Legs Of Steel
Men's Health South Africa|April 2020
The MH ultimate series
Ebenezer Samuel
Legs Of Steel

Skipping leg day is real. And if you never 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. Leg workouts incinerate calories and push your central nervous system to release 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. Heck, you don’t even have to pick up a barbell. Certified strength and conditioning coach David Otey, has a one-hour lower-body blitz 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 pushups. On the other, do 4 sets of 10 barbell rows and 10 hammer curls. Rest all other days.

THE WARMUP

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 pushup position. Keeping your back flat, drive your left knee to your chest. Quickly return to start, then drive your right knee to your chest. That’s 1 rep; do 25.

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

This story is from the April 2020 edition of Men's Health South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 2020 edition of Men's Health South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MEN'S HEALTH SOUTH AFRICAView All
INSTANT PROGRESS THE 28-DAY PULLUP PLAN
Men's Health South Africa

INSTANT PROGRESS THE 28-DAY PULLUP PLAN

JUST 10 MINUTES A DAY FOR A MONTH CAN PUSH YOU FROM PULLUP ZERO TO YOUR FIRST GREAT REPS.

time-read
4 mins  |
January - February 2024
THE MH INTERVIEW STARTER MUSCLE
Men's Health South Africa

THE MH INTERVIEW STARTER MUSCLE

THE FIRST STEPS ON A NEW FITNESS JOURNEY ARE OFTEN THE TOUGHEST. BUT WITH A FEW TWEAKS TO YOUR THINKING, PT AND PART-OWNER OF MOTLEY CREW CROSSFIT TYRON HATCH WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO STRIDE TOWARDS THE LOFTIEST GOALS.

time-read
3 mins  |
January - February 2024
15 SMART WAYS TO GET AHEAD IN LIFE (BY DOING LITTLE THINGS BETTER)
Men's Health South Africa

15 SMART WAYS TO GET AHEAD IN LIFE (BY DOING LITTLE THINGS BETTER)

Self-improvement needn't be a slog. You can make gains-both marginal and meaningful-simply by approaching your day-to-day tasks with a little extra know-how. We raided the MH archives to compile these truly life-enhancing tips from our expert contributors. It's time to level up.

time-read
9 mins  |
January - February 2024
LOVE & LIKES
Men's Health South Africa

LOVE & LIKES

WHEN DOES SOCIAL-MEDIA FLIRTING BECOME CHEATING? LET’S TALK IT OUT.

time-read
5 mins  |
January - February 2024
FORCE OF NATURE
Men's Health South Africa

FORCE OF NATURE

THE SAS SOLDIER TURNED TV SURVIVALIST HAS MADE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE HIS BUSINESS. BUT WHAT LESSONS DO HIS METHODS HOLD IN OUR INCREASINGLY URBANISED AND ONLINE WORLD?

time-read
4 mins  |
January - February 2024
COLOGNE BUT WITH
Men's Health South Africa

COLOGNE BUT WITH

YOU BUY COLOGNE TO STAND OUT. SO WHY NOT REALLY STAND OUT? THESE BOLDER SPRITZES SMELL AWESOME AND LAST LONGER, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN USE LESS. OUR PICKS LEVEL UP IN INTENSITY AS YOU MOVE ALONG THE SPECTRUM.

time-read
1 min  |
January - February 2024
THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO RUNNING LAPS AROUND THE ECONOMY
Men's Health South Africa

THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO RUNNING LAPS AROUND THE ECONOMY

CATCHING UP WHEN INFLATION IS ALWAYS OUT TO SET A NEW PB CAN FEEL IMPOSSIBLE. PUT THESE 11 EXPERT-APPROVED LESSONS INTO ACTION TO DUCK AND WEAVE AROUND YOUR MONEY WOES

time-read
6 mins  |
January - February 2024
WHY 30-MINUTE WORKOUTS WILL WORK FOR YOU
Men's Health South Africa

WHY 30-MINUTE WORKOUTS WILL WORK FOR YOU

LESS IS MORE WHEN IT COMES TO EXERCISING FOR FITNESS, STRENGTH AND HEALTH.

time-read
10+ mins  |
January - February 2024
UNFREEZE YOUR MIND
Men's Health South Africa

UNFREEZE YOUR MIND

ALL MY LIFE, I THOUGHT I WAS A COWARD. THEN I DISCOVERED THAT THE REAL NAME FOR WHAT I'D BEEN FEELING WAS ANXIETY- AND I WAS IN GOOD COMPANY.

time-read
4 mins  |
January - February 2024
DARK PLACES
Men's Health South Africa

DARK PLACES

For any surfer, taking on the monster waves at Nazaré in Portugal is a death-defying risk. For Matt Formston, there's another consideration: he's blind.

time-read
10+ mins  |
January - February 2024