These lower-body power combo moves will carve every angle of your glutes, thighs, and calves while targeting your core too. Figure competitor Michele Levesque uses these potent multijoint exercises to fire up metabolism and build ultrasleek muscles.
Works: Outer hips, thighs
Stand with your feet together, holding a medicine ball at chest level.
Brace your abs and then lunge your left leg behind your right leg, until your left knee is about six inches from the floor.
From lunge, immediately lift your left leg out to the left side, keeping it straight and foot flexed.
Slowly lower your left leg back into a curtsy lunge; repeat for 15 reps. switch sides, lunging your right leg back and then out for 15 reps.
Tip: Keep moving, under control, throughout this exercise.
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Tom Corbett
Medicine Ball Glute Lift
Works: Glutes
Start by lying on a mat with your head and palms flat on the floor, arms straight. Pull both feet toward your hips.
Place your left heel on a medicine ball and extend your right leg upward, elevating your lower back.
Exhale, then pulse your pelvis up toward the ceiling, flexing your glutes at the top. Inhale and return your lower back to about one inch above the floor. repeat, focusing on using your glutes to control the movement rather than your hamstrings. Do two sets of 30 reps on each leg.
Tip: Try ths move first without the ball, keeping your heel on the floor.
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Tom Corbett
Diamond Squat
Works: Glutes, inner and outer thighs
Stand with your heels six inches apart and toes turned outward. hold a body bar perpendicular to the floor in front of you with your arms extended. rise onto the balls of your feet.
Remaining on your toes, engage your abs and then squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor and your legs create a diamond shape.
Rise back up to standing, squeezing your inner thighs and glutes throughout. Repeat for two sets of 25 reps.
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Tom Corbett
Single-leg Drop and Raise
Works: Shoulders, core, quads
Stand with your left foot near the right edge of an 18-inch box or a bench with your right leg suspended and foot flexed. Hold dumbbells at your thighs, palms facing behind you.
Squatting, lower your right foot to about six inches off the floor and lift your arms to eye level. Then push off your left leg to return to start. Repeat for two sets of 12 reps on each leg.
Tip: Beginners: Start on a low box without dumbbells.
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Tom Corbett
Supergirl
Works: Core, glutes
Place a Bosu ball on an 18-inch box, flat side down. Lie on the highest point of the ball at your waist and lower abdomen.
Extend arms and legs simultaneously and balance, squeezing your glutes at the top.
Drop your arms and legs slightly below parallel to the floor. Perform two sets of 20 reps, holding for three seconds at the top.
Tip: Keep eyes foward and core engaged.
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Tom Corbett
Plié Leg Press with Heel Drive
Works: Hamstrings, quads
Place your feet wide on a leg press machine with toes pointed outward. Lower plate deep until your knees are in line with your shoulders.
Press up, keeping the weight concentrated on your heels. At the top of the move, lift the balls of your feet off the plate, press through your heels, and flex your hamstrings.
Repeat for two sets of 20 reps.
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Tom Corbett
Sissy Squat with Rope
Works: Hip flexors, quads
Hold the end of a rope, hands together, attached to a heavy weight stack and place your feet inside hip width.
Rise onto the balls of your feet (where you’ll stay throughout the exercise) and lean back.
Keeping your arms extended and head forward, descend slowly into a squat. Perform two sets of 25 reps, making sure your lower body and core stay under continuous tension.
