How to pump up a girl's legs at home. How to pump up wide hips: exercises and tips How to pump up your outer thigh
Home workouts are just as effective as workouts in the gym. To pump up a girl’s legs at home, it is not necessary to have exercise equipment, a stepper, or use a barbell. Leg training at home can be done using only the weight of your body. Some exercises may require the use of a chair. The main thing is to have good motivation, and also to know which movements best work the gluteal, calf, internal and posterior thigh muscles, as well as quadriceps.
Well-developed legs are not only necessary for runners and athletes. Strong lower limbs make a person much more resilient in everyday life, and also give an athletically toned figure. If you spend enough time training your legs, after a short period of time you will notice how much easier it has become to climb stairs. Don't worry about your fitness level. Exercises to pump up the lower body are not difficult and can be performed even by those who have not previously devoted much time to sports and training.
Most movements do not require the use of weights or weights, but rather provide a good load from your own body. If we talk about home workouts, there are many exercises that do not require the purchase of any sports equipment or equipment. They allow you to increase your endurance when walking, and, therefore, get tired much less and achieve more in life. Another advantage is the ability to prepare yourself for serious stress both in the sports field and when performing ordinary everyday tasks.
Pumping up your legs at home is not only a doable task, but also incredibly useful. Exercises that load the lower limbs bring the muscles involved in everyday life into good tone. Squats, which imitate the movement made when a person sits on a chair, help not only strengthen the leg muscles, but also improve posture. Squat raises require pushing through your heels and squeezing your core. In other words, a person develops useful habits that are applicable not only during training, but also in everyday life.
Beautiful posture, correct seating, and the absence of rapid fatigue when walking are just some of the positive benefits of leg training. Simple exercises that do not require good physical preparation will be an excellent basis for moving on to more complex training with the addition of weights. Well-developed leg muscles are of paramount importance for many complex weight-bearing exercises. Another advantage of movements without the use of additional sports equipment is that they allow you to hone the execution technique to the point of automaticity, but at the same time pump up your lower limbs.
If you have never performed lunges and squats before, then immediately doing such exercises with weights is strongly not recommended. This will lead to difficulties in mastering the technique, since most of the effort will be aimed at holding the weights. There is little benefit from such training. Home basic training for pumping up your legs helps you hone literally every movement in a familiar environment, become the owner of strong and developed lower limbs, and prepare for more intense exercise. The last point is a pleasant bonus for those who have seriously decided to make their figure more athletic and toned.
The best exercises for training legs at home
There are many effective and powerful movements, the technique of which is quite simple to master. They do not require serious physical training or the use of special sports equipment and exercise machines. For girls who do not want to stop there, this complex will help them become stronger and more resilient in order to move on to a new, more complex training involving weights.
Performance:
- They stand up straight. Feet are shoulder-width apart. Transferring your own body weight to your heels, point your toes slightly to the sides.
- The body is slightly tilted forward. The pelvis is pulled back and lowered into a squat position. Your thighs should be parallel to the floor when bending your knees.
- To return to the starting position, push off your heels from the floor surface and straighten your body.
- When lifting, make sure that your core muscles are tense and your buttocks are tight.
Performance:
- Take the starting position, standing straight, with your feet approximately shoulder-width apart.
- Step back with your left or right foot, placing it on your toe. Both knees are bent at right angles.
- They push off with the heel of a stable leg, that is, the one that is not pulled back, and return to the starting stance.
- When rising, the knee of the back leg is pulled towards the chest.
Repeat all movements on the second leg.
Performance:
- Take the starting position for the squat, but point your toes out to the sides, and place your hands either on your hips or hold them at chest level (in front of you).
- Squat until your thighs and floor are parallel to each other.
- Remain in a squat, lift both heels off the floor and stay in this position for a couple of seconds.
- Drop your heels.
Performance:
- In a standing position, spread your feet slightly wider than your hips.
- Leaning forward, the pelvis is pulled back a little, lowered in a squat, bending the knees until a parallel is formed between the thighs and the floor.
- Jump up, straightening their legs. To make the highest possible jump, the arms are lowered along the body. The back is kept straight and the chest is slightly raised.
- Land on your knees and immediately do another squat.
Performance:
- Take a chair or a box. Stand facing the selected item. Hands are held along the body or on the belt.
- Touch the bench (box) with the toe of the left foot, and then the right. The shift should take place alternately and fairly quickly.
- Make sure that the chest rises and the back remains straight.
Performance:
- Stand up straight. Feet are hip-width apart.
- Step widely to the right side, bending the knee and moving the pelvis back. The left leg is kept straight.
- When doing a side lunge, make sure that the core muscles are tightened and the chest remains raised.
