The Six Top Exercises for Building and Sculpting Your Legs

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The Six Top Exercises for Building and Sculpting Your Legs - By: Steve Hochman, Posted on: 2008-05-19

Today there are a variety of people who are working out to make sure that they look great, but many people forget about their legs. They either don't give much of an effort when working on their legs or the totally skip training them altogether. This can make the body end up looking disproportioned and give people legs that are often called "chicken legs." However, it is possible to learn how to build and sculpt your legs using special exercises that are designed to help target your legs. They'll help you burn more calories, you'll build muscle, and you'll end up with strong and nicely sculpted legs. If you want to develop the entire leg, you'll need to train the thighs, hamstrings, and the calf muscles. So, here are a few of the top exercises for legs that can help you to build up and sculpt your legs so they look great.

Tip - One of the fastest ways to lose unwanted weight and belly fat is to gain metabolism raising muscle on your legs.

Exercise #1 - Squats - Squats are a great exercise to use on your legs and they will help you to tone up your thighs, on the inside and the outside, as well as your buttocks. Squats can be done with or without weights. Basically to do them without weights, you stand with your feet about shoulder width apart and then you lower yourself as if you were going to sit down into a chair until you have your thighs so they are parallel to the floor. Then you need to go back up into the standing position. You should start out without any weights, and then later you can add weights if they become easy for you.

Exercise #2 - Leg Presses - Leg presses are also great exercises for helping to build your legs and sculpt them as well. This exercise is done by pushing weights away from you just using your legs. It helps to work out your hamstrings and your quadriceps as well as your buttocks.

Exercise #3 - Walking Lunges - No doubt you've heard of regular lunges, and the walking lunge is just a bit different. It is designed to work your quads, your hamstrings, and the thighs. You start by standing upright, then you lunge forward with one leg, but you don't let your knee go further than your toe. Then when you get to the bottom of the lunge, you use the back leg to get back to the standing position. For starters, it is best to do it without weights, but once you get the hand of it, it can be done with weights as well for even better results.

Exercise #4 - Dead Lifts - While this exercise can be great for the entire body, you'll find that it works out your hamstrings and quads especially. Basically this is an exercise where you are going to need a loaded barbell. You take the barbell and you lift it off of the ground from a squat, bent over positions. It is definitely not an easy exercise, and it also helps you build not only your legs, but your back, buttocks, and even your arms and shoulders.

Exercise #5 - Lying Leg Curls - Lying leg curls are excellent for working and sculpting your legs as well. Usually they are done on a machine, but they can be done without a weight machine as well. If you're doing them without weights, you'll want to lie face down with your legs straight out behind you, keeping your hips on the floor. Then you'll bend your needs and curl your legs towards your buttocks and then release your legs back to the starting position. It can also be done with a weight machine, adding weights to the same movement to further strengthen your hamstrings.

Exercise #6 - Calf Raises - Of course there are many people who forget about their calves, but you'll want to make sure that you build and sculpt your calve muscles as well, and calf raises are the perfect exercise to do so. Calf raises are easy to do. All you need is something that is a bit raised, such as some blocks, stairs, or you can even do them right on the floor. Make sure that your feet are a bit apart and then try to let your heels down so you get a stretch, then rise up all the way on to the balls of your feet and hold a few seconds until you feel the stretch. Do 10-20 reps to nicely sculpt your calve muscles.

Article Source: http://www.girlarticles.com

Steve Hochman is the founder of Next Level Fitness, Irvine's Fastest way to get you fit. Personal Trainer Orange County Ca, Irvine weight loss, Personal Training in Irvine Ca Personal Trainer Orange County Ca, Irvine weight loss, Personal Training in Irvine Ca