Legs & Thighs Toning Gym Workout

1. Stand with your feet together, arms fully extended with your hands by your sides. This is the start position.
2. Bend your knees slightly then straighten and push through the balls of your feet while straightening your your knees to jump up spreading your legs to wider than hip width apart.
3. As you do so, raise both arms out and up in a smooth arc until your hands meet above your head.
4. As you return to the ground, bring your feet together and your hands back to your sides with your arms fully extended.
5. Continue without pause for the desired amount of time or repetitions.

This exercise can be performed as a timed exercise, completing as many reps as possible in a set time or, in sets with a fixed number of repetitions per set. To increase intensity, bend your arms slightly as you raise them to engage your biceps and triceps and squeezing them during each rep.

1. Stand straight holding a barbell with an underhand grip, your hands shoulder width apart and your arms fully extended towards the floor.
2. Keep your elbows close to your sides.Your palms should be facing away from you. This is the start position.
3. Keeping your upper arms stationary, curl the barbell forward and up in a smooth arcing motion while exhaling. Only your forearms should move.
4. Continue upwards until  the bar is at shoulder level with your biceps fully contracted. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your biceps.
5. Inhale as you return to the starting position.
6. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed using a cable station, with a straight bar attachment connected to the lower pulley.<em><strong> </strong></em>

1. Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
2. Let your arms hang by your side with your palms facing in to the side of your body.
3. Keep your elbows close to your sides.
4. Curl the dumbbells up towards your shoulders. Do not swing your hips to get the weight moving.
5. Continue raising the dumbbells until they are level with your shoulders with your palms facing in. Your forearm should be in a vertical position.
6. Squeeze or flex your bicep and hold for a count of one.
7. Slowly lower the dumbbells to the starting position.
8. Repeat.

You can also perform this exercise by alternating between left and right arms or one arm at a time.

1. Sit on a flat bench holding a dumbbell in each hand  with an underhand grip.
2. Keep your back straight and shoulders back.
3. Keep your arms fully extended with your elbows close to your sides.
4. Rotate your palms so that they are facing in towards you. This is the start position.
5. Keeping your upper arms upper arm stationary, start to curl the dumbbells upwards in a smooth arc.
6. As you curl the dumbbells upwards rotate your wrists, so that your palms  face in towards you at the end of the movement.
7. Continue the movement until  the dumbbells are at shoulder level and your biceps are fully contracted.
8. Hold for a count of one as you squeeze your biceps.
9. return to the start position, rotating your wrists back to an underhand grip position.
10. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed by alternating between arms.

1. Set up a cable station with a straight bar attachment connected to the low pulley.
2. Stand close to the station, feet shoulder width apart either side of the pulley.
3. Grip the bar with a shoulder width underhand grip.
4. Keep your elbows close to your sides.
5. Curls your arms upward from the elbows in a smooth arc.
6. Continue until your forearms are vertical with your palms facing your shoulders. Hold for a count of one while flexing your biceps.
7. Lower the bar back to the starting position in a smooth motion.
8. Repeat.

1. Holding a water bottle in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
2. Let your arms hang by your side with your palms facing in to the side of your body.
3. Keep your elbows close to your sides.
4. Curl the water bottles up towards your shoulders. Do not swing your hips to get the weight moving.
5. Continue raising the water bottles until they are level with your shoulders with your palms facing in. Your forearm should be in a vertical position.
6. Squeeze or flex your bicep and hold for a count of one.
7. Slowly lower the water bottles to the starting position.

1. Place a light-weighted barbell in front of you at your shins.
2. Squat down into position, driving your hips back. Keep your chest and head up. Place your hands in an overhand grip on the barbell.
3. Stand up with a tight core and flat back. Keeping a slight bend in the elbows, raise the bar up and in front of you. Pause when your arms are parallel with the ground.
4. Slowly lower the barbell to your hip. Repeat the movement.

