7 More Leg-Toning Tips

You want strong, muscular legs, but you have to be willing to work for it. There are few people who are truly willing to commit to a program that will give them the toned legs they desire, but if you are one of the few instead of one of the many, there are steps you can take to accelerate your gains. In our last blog, we began going over some tips on how to tone up your legs, and in this blog, we will continue our list.

Buy a Pedometer

Toned legs don’t just happen on leg day; it is also a goal that you can work on in your daily life. A great way to do this is by investing in a pedometer or fitness tracker like a FitBit and committing to make 10,000 steps a day. Results happen more quickly when you adapt your daily life to your goals, so add more movement into your everyday life to see more leg gains.

Use Sprints in Your Cardio Workout

Sprints are great to incorporate into your workout if you want to tone your legs. Sprints are intervals, which boost metabolism, burning more calories faster. Try incorporating sprints into your cardio. For example, you could hop on your treadmill from Fitness Specialist for a quick 30 minute session, and make a point to run as quickly as possible for 15 seconds three times during your session.

Care For Your Knees

During your leg workout, your knees are at greatest risk for injury. These sensitive joints can put a real damper on your fitness goals if you injure them. Therefore, it is in your best interest to prioritize maintaining the right form throughout your leg workouts. Also make sure that if you go running, you are using the proper technique, as running improperly can have an impact on your knees.

Stand Up

If you work an office job, you probably spend most of your day sitting. This is extremely detrimental to your leg gains, so it is in your best interest to make a point to stand throughout the day. If you can, invest in a standing desk. If not, set a timer so you get up and walk around every hour.

Don’t Use Ankle Weights

If you are thinking about using ankle weights during your cardio workouts to spend your leg-toning endeavors, think again. Ankle weights cause stress to your joints, ligaments, and can even throw off the balance of your muscles. The risks of ankle weights outweigh the potential benefits of using them, so it is best to do strength training separate from cardio. If you are determined to add weight to your cardio, use a weighted vest rather than ankle weights. Weighted vests more evenly distribute the weight, allowing your body to more easily support it.

Invest in a Foam Roller

Before your workout, it is crucial that you give your muscles some TLC. The tighter your muscles are, the harder it is for them to move, which makes your workouts less effective. However, if you use a foam roller on your muscles before you work out, you can warm up your muscles so you can make the most of your workout. Foam rolling is like getting a deep tissue massage, breaking up the knots in your muscles and improving your range of motion. By “ironing out” the adhesions in your legs, you can work your muscles much more effectively.

Stretch After Your Workout

It’s tempting to skip your post-workout stretch, especially when you are in a rush. However, stretching after your workout has important benefits, including helping you stay strong, improve your balance, and be less sore the next day. This lets you get back at it again the next day instead of being too sore to function. Take a few minutes to stretch your leg muscles after a workout to maximize your gains and get the toned legs you desire faster.

Now that you are ready to work towards your goal of toned legs, it’s time to invest in exercise equipment from Fitness Specialists. Our affordable yet high-quality equipment can help you compose the home gym of your dreams, giving you everything you need to achieve your fitness goals. Shop our online store today! Get free shipping within 30 miles of Odessa!