper body, so if you have a problem with your lower back, it can easily radiate out to the rest of the body.

Leg workouts are vital for our total body since they work and give muscles strength. Leg workouts can tone, reshape and strengthen all the muscles in your body, and they can improve your posture and reduce back pain.

Leg workouts aren’t just for men. In fact, many women opt for leg workouts because of their slimming effect. Leg workouts are a great way to tone the muscles of the lower body. They are a great way to get the legs looking toned and sexy, especially when they're bare. When done in conjunction with a good diet, they can also help with weight loss as well as building lean muscle mass.

There are numerous benefits that you could get from doing leg workouts. There is a great chance that most of us have not considered doing them because of a common assumption that they are too demanding. It is true that legs do carry the weight of the entire body and are one of the largest muscle groups in the body. It needs support and exercise just as any other body part.

A great number of people will be doing some type of exercise on a regular basis today. It is common to see people working out in the gym and many even do it at home. Apart from this, there are people who would use exercise machines such as treadmills or those that would pedal their bikes. The good thing about exercising the legs is that you have so many options to do it.

In recent years, leg workouts have become highly popular among individuals who aim to build their glutes and thighs. While there are many benefits of doing leg workouts, the most important benefit is that it will help you strengthen your legs.

Best Leg Exercises for Muscles

Kicking a soccer ball, skiing, or dancing are all leg-intensive activities. The best exercise for the legs is a compound movement that uses multiple muscle groups and joints, such as squats, lunges, deadlifts, and leg presses.

Many of the best leg exercises will strengthen the quadriceps (or front of the thigh) and the hamstrings (the back of the thigh). Both muscle groups are greatly responsible for helping you to stand up and walk.

  1. Squat with Upright Row - Squats are great because they help strengthen the muscles in your butt and thighs. Squats are the most effective exercise for building strong, sculpted legs. When done properly, they can also help to improve your balance, flexibility and coordination. The key to doing squats correctly is to make sure your knees don't move past your toes as you do them.

This exercise will help you strengthen your legs while working your shoulders and upper back.

  • Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms down at sides.
  • Brace core, bend knees and lower into a squat, keeping weight in heels.
  • Rise to a standing position as you simultaneously lift arms up and out to sides into a straight line with shoulders.
  • Lower arms as you lower into the next squat. Repeat for 30 seconds. Rest for 60 seconds. Do 2-3 sets.
  1. Forward Lunge with Press - This move helps develop muscle balance in the thighs and hips, it's a great way to target the quads and glutes. Avoid using the momentum of a forward step to help you press the weight, instead, try to control the movement at all times. Be careful not to arch your back when you press upwards, keep the chest high with a neutral spine position.
  1. Lunges - Lunges are a great exercise because they help strengthen the muscles in your butt and hamstrings. 
  1. Weighted squats - Weighted squats by holding dumbbells while you do squats, which makes it more challenging to do.

Take Away

When it comes to training your legs, most people stick to their preferred machines. However, if you really want to sculpt, build and tone your legs, you have to get past the machine. Some of the best leg exercises for thighs are actually compound movements that engage your entire body. Of course, you don’t need a gym to achieve this type of workout; you can incorporate these exercises into your daily routine or incorporate them into your weekly exercise routine.

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