1. Holding a pair of dumbbells with an overhand grip, stand tall with your chest up and core braced.
2. Begin by lifting the dumbbells in front of you. Keep the abdominals contracted as you raise the dumbbells. Feel the contraction in the shoulder muscles.
3. Once the dumbbells reach shoulder height, pause and slowly lower the dumbbells to the starting position.

1. Stand straight holding a water bottle in each hand with an overhand grip.
2. Hold the water bottles in front of your thighs with your palms of the facing your thighs. Keep your arms fully extended. This is the start position.
3. Raise the left water bottle out and upwards, while keeping a slight bend in your elbow. Your palms must always face down for this exercise.
4. Continue raising the water bottle until your arm is a little above parallel to the floor. Exhale as you are raising the water bottle.
5. Pause for a count of one.
6. Inhale and slowly lower the water bottle to the start position.
7. As you lower the left water bottle, begin to lift the right water bottle, duplicating the movement.
8. When both water bottles have been raised and lowered in a cycle, that is one repetition.
9. Repeat.

1. Holding the handle of a resistance band in each hand, step on the middle of the band with both feet. Stand up straight with a tight core and flat back.
2. Begin by lifting your hands straight up in front of you with an overhand grip. Be sure to keep a slight bend in the elbows at all times.
3. Pause at the top to feel the contraction then slowly lower the bands to the starting position.

1. Attach a rope to the bottom pulley of a cable station.
2. Grip the rope with both hands using a neutral grip. Turn your body away from the cable station.
3. Fully extend your arms until your hands are directly above your head pointing to the ceiling.
4. Keep your elbows  close to your head. This is the start position.
5. Slowly lower the rope behind your head, keeping your upper arms stationary, inhaling as you do so.
6. When your triceps are fully extended, hold for a count of one while squeezing your triceps.
7. Return to the starting position by flexing your triceps  and extending your arms. Exhale as you do so.
8. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed  seated on a plain bench, or one that has a back support You  can also use a single dumbbell instead of the rope.

1. Sit on a bench with back support.
2. Grip a dumbbell at one end using both hands. Your palms should be facing inward.
3. Hold the dumbbell overhead with your arms fully extended.  This is the the start position.
4. Keep your upper arms close to your head (biceps roughly level with your temples) and near to 90degrees to the floor.
5. Moving only your forearms, lower the dumbbell in a smooth arc behind your head until your forearms and biceps touch. Hold for a count of one.
6. Return to the start position by using the triceps to extend your arm and raise the dumbbell. Exhale as you do this.
7. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed standing. However, it places an extra strain on your back so is not recommended for people with lower back problems. You can also perform this exercise using an EZ bar or straight bar with a close grip behind your head, palms facing forward.

1. Begin the movement by stepping on to a resistance band with your feet at shoulder-width, toes pointed slightly out.
2. Push the handles of the band overhead while keeping a slight bend in the elbow. Brace your abdominals and do not arch your back.
3. Slowly lower your hands behind your head using only the forearms. The upper arms will stay in place with the elbow pointed up.
4. Push the handles back up, focusing the tension in the triceps.

1. Adjust the pulley handle to chest height. Step out and away from the weight. Feet are shoulder-width. Stand with a tight core and flat back. Push the handle out in front of you. Keep elbows slightly bent.
2. Twist from the hips. Move arms across the body, achieving a full extension.
3. Return to starting position.
4. Once complete, do the same amount of sets/reps on the other side.

1. Secure a firm grip with both hands on an appropriately weighted dumbbell. Place your feet shoulder-width apart. Begin by moving the dumbbell up and over towards your right side.
2. Twist your body to bring the dumbbell down and to the left. Bend at the knees and drop your hips slightly. Make the motion of placing the dumbbell on the ground.
3. Repeat the movement, taking the dumbbell back up and overhead. Keep your arms straight throughout.

