How To Build Leg Muscles
Many people tend to overlook their legs and primarily focus on building their chests and arms, resulting in a disproportionate figure with a big upper body and scrawny little legs. Don't fall victim to this trap. Remember, you must balance your workouts to maximize their effectiveness. Building strong legs will actually help you build muscles in your upper body as well. And power exercises like the squat will boost levels of testosterone and other essential muscle building hormones.
The legs consist of many different muscle groups, but to build strong leg muscles, you must focus primarily on the largest muscles, specifically the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. The most important lift, which targets all of these muscle groups, is the squat. If you want to build strong leg muscles, you must do squats during every leg workout. Think of it as the equivalent of the bench press in building chest muscle. Along with the squat, you should choose a a few other lifts in your leg routine that specifically target one of the major muscle groups. As always, remember that it is important to vary the exercises you perform and to balance them between all areas of the legs for maximum muscle building.
For more information, see the weightlifting tips.
Exercises To Build Leg Muscles
Quadriceps. These exercises are highly effective at building the quadriceps, or thighs. The squat will target all other leg muscles as well.
- Squats
- Leg press
- Quadriceps extensions
- Lunges
Hamstrings. The following are excellent exercises to build and strengthen the hamstrings.
- Squats
- Leg press
- Hamstring curls
- Lunges
Calves. These exercises are very effective for building strong calf muscles.
- Squats
- Leg press
- Standing calf raises
- Seated calf raises