Repeat on the left leg.
Performance:
- In the starting position, the feet are placed directly hip-width apart.
- Raise the knee to hip level. Hands are held either behind the head or on the belt. You need to choose the option that allows you to better maintain balance.
- Toes point forward. The core muscles are tense. The heel of the standing leg is lifted off the floor, balancing only on the toe. They try to rise as high as possible.
- Remain in the accepted position for three seconds and lower the raised heel to the floor.
Repeat the same procedure on the other side.
Performance:
- Standing, place your feet at hip level.
- Step back with your right leg so that it is behind your left leg, that is, diagonally, bending your knees and lowering into a lunge.
- Push off with the heel of your right foot and pull yourself up. Return to the starting position.
Repeat similar movements, but on the left leg.
Performance:
- Stand up straight. Feet are brought together.
- They tear off the left leg a couple of centimeters and pull it forward, and pull the toe towards themselves.
- Bend your right knee, lean your body forward and squat, while raising your left leg to hip level. The arms are extended forward to maintain balance.
- A more complicated variation of the exercise involves bending the knee to a right angle. It is not always possible to do this the first time.
- Push off with the right heel, straighten the leg and return to the starting position.
Repeat the exercise on the other leg.
They lie on their side. Straight legs are placed one on top of the other. The body rests on the forearm or is completely lowered. The exercise is best done on a mat.
Performance:
- The upper leg is slowly raised up.
- The movement should be carried out by the force of the gluteal and thigh muscles, and not by the lower back.
- Return to the starting position.
The movement is repeated on the other leg.
Performance:
- They lie on their side. The legs are laid one on top of the other. The body is either on the floor or rests on the forearm.
- The leg lying on top is bent at the knee and placed crosswise in front of the lower leg. The foot of the forward leg should be at the level of the lower knee.
- Raise the lower leg. Constantly monitor the preservation of body immobility throughout the entire exercise.
- They lower their leg.
Repeat the same procedure, but on the other side.
Performance:
- Lie on your back. The legs are bent at the knee. Feet on the floor.
- The right leg is straightened and raised up. The thighs are parallel to each other. The sock reaches towards the ceiling.
- Push off the floor with your heel, lifting your hips by contracting your buttocks. It is necessary to ensure that the shoulders and knee form an even diagonal.
- Maintain the accepted position for one or two seconds and lower.
Repeat the movement on the second leg.
Performance:
- Lie on your back, bend your knees, feet pressed to the floor. The right leg is raised up, connecting the thighs together, and straightened, with the shadow towards the ceiling.
- Lower the right leg over the side to the right. You must try to lower it as low as possible. At the same time, the hips should remain motionless, and the lower back should be pressed to the floor.
- The leg is returned to its original position.
Repeat the same procedure for the other leg.
The program presented above is not the only one. Another complex consisting of ten exercises allows you to diversify your home workouts.
Instructions for performing the complex
Start your workout with a warm-up. This is true both for those who work out in the gym and for girls who prefer home workouts. Before each lesson, be sure to warm up the muscles and joints well, which has a positive effect on the lessons and protects against injury.
After the warm-up, proceed to the exercises:
- “Run” with knees raised for 60 seconds. You should try to raise your knees to waist level, and then slowly lower them onto your toes.
- Cross lunges are done for 30 and 30 seconds. Transfer the weight to the right foot, take a wide step back with the left foot and place it behind the right foot. The knee is bent so that the right thigh is parallel to the floor and returned to the starting position. Your toes should point in the same direction as your knees.
- Do side leg raises for half a minute and another half a minute.. Lie on your side, place your upper leg forward so that it crosses your lower leg. The toes of the lower leg pull towards you, lower and raise the leg for 30 seconds, and then change sides.
- Jack squats do 45 seconds. Feet apart, knees bent, pelvis pulled back. They push off the floor with their heels, jump and return to the starting position.
- Bear squats are also performed in sets of 45 seconds.. Get on all fours, straighten your legs, raise your pelvis and return to the starting position.
- Split squats (Bulgarian). Do 30 seconds on each side. Use either a bench or a step platform. The projectile is placed behind. Place your foot on the bench, bend your knee and lower your pelvis until a parallel is formed between the floor and your left thigh. Return to the starting position and repeat on the other leg.
- Skaters. Do it for 45 seconds. Bend forward, but do not bend in the back, moving the left foot back and the left arm forward. Jump to the left, bringing the right arm forward, moving the right leg back.
- Plie squat with calf raises. Completed within 45 seconds. The feet are spread as wide as possible. Socks point to the sides. Hips parallel to the floor. The heels are lifted off the floor, pinching the calf muscles. They lower themselves onto their feet and rise again.
