Friday, January 9, 2009

Build your Leg Muscles, the No Squat Way

By Dave Vower

Building the muscles in the legs is hard work that is most often done in gyms. This muscle group is one of the fastest muscle groups to build up. A good workout for your leg muscles can give you good results in a relatively short period of time. There are many exercises that you can do to help build up your leg muscles. Walking, stair climbing and other exercises for the legs are sufficient to build up your leg muscles. We use our leg muscles all of the time and that is usually the reason that many people want to build up their legs.

However, the questions as to how can one build those massive leg muscles is still at hand. To answer such, leg muscles can be built best using the traditional squat exercises. This routine if done consistently and correctly can achieve great results. Dubbed as the lord of all types of exercises with regards to muscle building, the squat is a definite mainstay in leg exercises. Usually, it takes about a dozen repetitions of squatting with weights to reach the desired positive results.

On the contrary, many individuals who are planning on leg training are reluctant with the squat routine exercises because of the comfort aspect and the huge possibility of back strain. More people are beginning to use other leg movements to stimulate leg muscle growth. Movements like leg extensions, leg curls, standing calf raises and leg presses are now used as alternatives for the squat. However, it has been noticed that it will take a longer time for one to improve those leg muscles without dependence on the squat. Sometimes, the said alternative leg movements may require an extended period of time and intensity to achieve good outcomes. Nevertheless, these exercises are still very effective in strengthening or developing the legs.

This is the usual pattern for the alternative leg exercises: A. Each set will be done with 12 repetitions Leg extensions - 1 set then a minute of rest Leg Curl - 1 set then a minute of rest Standing Calf raises - 1 set then a minute of rest Leg Press - 1 set then 5 minutes rest B.

When you are planning to use the exercises for your leg muscles, follow a set plan of repetitions and sets to get the best possible results. The exercises that you should use are leg extensions, leg curls, leg presses and calf raises for a period of twelve repetitions and a minute of rest after each exercise. Take a five minute rest after the leg presses. Once you have completed a set of twelve repetitions each, move on to a set with ten repetitions each. After the set is completed with ten repetitions, move on to a set with eight repetitions for each exercise.

It is best if you follow the exercises and repetitions in the order that is described here. It is also very important that you follow the rest period exactly. You should never go past the eght repetitions when you are doing your leg exercises. Adjust the amount of weight that you are using to perform the exercises. The last set of exercises is the hardest that you will do in your leg muscle building routine.

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