Womens_Health_USA_JulyAugust_2017

FITNESS BONUS
NEVER SKIP
LEG DAY
It’s not just an Instagram mantra—it’s the
unanimous conclusion of researchers and
trainers alike. Get in on the action.
By Marissa Gainsburg
If you think of your body as its own stock market, your lower
half is the safest bet for maximum returns. “The muscles
here—your glutes, hamstrings, quads, and calves—are the
largest, so collectively, they possess the most potential to
change your physique,” says Lee Boyce, a strength coach in
Toronto. Every time you engage all that muscle-fiber power at
once, you burn more calories per rep. And doing that regularly
is like adding lighter fuel to your body’s metabolic fire, helping
you torch more fat around the clock. In fact, “I’ve seen female
clients successfully lose a few inches off their waist and hips in
as little as six weeks by adding targeted lower-body weight
lifting to their weekly routine,” says Boyce.
There are literally dozens upon dozens of exercises
that’ll blast your legs, but the four you’ll meet here are
the most beneficial. Each emphasizes crucial
movement patterns for a lean yet powerful lower
body, and we’ve amped them up—either in the
form of resistance, stance, or elevation—to
better challenge the glutes for an increased
metabolic effect. At the risk of financespeak
overkill, add ’em to your portfolio
and watch the dividends roll in.
CHARLES LANGELLA/THELICENSINGPROJECT.COM
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