- . Do 30 seconds on each side. They lie down. stretching your arms along your body. The knees are bent, the feet are pressed to the floor. One leg is lifted and the pelvis is pulled up as far as possible. They lower themselves and change legs.
- Wall Squat. Do this for 45 seconds. The back is pressed against the wall. Knees bent. The accepted position is held for exactly 45 seconds.
Important! Each exercise is done three times, with a pause of a minute between approaches.
How to pump up a girl’s hips, buttocks, butt, legs at home
Fitness for girls and women is the best and most effective way (method) to change your personality! Many girls and women come to this after time and desire to start their training; every girl and woman, within her psychological beliefs, creates the motivation for herself to start doing fitness at home or in the gym; if there is motivation to exercise and a desire to change herself, then every girl and the woman is ready to move mountains to start her effective training.
How to pump up a girl’s hips, buttocks, butt, legs at home
Why do girls and women start doing fitness? The answer to this question can only be understood by talking personally with the girl and finding out the reasons why she started her exercises at home in order to change her shape and proportions of muscles that do not seem too ideal to her to please herself and others.
It is known that every girl and woman wants to change her figure and...
- Pump up your six-pack abs.
- Remove the belly and sides so that the belly does not hang.
- Pump up your buttocks and thighs and make them sculpted.
- Pump up your arms, biceps, triceps, and moderately your shoulders so that they don’t become wide like men’s.
- Slim your waist so you can easily put on clothes that will flatter your figure.
- Remove fat from the back in the area of the shoulder blades and lower back.
- Make your arms sculpted and toned so that the muscles are visible.
The main problems of girls and women who are actively starting to engage in fitness is excess weight, which has accumulated over time and is deposited in the legs, arms, back, and abdomen; if the total body weight grows, this means that fat is deposited in all parts of the body.
When there is excess weight, every girl and woman wants to get rid of it once and for all in order to reach the maximum comfortable percentage of fat in the body so that the muscles are toned and sculpted, for this they begin their training at home or in the gym, as convenient as possible based on their capabilities and goals . Every girl and woman who begins her training has her own problem areas.
Main problem areas for girls and women
Waist - every girl, starting her first workouts, wants a thin waist and a toned stomach with sculpted abdominal muscles, but the sides and excess fat in the abdominal area prevent the girl from choosing beautiful clothes to look attractive and sexy, so when starting their workouts, girls immediately begin to get rid of problem areas, motivating myself if I constantly do abdominal exercises, then the excess fat and flanks in the abdominal area will quickly and immediately go away. It’s a mistake for girls to do only one exercise on the abdominal and flank muscles!
One of the serious mistakes of girls who start their training is to do only a few exercises for muscle groups where there are problem areas! photo
A professional approach to training is to perform exercises for all muscle groups, only then can you quickly and effectively remove volumes in the waist and abdomen! By training all muscle groups for training, and not just one muscle group, you will burn more calories, so you can quickly, and you will also be able to remove excess volume and excess weight in the back and lower back.
A woman's girl has a big belly
Belly – having a lot of excess weight, there is always a belly that hangs, the reasons for a saggy belly are sedentary work and an incorrect lifestyle! Poor nutrition and eating large portions of a lot of different foods, without measuring how much fat, protein and carbohydrates the food contains.
Improper nutrition causes excess subcutaneous fat in the body, after which one’s own weight begins to increase and subcutaneous fat is deposited throughout the body and the figure begins to gain extra pounds in the arms, legs, abdomen, back, improper nutrition leads to the fact that a person begins to gain kilograms of excess weight One of the reasons for this is sedentary work, in which if you do not engage in fitness and exercise at home or in the gym, a person becomes fat and along with this, health and heart problems appear!
Fat feet
Excess fat in the body always creates big problems associated with the legs; many people have varicose veins, mesh on the legs, as well as stretch marks on the legs in the buttocks area, and to remove them you need the intervention of medicine and doctors who do the correction with injections and others methods methods that are expensive.
Back - excess weight in girls and women is not only deposited in the abdomen and sides, also excess weight and fat is deposited on the back, mostly girls and women have this problem; in men, excess excess weight is deposited mainly in the abdomen and legs! Photo
How to pump up a girl’s hips, buttocks, butt, legs at home
Exercises for training leg muscles for girls that can be performed at home, as well as in the gym. The best simple effective exercises without dumbbells and barbells for home training.
