- Stand tall holding onto a pole, wall or stationary object for support.
- Engage your abs as you swing your one leg as far out to the side and then across the stationary leg as you comfortably can.
- Don’t just let gravity pull the leg – actively use the muscles!
- Switch sides once you have completed repetitions on the first leg.
Intermediate Dumbbell Lower Body Power & Gain
23 min
·
6 exercises
Intermediate lower body power session with dumbbells — warm up properly before starting! Working sets should use a weight that brings you close to failure at 12 reps. Build serious lower body muscle and tone. Power through every set and gain those legs!
Swing each leg, lightly, for 30 seconds!
0:30 rest
Alternate your sides with every rep!
0:30 rest
Use a weight that creates a healthy burn at 45 seconds!
0:30 rest
Complete these and then move straight on without rest!
6 reps per leg, then take a short break!
1:00 rest
Close out today with some calf work!
About this workout
Intermediate Dumbbell Lower Body Power & Gain is a free 23 min workout plan with 6 illustrated exercises for your glutes, quadriceps and legs. Follow the workout online, save it to your WorkoutLabs Fit account or download it as a printable PDF.
Tap any exercise in the workout to see the muscles worked, clear exercise illustrations and step-by-step instructions. Each workout includes sets, reps, rest times and notes so you can follow the plan without guessing.
Workout details
- Duration: 23 min
- Exercises: 6
- Training focus: Glutes, quadriceps and legs
- Equipment: Dumbbells
- Level: Intermediate
- Format: Interactive workout and printable PDF
For more ready-made training plans, try WorkoutLabs Fit. You can follow visual workouts, build your own routines, manage your training calendar and track your progress. Sign up today to claim your free week.
Questions about this workout
What equipment do I need for this workout?
You'll need dumbbells for this workout. Tap any exercise to see form instructions and possible substitutions if a piece of equipment isn't available.
How long does the Intermediate Dumbbell Lower Body Power & Gain take?
The full workout takes about 23 minutes, covering 6 exercises with prescribed sets, reps and rest periods. Using the built-in timers and auto-advance keeps you on pace from start to finish.
Is this workout suitable for my fitness level?
This is an intermediate workout, best suited to people with some training experience. Beginners can still follow it by reducing the weight, doing fewer sets or resting longer between sets – each exercise includes illustrated form instructions.
What muscles does this workout target?
This routine primarily works your glutes & hip flexors, quadriceps, calves. Tap any exercise in the workout to see a muscle diagram showing exactly which primary and secondary muscles it activates.
How often should I do this workout?
For gain muscle, get toned, aim to do this workout 2–3 times per week with at least one rest day between sessions. Progress by gradually adding weight or reps, and pair it with workouts for other muscle groups during the week.
Can I download or save this workout?
Yes – you can download this workout as a free printable PDF using the download button, or save it to a free WorkoutLabs Fit account to follow it on your phone, customize the exercises and track your progress.
Intermediate Dumbbell Lower Body Power & Gain
23 min
·
6 exercises
Intermediate lower body power session with dumbbells — warm up properly before starting! Working sets should use a weight that brings you close to failure at 12 reps. Build serious lower body muscle and tone. Power through every set and gain those legs!
Side Lateral Leg Swings
Swing each leg, lightly, for 30 seconds!
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors
Squats to Side Leg Raises
Alternate your sides with every rep!
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Hamstrings
- Place your feet at shoulder width apart while keeping your chest up and your abdominals braced.
- Bend at the knees and drive your hips back as if you’re sitting in a chair. Continue to lower your body until your upper legs are parallel to the floor.
- Then drive your hips forward and push through your quads and glutes to return to a standing position.
- Just as you reach the standing position, lift your chosen leg out to the side; it should be straight.
- Lower your leg back so that you return to the starting position and repeat for the other side!
Goblet Squats
Use a weight that creates a healthy burn at 45 seconds!
Primary muscle group(s):
Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Glutes & Hip Flexors, Hamstrings, Shoulders
- Stand with your feet shoulder width apart while holding a light dumbbell to your chest. You should hold the dumbbell by one end between your hands, with the other end extending down your torso. This is the start position.
