Wide Stance Squats
Stand up tall with a wide stance — one step out from shoulder-width — and hold a dumbbell, kettlebell or water jug in between your legs. Draw your shoulders back, maintain a flat back, and slowly squat down until your quads are parallel with the floor.
Use your core and a strong lower back to resist hunching forward. Powerfully contract your butt, press through your hamstrings and heels, and return back up to start. Your heels drive the pressure — NOT your toes. Complete 3 sets, 12 reps.
Use your core and a strong lower back to resist hunching forward. Powerfully contract your butt, press through your hamstrings and heels, and return back up to start. Your heels drive the pressure — NOT your toes. Complete 3 sets, 12 reps.
Suitcase Deadlift and Lateral Step-Up
Stand to the right of a step with a heavy dumbbell in your right hand and squat until the weight is at your shin. As you stand, step to the left to plant your left foot on the step, quickly followed by your right foot so that you're standing on the step. Return to start. That's one rep. Do five, then switch sides and repeat. Rest for 60 to 90 seconds, then repeat for a total of two sets.
Single leg squats
Works: All muscles below the waist, including core, quadriceps, hamstrings and gluteals.
Standing with your legs shoulder-width apart, extend your left leg straight out in front of you, making sure your muscles are tensed and foot’s flexed.
Extend your arms forward to counterbalance your body weight as you squat down with your right leg, pushing your body weight back as though you’re going to sit down into a chair and exhale as you lower down.
Keep your core engaged throughout to support your back. Inhale and return to the start position, repeating 10 times.
Swap legs and do 10 more reps. Rest for 30 seconds, then perform a second set.
Standing with your legs shoulder-width apart, extend your left leg straight out in front of you, making sure your muscles are tensed and foot’s flexed.
Extend your arms forward to counterbalance your body weight as you squat down with your right leg, pushing your body weight back as though you’re going to sit down into a chair and exhale as you lower down.
Keep your core engaged throughout to support your back. Inhale and return to the start position, repeating 10 times.
Swap legs and do 10 more reps. Rest for 30 seconds, then perform a second set.
Donkey Kickbacks
A killer move that will torch calories as it works your core.
Kneel on all fours, toes tucked under, keeping your back neutral. Draw your belly in toward your spine as you contract your abs and lift both knees about 2 inches off the ground.
Keeping abs engaged, bring right knee to nose (shown). Then kick right leg straight out behind you, squeezing your butt (shown); keep lower abs contracted and hips facing the ground to protect your back.
Repeat 8 times; switch legs and repeat.
Keeping abs engaged, bring right knee to nose (shown). Then kick right leg straight out behind you, squeezing your butt (shown); keep lower abs contracted and hips facing the ground to protect your back.
Repeat 8 times; switch legs and repeat.
Single Leg Deadlift
STEP 1: Grab two dumb bells, one barbell or a kettleball and start off standing with all your weight on your right leg.
STEP 2: Hold the weights down and in front of your legs and lift your left leg back at a 90-degree angle.
STEP 3: Then slowly hinge at your waist bringing the weights down towards your feet and your left foot back and towards the sky.
STEP 4: Keep your shoulders back and your back flat.
STEP 5: Slowly move back up to the starting position keeping your left leg off the ground until you have done all 20 reps. Then switch legs.
STEP 2: Hold the weights down and in front of your legs and lift your left leg back at a 90-degree angle.
STEP 3: Then slowly hinge at your waist bringing the weights down towards your feet and your left foot back and towards the sky.
STEP 4: Keep your shoulders back and your back flat.
STEP 5: Slowly move back up to the starting position keeping your left leg off the ground until you have done all 20 reps. Then switch legs.