Lunges in place
Sumo squats
Jumping lunges
Lateral lunges to the side
Pulling the leg back while resting on the knees
Lifting the pelvis while lying up
Classic squats
Lifting the pelvis while lying up on one leg
Training program to pump up your thighs, buttocks, butt
Before you start your fitness training at home, you need to understand that in order for the training to be effective, you need to do at least a week 2-3 times a month 10-12 times so that the parameters and proportions of the figure change; for this you need a full-fledged tinting program, a set of exercises consisting not only of , thighs, buttocks - butt to lose weight or gain muscle mass.
How many exercises to do per workout at home
If you train at home, then the optimal number of exercises per workout should be at least 5 - 10 exercises for all muscle groups, for each muscle group you need to do from 2 to 4 exercises for effective muscle training; if you do one exercise for one muscle group, then your muscles will not feel the load In order for there to be muscle growth, if you want to lose weight, then the minimum in your set of exercises in your training program should be 3 exercises in order to burn as many calories as possible during the workout.
How many reps to do when training at home?
If a girl does fitness at home, then the main goal of such training is to lose weight and remove excess weight in problem areas, so to lose weight you need to perform at least 15 repetitions in one approach, a maximum of 50 repetitions depending on the muscle group you are training! If this is a press, then it is durable, so you can do 50 repetitions on the abs and 50 repetitions on the legs and buttocks. You can also perform up to 50 repetitions both in full amplitude and half amplitude.
Training program for girls to pump up their thighs
Training program for girls to pump up their buttocks
(for a week, a month) example of a training program 2 workouts per week only on legs without dumbbells and barbells.
Muscles that are trained in the training program - a set of leg exercises
- Gluteus maximus
- Anterior thigh - quadriceps
- Back of the thigh - biceps femoris
- Thigh adductors – inner thigh
Monday
1/3 week
- Lunges in place
- Sumo squats
- One leg pelvic lift
Thursday
- Warm up 200 – 300 times on a jump rope
- Classic squats
- Sumo squats
- One leg pelvic lift
- Stretching the leg muscles after exercise
2 / 4 week
Monday
- Warm up 200 – 300 times on a jump rope
- Jumping Lunges
- Side lunges
- Taking the leg to the side while resting on the knees
- Stretching the leg muscles after exercise
Thursday
- Warm up 200 – 300 times on a jump rope
- Taking the leg to the buttock to the side
- Lifting the pelvis while lying up on one leg
- Lateral lunges to the side
- Stretching the leg muscles after exercise
An adherent of physical inactivity cannot bear the very thought of walking, jogging or climbing the stairs to the top floor. There is only one way out of this disastrous state - to pump up your leg muscles. It is very easy to organize such charging at home.
The hips, legs, and feet bear a large load, which consists of body weight, efforts when moving, standing, and carrying heavy objects. The higher the excess weight, the greater the pressure and the risk of displacement in the joints of the legs and arches of the feet. Progressive curvatures, multiplied by age-related arthritic diseases, can immobilize and place a person in a wheelchair.
“Strengthening your legs at home” is a program for strengthening muscles, which consists of regularity, proper distribution and a gradual increase in physical effort. The schedule is based on 3-4 workouts per week, which are carried out 1-1.5 hours after meals.
Leg exercises at home
Self-training helps correct figure flaws. A man's torso with excellent relief, resting on thin, limp legs, looks ridiculous. A woman with a well-groomed appearance, in a beautiful tight-fitting dress, simply does not have the right to show saggy buttocks, flabby contours of the hips, or a heavy gait.
What settings should you start with:
- choose the appropriate duration, pace of classes, load;
- work all muscles sequentially;
- increase the load evenly by adding the number of repetitions, approaches, and later weights;
- be sure to do a warm-up (10 minutes) to warm up the leg, heart, and respiratory muscles;
- end the workout with deep breathing exercises, restoring the normal functioning of the lungs and heart.
Squats for legs and buttocks
The exercise allows you to work the gluteal muscles, medial (middle) and inner thigh muscles.
Squats are the simplest and most effective exercises at home in the “pump up your legs and buttocks” program.
Starting position– feet shoulder-width apart, turned outward by 35°, resting on the floor with their entire surface; back straight, abs tense; arms extended forward.
Squat technique:
- As you lower yourself down while inhaling, lean forward a little with your back straight.
- At the lowest point, keep your knees above your feet, resting on your heels and holding for 1-2 seconds.
- Exhale and rise up without bending your knees.
Repeat until you feel a burning sensation in your legs.
Side lunges
The exercise uses the thigh, gluteal, and calves muscles. The abs and lower back are involved. The breeches zone is corrected.
Initial stance – the back is straight, the abs tucked in, hands on the belt, feet apart, slightly turned to the sides.
