Best Leg Workouts for Women & That Produce Results

It is very common for women to dislike the shape of their legs, and you will often hear women say, “These are not the legs I want!” But that doesn’t mean you cannot have the legs you want. There are some great exercises and activities that you can incorporate into your daily life that will completely transform your legs — making them beautifully toned, lean and strong — and are considered the best leg workouts for women.

However, it’s important to understand that while performing some key exercises on a consistent basis will help you get those legs fit and beach-ready, only when combined with a healthy diet will such a transformation happen, especially if you seek to keep those legs in great shape long-term.

Here is an exercise program to help you reshape your legs through proper exercise. The great news is that with this program, you will gain other key benefits, such as toning other parts of your body, feeling healthier, starting to do more activities, having more confidence and simply looking great.

Best Technique

Choosing the right exercises is part of finding the best leg workouts for women, but this plan works really well when you engage the leg muscles to include the inner thighs (try our inner thigh workout), outer thighs and butt while focusing on your core muscles. When you engage all of these muscles, you will work them more efficiently — which will help develop leaner legs, and more overall fitness.

The best way to accomplish this? Contract the muscles while performing the exercises as well as incorporating some resistance.

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Resistance training, even for older adults, can greatly benefit and add more muscle tone in addition to using your own bodyweight. Research indicates that using weight over a 16-week period significantly improved the muscle development in the legs, as well as the upper body of the subjects tested.

While some of these exercises suggest weights, keep in mind that you can create your own resistance, where there is constant tension during the lift known as isotonic exercises, without using any weight at all. Regardless, it may take time to gain the proper strength to perform the exercises correctly with added weight. Be patient. With consistency and a good diet, you will experience positive results that you can maintain for the rest of your life!

Best Leg Workout for Women

Here is a workout that you can do at home, which imports bodyweight exercises, or at the gym. Many of these leg exercises double as excellent butt workouts and some also work the calf muscles.

Start by doing these exercises 3 times per week, every other day for 4 weeks. For advanced exercisers, you can do the routine 4 times per week. If you can, incorporate about 15–20 minutes of one of the cardio workouts. This combined with a healthy diet will have your legs ready for summer!

Important Tips

1. If you are choosing to hold weights while performing some of these exercises, make sure to select weights that provide a little challenge, but that do not cause you to have poor form. If your form is suffering in any way, do not use weights until you are strong enough to perform the exercises with proper form because it may cause injury.
2. Proper form greatly affects the efficiency and results that you want. Going too fast may result in poor form as well. Take it slow until you feel comfortable, then you can try other options.
3. Engage as many muscles as possible while performing each exercise. To do this, focus on those muscles and contract them as you create the movement. This will make these exercises very effective!
4. If you are new to these exercises or any exercise program, consult your doctor and definitely take it slow.
5. As with any program, be patient! You will achieve results with consistency and a good diet. This is about long-term results, not quick fad diets and exercises.
6. Though these are common and regarded as very effective exercises, if you notice that you are struggling to breathe or even a slight pain of any sort, stop immediately and consult your doctor.

What You Will Need

• You can use your own bodyweight for all of these exercises; however, if you have weights or are at the gym, you can grab a set of light weights, medium weights, and for advanced exercisers, heavy weights.
• A timer or you can simply count 1001, 1002 and so on.
• A mat or towel.

Leg Exercises

Perform each exercise for 1 minute. Then, take a 15-second break between each exercise. Once you have completed one round, rest for 1 minute and repeat the round. For beginners, do a total of 2 rounds and for advanced exercisers, do 3–4 rounds.

Make sure to drink plenty of water and use controlled breathing.

1. Butt Lifter and Hamstring Toner

Get on all fours. Keep a flat back, meaning do not arch your back in either direction but rather keep it flat while engaging your abdominals. Hold one medium-to-heavy weight behind the your right knee by squeezing the lower leg towards your butt. Remember to choose the weight that is best for you, giving you a little bit of a challenge. Now, lift the leg to a 90-degree angle to the floor and bring it back down to the starting position, but without stopping. Continue with the lifting and lowering motion for 20 repetitions, then repeat on the other leg.

2. Squats

Stand with feet about hip-distance apart. If you are choosing to hold weight while performing this exercise, select a weight that provide a little challenge, but that does not cause you to have poor form.

Hold your weight, such as one heavy weight, or just your hands if you are choosing no weight, at your chest.

For good form, keep your upper body as upright as possible. Then, bend at the knees, pushing your butt back while squatting as if sitting in a chair. If you are able to go to where your thighs are at a 90-degree angle to the floor, that’s great. If not, just go about halfway. Over time, you will get stronger and be able to perform a deep squat.

(Also try the TRX squat in a TRX workout.)

