10 Leg Workout Exercises That Will Make You Stronger

Introduction:

Building leg strength is an incredibly important part of building your overall body strength, because having strong legs enables you to run faster, jump higher, and tackle anything that life throws at you. To build stronger legs, you need to focus on exercises that are specifically targeted towards your lower body, particularly those that work the quadriceps and hamstrings. If you’re looking to build stronger legs with the best leg workout exercises possible, check out these 10 recommended workouts below.

1) Leg Squats:

Starting with a front or back leg squat, you will be toning the hamstrings, quadriceps, and calves. All in all, working out your legs is great for physical health but can also be good for mental health. When we exercise we produce chemicals called endorphins which make us feel more positive. Besides decreasing stress levels and increasing energy levels, exercising improves our moods. In order to do a good leg workout, it is essential to have the proper equipment. For this reason there are some leg exercises that require weights such as calf raises and hamstring curls. Otherwise there are other leg exercises such as lunges which only require balance on one leg at a time. As long as you get into position and do the work you'll get results!

2) Reverse lunges:

This exercise strengthens your lower body and helps stretch your hamstrings. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and with one foot planted on the ground. Place your hands on your hips or at the top of a doorway for balance. Take a step back with the other leg, lowering until both knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. Push off through the heel of the planted foot to step forward to return to standing, pushing off through that planted heel in order to help keep you balanced. For an added challenge, hold weights at your sides while performing this exercise.

3) Side lunge:

The side lunge is a great exercise to build strength in your quads and glutes, while also engaging your core. Start by standing straight with feet hip-width apart. Take a big step to the right and then bend both knees as you reach your right arm down towards the ground. Push through the left foot and return to starting position before taking a big step to the left, repeating on alternating sides for 10 reps per leg. Aim for three sets of 10 reps with 30 seconds rest in between sets, and progress from small steps to longer strides as you get stronger.

Next time you're at home reading and want an effective way to work out your legs, head on over to YouTube for a variety of leg workouts exercises that will make you stronger!

4) Glute Bridge:

-Lying on your back with knees bent, feet flat on the ground, and arms crossed or on your head. -Raise hips up towards the ceiling until they are fully extended and shins make a right angle with the floor. Lower your hips back down to starting position.

5) Walking Lunge:

Grab a set of dumbbells. Place them on the ground on either side of your feet. Step forward with one foot, lifting your other leg off the ground and place it forward with the knee bent. Perform a walking lunge by alternating each leg to step forward so that you are constantly moving. Your back should be straight and your chest lifted. Lower yourself slowly for 3-5 seconds then push yourself back up and repeat for 20-30 repetitions per set.

6) Inner Thigh lift:

With both feet on the ground, grab two dumbbells and hold them at arm's length in front of your body. Place your right foot behind you and get into a lunge position. Keep your torso upright and your chest out, then bring the weights to rest on top of your shoulder. Push up through the heel of your front foot to stand back up, then bring that same leg forward so you're back in a neutral position, and repeat on the other side. This is one repetition.

7) Sumo Deadlift:

Begin by placing the barbell on the ground in front of you. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart with your toes angled out slightly. Begin by bending your knees and sitting back, bringing your chest down to the barbell. When you do this, make sure that you aren't letting your lower back arch and that you're pushing through your heels as you move backward onto the barbell. Once again, try to keep most of the weight on your heels (by pressing through them) rather than on the balls of your feet or toes. Drive yourself up and forward until you are standing up straight.

8) Lying Hip Abduction:

Lying Hip Abduction :

This is a great exercise to work your hips and thighs. When you abduct your legs, you use your abdominal muscles to support the weight of your upper body and lower the weight. Make sure that the bottoms of your feet are together and your toes are pointed outwards towards each other for balance. Slowly bring one leg up so that it is parallel with the floor, don't forget to use those abdominal muscles when bringing it back down! Keep alternating between legs so that they get equal amounts of work done on them.

9) Dumbbell Bulgarian Split Squat:

The dumbbell Bulgarian split squat is a great way to build strength and increase the size of your thighs. The exercise requires minimal equipment and can be done with relative ease. To start, stand about two to three feet in front of a bench or box that's about knee height, hold one dumbbell in each hand with your arms by your sides, and step back to stretch out the calves for a moment. When you're ready, squat down as far as you can go, as if sitting on an imaginary chair behind you, keeping your back straight and head up. Push through the heel of the foot on the ground while maintaining balance on both feet. Return to standing position by pushing off with that heel again while driving through the other foot.

10) Single-Leg Romanian Deadlift:

The Single-Leg Romanian Deadlift is an excellent exercise to strengthen the hamstrings and glutes. The more you perform this exercise, the better your balance and stability will become. 

Standing on one leg, with a dumbbell in each hand by your side, bend both knees so that you’re only hovering over the ground by a few inches. Keep your head up and look straight ahead at all times.