Technique:
- Inhaling, gently take a step to the left, moving the center of gravity there. Move your straight back slightly forward.
- Squat down to a right angle at the knee, right leg straight.
- Exhaling, straighten your knee. Push off slightly and return to a straight stance.
Repeat everything to the right.
Cross lunges
The stance is the same as for side lunges.
Technique:
- As you inhale, step your right foot back, bringing it behind your left as if in a curtsey.
- The knee of the back leg drops slightly short of the floor. Support on the toe, which together with the knee joint looks straight. At the lowest point, tension on the gluteal surface is felt. The knee of the front leg is bent, does not extend beyond the line of the toes and is turned outward along with them. The front heel keeps the body from falling over.
- As you exhale, rise up. Perform a series of lunges from the same position, or changing legs.
Mahi
High-amplitude lifts strengthen muscles, hip joints, and break down cellulite. Swings forward, backward, and to the side are performed in separate series or in combination. First, they hold onto a support or sit on the floor.
For standing swings, you need your head, back, and legs to be on the same vertical line. Each rise is accompanied by an exhalation. Pulling your fingers towards you increases muscle stretching. The back does not bend, the body does not deviate. The lifting height increases gradually.
Swings on the floor are done in 2 ways from one position - emphasis on the knees and elbows. From head to buttocks - a horizontal line.
Technique:
- Bring your working leg back onto your toes. Raise it straight or bent, pointing the heel up. Before subsequent swings, do not lower it to the floor. There is no need to raise your head or bend your lower back.
- Without straightening, move your working leg to the side. As you exhale, swing your knee forward. As you inhale, take your leg back, straightening it slightly. Put force into moving the knee forward. Do not tilt the body to the side.
Jumping rope
In adulthood, skipping puts a lot of stress on the heart, so you should start with 1 minute. jumping, inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth. Increase the duration of skipping when breathing becomes confidently rhythmic and heart rate is kept within 120.
How to do it:
- Exercise with a skipping rope in 3-4 approaches for 7-10 minutes.
- During jumps, the elbows are pressed to the body, the back is straight.
- The rotation of the rope is created only by the hands.
- It is easier to practice while listening to rhythmic music, replacing bouncing with both legs with left-right jumps or moving forward.
Gluteal bridge
Lying face up on the mat, place your bent legs on the floor. Raise 1 leg strictly vertically, rest the heel of the other on the floor. Using the force of the gluteal muscles, lift the body up to the shoulders. After a delay of 2-4 seconds, gently lower. Repeat the same in mirror image.
Variants, technique for performing the “gluteal bridge” exercise:
Exercises with dumbbells
“Pumping up your legs at home with weights” is a section of the program that involves the use of sports or homemade equipment.
These are the following devices:
- dumbbells;
- small discs from the bar;
- metal balls;
- plastic bottles with water or sand.
Weights are used when the following exercises become easy to perform:
Calf exercises
Regular exercise will make your legs not only strong and resilient, but also more beautiful due to symmetrically convex calf muscles. Girls shouldn't pump them too much.
Exercises:
Calf raise
These exercises tighten the core muscles (abdomen, back, buttocks, hips), which provide stability to the spine.
Performing exercises:
Exercises while lying on the floor
For horizontal training, you will need a thin rolled or thick mat made up of “puzzle” segments.
Exercise technique:
How to build calf muscles without squats
One of the most effective workouts - squats - is not available to everyone due to existing injuries, hemorrhoids, and heavy weight.
You can strengthen your shins in other ways:
- walking up and down slopes, stairs, including stepping up one step at a time, using weights in the form of 2 bags or a backpack;
- cycling routes;
- swimming with emphasis on the legs.
In the “boat” exercise, not only the calf muscles, but the whole body actively work. Lying on your stomach, stretch and raise your arms and legs. After 2-3 seconds of tension, relax. Alternatively, you can swing longitudinally on your stomach.
Sets of exercises for different muscle groups of the legs
At home, if necessary, you can selectively pump your legs in order, for example, to correct the contour in their problem areas.
For the vastus anterior muscles (quadriceps)
Sit on a stool, a hard chair. Raise the toes of your flattened legs and place a heavy backpack and barbell on them. Grasping your hands on the sides of the seat, raise the lower part of your limbs to a straight line with your knees.
Don't fall back, don't jerk. At first, 10 lifts in 3 approaches with intervals depending on how you feel is enough.
For the back of the thighs, calves
Lie on your stomach with your legs hanging from your knees. Place the weight closer to your feet. Lift it by bending your knees. Perform the same number of times as in the previous exercise.
For the lateral thighs
Lying sideways on the mat, straighten your legs, toes pointing towards you, hand under your head. Bring your leg up so far that the second leg can join it. Lower the limbs one after another.