1. Sit on an exercise mat with your legs fully extended and your upper body upright.
2. Grip a weight plate between both hands.
3. Hold the plate out in front of your abdominals keeping your arms bent slightly.
4. Cross your your ankles and raise them off the floor slightly.
5. Bend your knees towards you slightly.
6. Lean back about 15 degrees to balance your body. This is the start position.
7. In a smooth motion,turn your torso to the left and touch the plate on the floor. Make sure you exhale as you do this.
8. Return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
9. Repeat the same movement, this time to your right side, again exhaling as you do so.
10. Return to start position and repeat.

When performing this exercise, use smooth controlled movements. Jerking or using momentum to swing the weight can cause serious lower back injury.

1. Set up a cable station by adjusting the pulley height on each side to a little higher than shoulder height.
2. Attach a stirrup type handle to each pulley.
3. Select aweight that is comfortable, making sure the weight is the same on both sides of the machine.
4. Stand between the two weight stacks of the machine,with your feet shoulder width apart.
5. Extend your arms fully to your sides and grip the handles with an underhand grip.
6. Make sure your arms and shoulders are in a straight line and alligned with the handles. This is the start position
7. Exhale and contract your biceps to curl your forearms towards your shoulders.
8. Continue until your forearms and biceps touch. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your biceps.
9. Return to the star position in a smooth action while inhaling.
10. Repeat.

Only your forearms should move during this exercise. You can perform this exercise using one arm at a time.

1. Set up a preacher curl bench making sure that the seat is set at the right height for you. The seat shouldn’t be so low that you need to raise your shoulders, or so high that you need to lean over the support pad.
2. Rest you arm on the support pad with your triceps near the top and your elbow midway down the pad.
3. Grip the dumbbell with an underhand grip at shoulder width.
4. Curl the dumbbell in towards your chin and upper chest in a single smooth arc. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your biceps.
5. Lower the dumbbell by extending your arms back to the starting position.
6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions then change to your other arm.

This exercise is designed to isolate and focus attention on the biceps. Therefore resistance is stronger at the start of each repetition. So when you begin each repetition, don't

1. Sit on a flat bench with your legs spread, knees bent and your feet flat on the floor with a dumbbell between your feet.
2. Use either arm to pick the dumbbell up and hold it with an underhand grip.
3. Place the back of that upper arm on the top of your inner thigh on the same side. Your palm should be facing away from your thigh.
4. Keep your arm fully extended downwards without letting the dumbbell rest on the floor. This is the start position.
5. Curl the dumbbell forward and up in a smooth arc, contracting your biceps and exhaling.
6. Continue curling the dumbbell upward until your biceps are fully contracted and the dumbbell is at shoulder level.  Hold for a count of one while squeezing your biceps.
7. Return to the start position in a controlled, smooth arc inhaling as you do so. Do not swing the dumbbell down.
8. Repeat for all the repetitions for that arm then switch and repeat the movement with your other arm.

Throughout this exercise, only your forearms should move. This exercise can be performed standing in a bent over position. Here there is no upper arm support so it's important to ensure there is no movement or swinging of the upper arm. This harder version of concentration curls isn't recommended for people who suffer lower back issues.

1. Set up a preacher curl bench making sure that the seat is set at the right height for you. The seat shouldn’t be so low that you need to raise your shoulders, or so high that you need to lean over the support pad.
2. Rest you arms on the support pad with your triceps near the top and your elbows midway down the pad.
3. Grip the EZ curl bar with an underhand grip at shoulder width.
4. Curl the bar in towards your chin and upper chest in a single smooth arc. Hold for a count of one.
5. Lower the bar by extending your arms back to the starting position.

This exercise is designed to isolate and focus attention on the biceps. Therefore, resistance is stronger at the start of each repetition. So when you begin each repetition, don't explode upwards too quickly!