- Squat down keeping your slightly arched and pushing your hips back.
- Continue down until your thighs are parallel to the floor.
- Hold for a count of one.
- Return to the start position.
- Repeat.
This exercise can also be performed with a kettlebell.
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Hamstrings
- Stand up straight with a tight core and flat back.
- Position your feet wider than shoulder-width. Your toes should be facing out diagonally.
- 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.
- Complete this wide stance squat by having your thighs come parallel with the ground.
- Pause and slowly return to the starting position without locking your knees.
- Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Quadriceps
Secondary:
Calves, Glutes & Hip Flexors, Hamstrings, Lower Back
- With your feet shoulder-width apart, stand with dumbbells as your sides with your palms facing each other.
- Keeping your back straight and facing forward, squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor.
- Pause for one second.
- Pushing up from your heels, raise back up to starting position and repeat.
Dumbbell Lunges
A
Complete these and then move straight on without rest!
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Hamstrings
- Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
- Keep your shoulders back. And your back straight.
- 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.
- 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.
- Return to the start position by slowly straightening your legs and raising your body back to a standing position.
- 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.
Primary muscle group(s):
Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Hamstrings
- 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.
- Bend at the front knee as you drop the back knee, maintaining perfect form. Front knee should not go over the toes.
- Allow your thigh to come to parallel with the floor.
- Pause then slowly return to the starting position without locking out your knee.
- Repeat then switch sides once set is complete.
Primary muscle group(s):
Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Calves, Glutes & Hip Flexors
- 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.
- 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.
- Slowly lower yourself to the starting position and switch legs.
Dumbbell Lateral Lunges
A
6 reps per leg, then take a short break!
Primary muscle group(s):
Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Glutes & Hip Flexors, Hamstrings
- Begin by standing with dumbbells in hand at your sides.
- Place your feet hip-width apart.
- Take a big step to the right with your right foot, keeping your arms straight.
- 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.
- 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.
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Hamstrings
- Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
- Keep your shoulders back. And your back straight.
- 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.
- 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.
- Return to the start position by slowly straightening your legs and raising your body back to a standing position.
- 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.
Primary muscle group(s):
Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Hamstrings
- 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.
- Bend at the front knee as you drop the back knee, maintaining perfect form. Front knee should not go over the toes.
- Allow your thigh to come to parallel with the floor.
- Pause then slowly return to the starting position without locking out your knee.
- Repeat then switch sides once set is complete.
Primary muscle group(s):
Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Calves, Glutes & Hip Flexors
- 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.
- 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.
- Slowly lower yourself to the starting position and switch legs.
Standing Dumbbell Calf Raises
Close out today with some calf work!
Primary muscle group(s):
Calves
- Place an exercise step or something similar on the floor in front of you. It should be two or three inches high.
- Holding a dumbbell in each hand, place your toes and the balls of your feet on the step. Make sure the arches of your feet are not on the step and your heels are on the floor.
- Raise your heels as high as possible by pushing through the balls of your feet and toes while extending your ankles. Hold for a count of one.
- Return to the starting position by bending your ankles until you feel a stretch in your calves.
- Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Calves, Hamstrings
- Sit down on a leg press machine and place your legs on the platform directly in front of you at shoulder width.
- 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.
- Inhaling, slowly lower the platform until your upper and lower legs form a 90-degree angle. Pause for a count of one,
- Return to the starting position by pushing through the heels of your feet, engaging your quadriceps. Exhale as you do so.
- Repeat.
- 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.
Primary muscle group(s):
Calves
- Sitting on a calf raise machine, position your upper thighs under the top pad. The pad should be resting just above your knees.
- Place the balls of your feet on the foot plate.
- Keeping the balls of your feet in position, lower your heels as far as possible.
- 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.
- 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
Primary muscle group(s):
Calves
Secondary:
Abs
- Set up two weight plates on the ground next to each other. Position a loaded barbell across your trap muscles. Step on to the weight plates with the balls of your feet.
- With a tight core and flat back, raise yourself up with your feet only. Pause at the top of the raise.
- Slowly lower yourself down but do not touch the ground. Raise yourself back up.
- Repeat.
Workout done!
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