Burpees for the buttocks, front and back muscles of the legs
The following are executed sequentially, without stopping:
- deep squat;
- bar;
- push-ups;
- deep squat
- jumping up.
Climber variations for all muscles.
Lesson plan for the week
“Strengthening your legs at home” may seem like a monotonous program. But it is not at all necessary to do the same movements every time. It is necessary to distribute them into 3-4 groups according to training days, select stimulating music, and involve family members and friends in the training.
An example of grouping exercises during the week:
Day of the week | Movement | Number of repetitions |
Monday | Warm up joints from neck to ankles | 10 rubles each |
Jumping – legs to the sides, clapping hands above head | 30 s. | |
Running without moving | ||
Skipping | 100 rub. | |
Regular squats | 20 rub. x 3 approaches | |
Bridge for the buttocks | 10 rubles each x 3 | |
boat | ||
Simple plank | 30 s x 3 | |
Final leg stretch | 30 s each | |
Tuesday | Warm-up | 10 rubles each |
Squats | 15 rub. x 6 | |
Squats | 20 s., 10 s. – rest, total – 3 min. | |
Burpee | 10 rub. x 3 | |
Jump Squat | ||
Stretching | 30 s each | |
Thursday | Warm-up | 10 rubles each |
Running without moving | 30 s. | |
Skipping | 100 rub. | |
Jumping onto the step straight, sideways; quickly touching the edge of the step with the toes of each foot | 7-10 min. | |
Lunges | 10 rubles each x 3 | |
Raising the buttocks with hands supporting the back on the bench | 10 rub. x 3 | |
boat | ||
Planks: regular, side | 30 s each | |
Stretching | ||
Friday | Warm-up | 10 rubles each |
Jump Squat | 10 rub. x 6 | |
Plank | 30 s. after 30 s. rest, 6 approaches in total | |
Burpee Climber Variations | 30 s each after 30 s. rest, first do 2 cycles until the end | |
Stretching | 30 s each |
- Training should take place in a well-ventilated room, since fat burning, active heart function, and lungs need oxygen;
- It is important to correctly assess the adequacy of the load - not to spare effort, but also not to bring yourself to overwork;
- To a large extent, the success of training depends on a balanced diet of proteins, carbohydrates, fats. During exercise, you should periodically drink good quality water.
Beautiful posture, muscular strong legs, easy gait, endurance - all this can be obtained at home if you take a break from the TV, computer, beer and start pumping up your muscles regularly.
Article format: Svetlana Ovsyanikova
Video on the topic: pumping your legs at home
Effective exercises for pumping up leg muscles at home:
Getting big thighs is sometimes very difficult, but if you succeed, they will be a serious plus in your favor at a bodybuilding competition. Let's look at this muscle complex a little more closely and get ready to put some meat on your thighs!
Let's build strong thighs!
Uniform muscle development. This term is used everywhere in the bodybuilding world. Those who have it can become champions. Those who don't have it must contend with constant failure in the eyes of judges, family and friends.
Thigh biceps. You can't see them, no one ever tells you to squeeze or flex them, so why put so much time and effort into developing these muscles? For what? Because on stage during the competition, details are important. They determine who will receive the champion title and who will leave with nothing.
Earlier in this series of articles I talked about. Now it's time to move on to their "favorite relative" - the hamstrings. Any bodybuilder's goal with their hamstrings is to build up the muscles so they can be proudly displayed from multiple angles on stage—especially from the back and sides.
A little anatomy
The hamstrings are a group of three major muscles on the back of the thigh. Let's look at these muscles and their functions.
The biceps femoris (located along the outside of the thigh), semitendinosus (located in the middle) and semimembranosus (located towards the inner thigh) originate under the gluteus maximus on the pelvic bone and attach to the tibia of the leg. The hamstrings are responsible for knee flexion (pulling the heel toward the buttocks), hip extension (pulling the leg back), and slowing the movement of the lower leg.
In terms of function, it is very easy to understand the importance of developing the biceps femoris muscles, since the work of other muscles depends on them. For example, the hamstrings play an important role when performing squats, hack squats, front squats, leg presses, or lunges. Even muscle development (balance) is not only a visual aspect that will be assessed on stage, it is of great importance when training the entire lower body. Without properly trained hamstrings, you will not be able to perform properly.
Building strong thighs
Now that you know about anatomy and movement mechanisms, let's figure out how to get impressively developed thighs. The movements and exercises presented are designed to get maximum results every time you visit the gym. Remember to always use proper technique and not lift too much weight to risk your safety.