1. Stand up straight with a tight core and flat back.
2. Position your feet wider than shoulder-width. Your toes should be facing out diagonally.
3. Holding a dumbbell with both hands in front of you, look straight ahead and bend at the knees while driving your hips backward. Your knees should be following your toes in a diagonal line.
4. Complete this wide stance squat by having your thighs come parallel with the ground.
5. Pause and slowly return to the starting position without locking your knees.
6. Repeat.

1. Set a barbell on a rack at your shoulder height.
2. Step under the bar and rest the back of your shoulders against the bar. Do not put the bar on your neck.
3. Hold on to the bar using an overhand grip so that your palms are facing forward.
4. Lift the barbell off the rack by pushing up with your legs while straightening your torso.
5. Step away from the rack and position your legs in a wider than shoulder width position and with your toes slightly pointed out.
6. Keep your head up and look straight ahead at all times, as looking down will put you off balance.
7. Ensure your back is straight. This is the start position.
8. As you inhale, slowly lower the bar by bending your knees while keeping a straight posture with your head up.
9. Continue down until the angle between you upper legs and calves is slightly less than 90-degrees . As a guide, the front of your knees should be in line with your toes. Do not allow your knees to extend out beyond your toes.
10. Hold for a count of one.
11. As you exhale, raise the bar back to the start position, by pushing through your heels as you straighten your legs.
12. Pause for a count of one.
13. Repeat.

This is an exercise which carries some risk. If you have back issues, substitute this exercise for the dumbbell squat or leg press instead. Never slouch your back forward as this can cause back injury. This exercise is best performed inside a squat rack for safety purposes.

1. With your feet shoulder-width apart, stand with dumbbells as your sides with your palms facing each other.
2. Keeping your back straight and facing forward, squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor.
3. Pause for one second.
4. Pushing up from your heels, raise back up to starting position and repeat.

1. Sit down on a leg press machine and place your legs on the platform directly in front of you at shoulder width.
2. Lower the safety bars holding the weighted platform  and press the platform all the way up until your legs are fully extended in front of you bot do NOT lock your knees. Your torso and legs should be at a 90degree angle to each other. This is the start position.
3. Inhaling, slowly lower the platform until your upper and lower legs form a 90-degree angle. Pause for a count of one,
4. Return to the starting position by pushing through the heels of your feet, engaging your quadriceps. Exhale as you do so.
5. Repeat.
6. After completing the desired number of repetitions, make sure you lock the safety pins of the machine before alighting.

Always check to make sure that when you re-rack the weight the platform is securely locked.

1. Set up an adductor machine by selecting and appropriate weight and adjusting the seat and leg pads to a comfortable position.
2. If fitted, grasp the handles on each side of the machine.
3. Keep your entire upper body straight and stationary with your back pressed firmly against the back rest. This is the start position.
4. While exhaling, press against the legs pads of the machine with your legs, and bring your thighs close together.
5. When you feel a slight stretching in your adductors, pause for a count of one squeezing them as you do so.
6. In a controlled movement, return to the start position, inhaling as you do so.
7. Repeat.

• Standing sideways with your left side facing the weight stack of a pulley machine, attach an ankle cuff to the right ankle.
• Hold the machine for balance if you need to and slowly lift your right leg up to the right side.
• Pause and slowly return your right leg to starting position.
• Repeat the movement.

1. Lie on your right side on top of a yoga mat or other soft surface.
2. Brace your core and make sure your body is in a straight line. Keep your right hand on the ground and your left hand on your hip.
3. Slowly lift the left leg into the air, keeping it straight during the exercise.
4. Slowly lower your left leg. Complete the set then repeat with the other leg.

1. On a mat or comfortable surface, lie on your left side. Place your left hand behind your head while placing your right hand across your body.
2. Bend your stacked knees so that your feet are behind you. Begin the movement by lifting the right knee up while keeping the feet together.
3. Pause at the top of the movement and slowly lower your right knee down to the starting position.

