The Ultimate leg workout!


by Dan Clare

Legs WorkoutBefore exercising your legs always remember to warm up properly to avoid any injury. Depending on what parts of the legs you are working on, warm the specific muscle up accordingly. A 10 minute exercise bike ride or a slow jog will surfice for most leg exercises. Please view the stretching procedures earlier in this book. These exercises will use a combination of free weight and gym equipment.Lunges: This exercise is excellent for working most of the major leg muscles, as well as many of the smaller stabilizer muscles because it requires good stability.When lifting weights find a weight that will challenge you with resistance but will not force you to struggle. For these exercises you can use light dumbbellsPlace one leg a couple of feet in front of the other, with legs slightly apart. Keep your toes pointed forward and your front foot flat on the floor. Slowly Bend your front leg until your knee is at a 90-degree angle (in a lunge motion), remembering to keep your back straight. Push up and return to the starting position. Repeat and do the same for the opposite leg. Try this exercise for 10-15 repetitions over 3 to 4 sets.Standing Calf Raises: Standing with your feet slightly apart holding you’re back straight and your stomach in, with your feet pointing forwards. Holding weights is not essential for this exercise, so beginners do not have to use any weights. If you want to hold dumbbells in each hand, then your arms must be straight by your sides, with your palms facing your legs.Holding in your standing position slowly push your body up onto your toes raising your heals from the ground, ensure you are high enough not to lose your balance. Slowly lower your heels to the floor and repeat. Attempt this exercise for 15-20 repetitions over 3-4 sets.After you have completed all sets in this exercise, shake your legs to relieve any tension.Leg Extensions: Adjust the leg extension apparatus, ensuring the centre of the knee is inline with the central rotation of the lifting arm. Mount the machine and sit with the lower back against the backrest and the shins against the ankle support pads. Ensure a light weight is selected for the first set, and then adjust accordingly to the desired weight. Slowly straighten the legs forward and up, ensuring not to lock the knee at full extension. Slowly lower back to a 90 degree angle and repeat. Repeat this exercise for 10-15 reps for 3-4 sets.Hamstring Curl: Adjust the leg curl apparatus, so that when lying down the ankle support pads are aligned with the ankle using only a light weight (enough for resistance) for the whole of the exercise. Lie facedown on the apparatus and grip the support handles at the head of the machine. Ensuring the upper body is stable; proceed slowly to curl the legs in an upward motion bringing the heels to the buttocks. Slowly return the legs to the starting position. Repeat this exercise for 10-15 reps for 3 sets.Squats: Holding weights is not essential for this exercise because practice and a good balance are required, so beginners do not have to use any weights. If you want to hold dumbbells in each hand, then your arms must be straight by your sides, with your palms facing your legs. Stand with your feet flat on the floor and shoulder width apart (hand by your side with dumbbells, hands out stretched with your palms down if no weights are used). Ensure your lower back is in a neutral position.Slowly descend until the upper legs are parallel to the floor. Then slowly ascend back to the starting position. Ensure your upper body is in an upright position to avoid leaning forward and loosing balance. Repeat this exercise for 10-15 reps for 3 sets.After all exercises are complete, always remember to do a full warm down of the muscles used in your routine. Warming down is still an essential part of training and does help to combat muscle strain.

About the Author

Dan Clare is the owner of health tips online which you can find at www.health.a1adsense.co.uk Visit their website at: www.health.a1adsense.co.uk

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