Leg bends in a lying and sitting position
The lying leg curl machine is a standard but very effective way to isolate the hamstrings, especially the lower portions. Simply adjust the roller so that it rests on the back of the Achilles tendon. The knees must be aligned with the axis of the machine to perform the exercise correctly.
Place your feet approximately shoulder-width apart on the bolster. Then bend your legs until the roller (almost) touches the back of your thighs or buttocks. Controlling the movement, return to the starting position by straightening your legs, but do not suddenly release the weight.
When performing seated leg curls, your body should be positioned approximately the same. Adjust the bolster as above and position the seat so that your knees are aligned with the axis of the machine. Fix the upper roller well at your hips so that you sit motionless in the machine.
Perform the exercise by bending your legs until you feel a strong muscle contraction. Control all movements! Avoid partial movements and make sure you use moderate weights to ensure full range of motion is achieved.
Advice: Try changing the position of your feet/legs on the roller to target different parts of your hamstrings. For example: perform a set with a wide stance, the next with your feet shoulder-width apart, and the last with your feet together. This way you can ensure that every part of the biceps is working and the muscles are developing evenly.
Leg curls (one at a time) while standing
Similar to the sitting and lying leg curls, the standing leg curl machine allows you to isolate one leg. These "one-sided" workouts cause the muscles to contract more with each repetition.
Simply stand in the machine (most will require you to have one foot on your knee on a pad and the other on an ankle pad), bend your working leg through a full range of motion, and squeeze your hamstrings hard.
You can easily rotate your lower body to do a couple more reps, but try not to do this. Not only will you not develop the muscles properly, but you may also risk injury in the lower back/torso area.
Return the load to its original position, without releasing it completely, however. Make sure you maintain a constant load on the muscles you are working.
Advice: When performing a unilateral exercise such as a standing single leg curl, try to alternate legs without rest periods. When one leg works, the other one rests, so there is no need for breaks after each approach. A few seconds are fine, but try to avoid full periods of rest. Your biceps muscles will thank you later!
Romanian deadlift and stiff legged deadlift
In the world of weight training, questions often arise about the differences between the Romanian deadlift and the stiff-legged deadlift. First of all, the Romanian deadlift is performed with slightly bent knees and the load pointing straight down. This exercise mainly targets the development of the hamstrings and gluteal muscles.
The second type of deadlift is performed with almost straight legs (some straighten them completely) and with a slightly rounded lower back. This exercise works the hamstrings and lower back muscles. Both exercises help develop the biceps femoris muscles. Unlike leg curl machines, Romanian deadlifts and stiff legged deadlifts work the glutes and upper hamstrings more.
To perform the Romanian deadlift, place a barbell in front of you and place your feet shoulder-width apart. Grasp the barbell at a shoulder-width distance and lift it up to the starting position (the barbell should be pressed against your hips).
Bend your knees slightly and fix your body in this position (your legs should remain half-bent throughout the entire exercise). Bend at the hips rather than at the back, lower the bar to about mid-calf and feel the stretch in your thigh muscles.
Without jerking, reverse direction and lift the barbell up to the level of your upper thighs without fully straightening, this will keep the load on your biceps muscles. Remember that you need to bend at the hip joints, your back should remain as straight as possible (it will seem to you that you are pushing your pelvis far back). To begin with, use a small weight to master the technique of the exercise, then you can increase the load.
To perform the straight-legged deadlift, position your legs and arms as for the Romanian deadlift. This time, straighten your knees completely (or almost completely) and lower the barbell down, rounding your back slightly. Don't round your back too much with heavy weights! This will result in injury.
As you move down, keep the bar near your feet. You'll find that you can take it lower with this technique, so use light to moderate weights and do this exercise slowly and with control.
So what should you choose? Romanian deadlift or stiff legged deadlift? It is better for beginners to work with the first one, and experienced athletes can do the second one every third or fourth workout to diversify the program a little.
Advice: Alternatively, you can use dumbbells instead of a barbell. When working with dumbbells, you can slightly change the technique of performing the exercise and they are convenient to use in a crowded gym when the barbell is occupied. Try both options and see which one suits you best.
Body lifts using the gluteal and hamstring muscles
An old exercise that has recently regained popularity is glute and hamstring raises. To perform it, the thigh muscles must be very strong, so few athletes can do it correctly right away.
Position yourself on a hyperextension bench with your heels under the foot bolsters and your knees on the thigh pad. During this exercise, the body should bend at the knee joints - you should look as if you were kneeling on a bench.
Starting at the top, slowly lower your upper body (bending only at the knees) until you are parallel to the floor. In this position, your body should form a straight line. Then change the direction of movement, squeezing the muscles, and return the body to an upright position.