1. Position yourself on all fours on a mat with your palms flat and shoulder-width apart. Place your knees hip-width apart and bend them at a 90 degree angle.
2. Try to relax your core so that your back and abs are in a natural position.
3. Maintain this posture as you raise your right knee and bring it as close to your chest as you can.
4. Now raise your right thigh out to the side, keeping the hips still.
5. Kick your raised leg straight back slowly until it is in line with your torso.
6. Reverse the movement to return to the starting position.

1. Lie on your right side on top of a yoga mat or other soft surface.
2. Brace your core and make sure your body is in a straight line. Keep your right hand on the ground and your left hand on your hip.
3. Slowly lift the left leg into the air, keeping it straight during the exercise.
4. Slowly lower your left leg. Complete the set then repeat with the other leg.

1. Begin by standing with dumbbells in hand at your sides.
2. Place your feet hip-width apart.
3. Take a big step to the right with your right foot, keeping your arms straight.
4.  Land with your heel followed by the rest of your foot and flex the right knee so that you lower your hip and body until your knee and hip are at a 90 degree angle. Keep your left leg only slightly angled.
5. Return to the starting position by extending your right hip and knee. Once they are straight, bring your foot back in to a standing tall position.

1. Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
2. Keep your shoulders back. And your back straight.
3. Take a long stride forward with your right leg. Your right foot should be in a position, that when you bend your right knee, your upper and lower leg form a 90 degree angle.
4. Slowly bend both your knees, to lower your hips until your left (rear) knee is just above the floor. Hold for a count of one.
5. Return to the start position by slowly straightening your legs and raising your body back to a standing position.
6.  Complete all the repetitions for one set full set, then switch legs, or you can alternate between legs for each rep.

Do not let your knee travel past your toes in the down position as this can cause instability and injury.

1. Stand up straight while holding two dumbbells. Maintain a tight core and flat back as you carefully place your right foot on top of a bench behind you with toes facing down. 
2. Bend at the front knee as you drop the back knee, maintaining perfect form. Front knee should not go over the toes.
3. Allow your thigh to come to parallel with the floor.
4. Pause then slowly return to the starting position without locking out your knee.
5. Repeat then switch sides once set is complete.

1. Place a bench in front of you. Hold a pair of dumbbells and stand facing the bench. Brace your core and keep your gaze straight ahead.
2. Bring your right knee up and step up on to the bench. Placing all of the effort in your right leg, bring your body up into a standing position on the bench.
3. Slowly lower yourself to the starting position and switch legs.

1. Lie with your back flat on an exercise mat and your feet resting on top of a Swiss ball.
2. Use your feet to roll the ball away from you until your legs are fully extended and your ankles are on top of the ball. This is the start position.
3. Keep your shoulders flat on the ground and press down with your feet to raise your hips off the floor.
4. Bend your knees, so that the ball is pulled towards you and continue as far as is comfortable. Hold for a count of one.
5. Return to the starting position by extending your legs until they are straight.
6. Repeat.

1. Lie on the ground with a TRX Suspension Strap at your feet. Lift both your feet into the strap, making sure they are secure. Tighten your core and place your hands at your sides.
2. Drive your hips up while maintaining a straight line with your body. Curl your feet in, moving them towards your butt. Maintain balance with your hands on the ground.
3. Once your feet reach your butt, slowly extend your feet back to the starting position. Do not allow your hips to drop. Contract the core during the entire movement.

1. Sitting on a calf raise machine, position your upper thighs under the top pad. The pad should be resting just above your knees.
2. Place the balls of your feet on the foot plate.
3. Keeping the balls of your feet in position, lower your heels as far as possible.
4. Slowly raise your heels as if standing on your toes. Continue as far as possible until you feel a stretch in your lower calves. Hold for a count of one.
5. Slowly lower your heels back to the starting position and repeat.

If the machine isn't equipped with foot plates, you can use barbell plates placed under the machine to increase your range of motion. Don't