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Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
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  2. Leg Workouts

This Lower Body Workout Will Send Your Body Into Fat-Blasting Overdrive

Legs of steel, STAT - by Team MH
  • 24 Sep 2019
This Lower Body Workout Will Send Your Body Into Fat-Blasting Overdrive

Skipping leg day is tempting. But if you rarely do leg exercises, you risk building a physique that resembles an upside-down pyramid. Even worse: you miss a chance to send your body into fat-blasting overdrive while releasing Hulk-level muscle-building hormones.

So, yeah: focus on your legs. But that doesn’t mean you have to do a bodybuilder slog of squats, deadlifts and sheer pain. Trainer David Otey, who’s worked with NFL players, has a lower body workout that’ll turn your legs into the fitness engine they’re supposed to be.

DIRECTIONS

Do this workout twice a week, resting 2 days between each session. On 1 off-day, do 4 sets of 10 pushups and 15 close-grip push-ups. On the other, do 4 sets of 10 barbell rows and 10 hammer curls. Rest all other days.

THE WARM-UP

Start by foam-rolling your feet, calves, quads, hamstrings and glutes, then do this circuit. Do 3 rounds, resting as needed between moves.

1. MOUNTAIN CLIMBER

Get in the push-up position. Keeping your back flat, drive your left knee to your chest. Quickly return to the starting position, then drive your right knee to your chest. That’s 1 rep; do 25.

mountain climber
Allie Holloway

2. PLANK

Set up in the push-up position with your forearms on the floor, elbows directly below your shoulders, core tight. Hold for 30 seconds.

plank
Allie Holloway

3. ARMS-OVERHEAD SQUAT

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and raise your arms straight overhead. Bend at the knees and hips, lowering your torso until your thighs are just past parallel to the floor. Stand back up. That’s 1 rep; do 15.

squat
Allie Holloway

THE WORKOUT

Do the exercises in order. Complete 3 supersets, resting 90 seconds between each 

1. DUMBBELL DEPTH SUMO SQUAT

Stand on 30cm-high boxes set up more than shoulder-width apart, holding a medium-weight dumbbell or kettlebell, arms hanging naturally (a). Keep your glutes and abs tight. Bend at the knees and hips (b), lowering until your thighs are parallel to the floor (or as far as you feel comfortable). Stand back up. That’s 1 rep; do 3 sets of 12.

dumbbell depth sumo squat
Allie Holloway

2a BULGARIAN SPLIT SQUAT

Stand with your right foot behind you on a bench. Your left leg should be almost straight. Hold dumbbells at your sides (a). Bend your left knee; your right knee will bend as you do. Hold when your left thigh is parallel to the floor (b).

bulgarian split squat
Allie Holloway

2b DUMBBELL ROMANIAN DEADLIFT

Stand holding mediumweight dumbbells at your hips, feet hipwidth apart, knees slightly bent (a). Brace your core. Now hinge at your hips and push your butt backward, lowering your torso. Lower until you feel a slight stretch in your hamstrings (b). Pause. Stand back up, squeezing your glutes. That’s 1 rep; do 12.

deadlift
Allie Holloway

3. DUMBBELL HIP THRUST

With knees bent and feet flat, place your upper back and shoulder blades against a bench. Hold a medium-weight dumbbell on your hips (a). Push through your heels and raise your hips until your body forms a straight line from shoulders to knees (b). Pause, then lower. That’s 1 rep; do 3 sets of 12.

hip thrust
Allie Holloway

4. LATERAL LUNGE

Start standing, knees and hips bent slightly (a). Keeping both feet pointed forward, step your left leg to the left, bending your left knee. Shift your weight to that leg and push your butt back until your thigh is nearly parallel to the floor (b). Press back to the start. That’s 1 rep; do 3 sets of 10 per leg.

lateral lunge
Allie Holloway

5. BENCH ADDUCTION

Lie on your left side, with your forearm on the floor. Place your right calf on a bench. Your left leg should be straight and directly under the bench. Tighten your core (a). This is the start. Now raise your torso so you form a straight line from legs to shoulders (b). Pause for 2 seconds, then return to the floor. That’s 1 rep; do 3 sets of 10 per leg.

bench abduction
Allie Holloway

RELATED: Apologies In Advance, This Leg Workout Will Destroy You

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