Advice: This is a very difficult exercise, so you will likely only be able to complete a few repetitions. You can use a small bar to help you get upright.
Just take a small bar and place one end of it on the floor - it should be perpendicular to the floor. Use a crossbar that resembles a trekking pole. Leaning on it, lift your body to a vertical position. Once you've mastered the exercise technique and gained enough strength, you can give up the support and start doing it full time!
Advice: You can also make the exercise easier by using a hyperextension bench that is set at an angle of about 45 degrees. This will allow you to perform more repetitions and improve your technique.
Leg press
The name speaks for itself. After exhausting your hamstrings with isolation exercises, leg presses with your feet on a plate can be a great way to pump them up. Make sure the plate is set high enough so that you can feel the muscle stretch at the lowest point.
Advice: Try doing the exercise with your legs wide apart and together to engage all parts of your hamstrings.
Lunge
Lunges are traditionally used as a finishing exercise when training the quadriceps, but are also great for developing the area between the quadriceps and hamstrings. Lunges not only engage and stretch the quadriceps, but also challenge the biceps.
A slender body is not only toned legs and six-pack abs. This concept also includes beautiful thighs and buttocks, which always come into the spotlight in the summer. Many girls sometimes forget that this part of the body also needs to be taken care of, because it plays an important role in their appearance.
Fortunately, there are many simple ways to improve your hips without much difficulty or special equipment. To tell the truth, this is all possible even at home. But first, let's talk about what we are actually going to fight.
The buttocks are easily amenable to physical changes because they consist mainly of muscles, most likely three large muscles - the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and piriformis - each of which is actively worked when walking and during exercise. If a person begins to lead, moves little and eats poorly, all this immediately affects the hips in the form of fat deposits and the appearance of cellulite. As a result, women may experience loose skin and unattractive, saggy buttocks.
How to get your buttocks in shape?
In order for your butt to look the way we often see on female models in photos or advertisements, you will have to work hard on yourself. But the result is worth it, isn't it?
Squat. No matter how banal this exercise may seem, it occupies one of the leading places in the fight for beautiful hips. Fitness instructors and gym trainers advise doing it this way: stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and squat a little more than 90 degrees, but do it so that your heels remain on the floor. Moreover, it is important that at this moment the position is comfortable, that is, stable in any position. Sometimes it is enough to slightly change the width at which the legs are placed, and the optimal solution will be immediately found. So it is not at all necessary to squat all the way to the floor. You can start with 15 repetitions, and then increase the number of repetitions.
Swing your legs. Regular leg swings are also considered no less effective. In order to perform them, it is enough to stand at a table or wall, lean one hand on a support and begin to swing one leg to the side forward and backward. It is best to start by performing this exercise 10 times in three approaches, changing legs. Movements should not be sudden. The same can be done if you raise your legs alternately up and down, turning sideways to the table.
Throwing your legs back. The starting position in this case is on all fours, hands resting on the elbows. First, lift one leg up without straightening the knee. In this case, the foot should take a parallel position in relation to the ceiling. To improve the effect, you can try holding simple dumbbells under your knees, but this can only be done after the body adapts to the new loads. In terms of the number of repetitions, you should start with 15 times (for each leg).
Lunges forward. Perhaps every person is familiar with such a simple exercise. First you need to stand up straight, put your hands on your sides. Then throw one leg forward and transfer your body weight to it, staying in this position for a couple of seconds. Then return to your previous position and throw your other leg forward. To begin with, you can do 15 times on each leg in one approach, and then gradually increase this number.
Lifting the body. This exercise is aimed not only at strengthening the muscles of the thighs and buttocks, it perfectly supports the tone of the back and abdomen, and also has a good effect on the condition of the upper legs. From all this we can say that raising the body will be useful in any case. So, first you need to lie on the floor, put your hands at your sides, bend your legs at the knees. Then raise your body so that your buttocks come off the floor and your stomach is in line with your chest and knees. Repeat this movement 10 times in one set of three.
In addition to all the exercises described above, there are many other ways to improve the shape of your buttocks. This includes: swimming, dancing, active walking, climbing mountains and much more. But the main thing to remember is that in any training, the speed at which the exercises are performed or the number of repetitions is not as important as how well a particular movement was performed. Therefore, when starting to do something, make sure that each time you feel the tension in your hips, and also breathe correctly (for example, when lifting, exhale, when lowering to the starting position, inhale).
If you perform all of the five exercises described above at least three times a week, then within a couple of months your buttocks will begin to noticeably change for the better. Therefore, when planning sports activities, keep in mind that you need to do them regularly and not be too quick to judge the noticeable results.