These Are The 4 Best Leg Workouts For People Who Want To See Amazing Results

Add in any of these aerobic workouts once or twice a week for even radder results.

HIKE UP A HILL.

Whether it’s manipulated on the treadmill or au naturel on a trail, walking on an incline increases activation of pretty much every muscle in your legs. Obviously, the steeper the incline, the harder your legs have to work—but research indicates a 9 percent grade sparks some serious action (we’re talking six times more activation for your hamstrings, and three times for your glutes, than walking on level ground).

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CARRY SOMETHING.

All it takes is walking with a heavy object in one hand at your side—like a kettlebell, dumbbell, or sandbag—to stress your bottom half and sculpt flatter abs (the muscles there jump in to prevent your torso from being dragged down by the load), says Newell. Find the heaviest weight you can carry safely (with a tall back and no pain) for 30 yards (that’s about the length of a basketball court), then subtract 20 pounds and perform three or four 30-yard walks on each side, resting 60 seconds in between. Each week, increase the load by at least five pounds.

EMBRACE THE SPRINT.

If you want to boost your muscles for heavy strength workouts, you need to refine your fast-twitch muscle fibers, which provide explosive power, says Boyce. Swap any steady-state cardio (a run, the stair stepper, etc.) for intervals: Sprint all out for 20 seconds, recover for 60, repeat seven more times.

This article originally appeared in the July/August 2017 issue of Women’s Health. For more great advice, pick up a copy of the issue on newsstands now!