3. Side Lunges

Stand with feet hip-distance apart, weights in hands down at sides. Step to the right and lunge down towards the floor, keeping your upper body as upright as possible during this movement. Then push off from the floor and back to the starting position. From there, repeat the exercise to the other side. Perform a total of 25 (1 on each side equals 1 rep).

4. Wall Sit

This is a great quad exercise and one of my favorites for strengthening and toning those thigh muscles. Find a sturdy wall. You can hold a weight in your hands if you want more of  challenge. Position your body into a squat position against the wall. Try to lower down so that the quads are parallel to the floor. Hold the position. If you struggle to push through the burn, come out of the position, shake your legs out for 5 seconds and then return to the position to complete the minute. Hang in there!

5. Bridge

This is a fantastic exercise for toning the hamstrings and butt while getting the core involved. Lie on the your back on the floor. Place your feet hip-distance apart with the knees up and the heels close to your butt on the floor. If you want a challenge, hold a heavy weight on your lower ab area to add more resistance. Begin raising the hips while pushing off with your heels. Push the hips up as high as you can. Hold it for 3–4 seconds, then release back to the starting position. If you can, never allow the butt to completely rest on the floor until the entire 60 seconds has been completed.

Want a double-challenge? Advanced exercisers can surely take this one! Simply do the same movement, but with one leg raised in the air for the entire 60 seconds. Then repeat with the other leg in the air for another minute. Feel that burn and see those legs get shapely and beach-ready!

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6. Single-Leg Deadlift

This one works your butt and entire leg while working your core because it requires stability. Again, you can go without any weights, or you can grab medium-to-heavy weights. Stand with feet hip-distance apart. Knees are slightly bent. Position your hands or weights down in front of your thighs. Slowly bend at the waist, keeping your chest proud while sticking your butt back. Keep the back flat and keep your head aligned with the back as your go down to a 90-degree angle (or close to it) while lifting one leg. Do one minute on one leg, then switch.

For beginners, try this keeping both legs planted on the ground first. Once you have mastered this move, you can try doing the single-leg deadlift.

7. Forward and Backward Lunge Combination

You probably have done forward lunges, and you have done backward lunges … but have you done them as one combined move? This is great because it engages many muscles at the same time, all while working the butt and thighs!

You can use weights or no weights, holding hands down at sides. Stand with feet hip-distance apart. Starting with one side, take a big step forward so that your front leg is far enough in front of you to allow you to lower into a full lunge at a 90-degree angle. As you do this, push the hips forward. Then, as you rise back up, push off with your heel and step back with the same leg into the same position. Repeat 15 times on each leg.

If you are having trouble with balance, try staring at a spot in the room that is not moving while performing the exercise. It really helps with balance and focus. Also, consider dropping the weights if it’s too difficult to maintain good posture.

Bonus Leg Toning Workout

Bonus Cardio Leg Workouts

As noted, incorporate 15–20 minutes of cardio 3–4 times per week for added results. You can also do it before or after your sexy leg workout. A couple of these may require equipment at the gym, but we have included two suggestions that do not.

Cycling

Warm up for 5 minutes, then do 45 seconds of fast cycling with moderate resistance followed by 15 seconds of easy cycling. Repeat 10 times. Cool down for 5 minutes. If you are advanced, you may want to try a cycle class at your gym.

Brisk Walking

Simply put, you can walk to lose weight, but you need to get your heart rate up and strolling does not do that. Walk easy for about 2–3 minutes, then move into a brisk walk for the duration of the workout. Cool down with about 2 minutes of easy walking.

Walk/Run

Walk easy for about 2–3 minutes. Now that you are warmed up, move into a brisk walk for 1 minute, then run for one minute. Alternate this activity for the completion of the workout. Cooldown down with about 2 minutes of easy walking.

Elliptical

Warm up for 2–3 minutes with easy resistance. Then set the resistance at a moderate-to-hard level. The resistance should be challenging, feeling like you are going up a hill. Move into intervals of work for 2 minutes, then go easy for 30 seconds, using an easy resistance. Recover then repeat for the rest of the workout. Warm down with 2–3 minutes of easy movement and resistance.

Again, please consult your doctor if you have any questions about starting a new problem. If you are on medication or have a heart condition, take time to make sure it’s okay for you to perform these exercises. If you are new, take it slow and work your way into the full program.

Best Activities for Great Legs

Let’s finish with learning about some great things you can do on a regular basis, either on your own or with your family, that can tone your legs and even lift your butt while keeping you fit and active. If you can incorporate this into your weekly routine, you will really see the benefits.

Here are my top 11 favorite activities for great legs for women:

1. Walking
2. Running
3. Cycling
4. Barre Workouts
5. Burst Training
6. Bootcamp
7. Yoga
8. Hiking
9. Surfing
10. Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)
11. Jumping jacks
12. Burpees