If you’re in the mood to make your legs shake and absolutely rock your lower body, then today’s lower body workout will be right up your alley.
I began my time at the gym with a 20 minute warm up on the elliptical before targeting my lower body in the weight room. It was a good workout and I have a feeling I’ll be quite sore tomorrow.
Links to demonstrations of some of the exercises:
Breakfast
Once my legs were toast, it was breakfast time!
Pancakes!
I made a batch of Greek yogurt pancakes and topped them with fresh strawberries and a bit of syrup. So darn tasty!
Question of the Morning
- What is your favorite lower body exercise? Least favorite?
Truth be told, I don’t love any lower body exercises, but squat jumps and reverse lunges with a front kick are probably my two favorites. My least favorite? Jumping lunges. Yikes!
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I’ve noticed in general that you seem to be sharing less of your life and posting less often/shorter posts as well, with each post only detailing your workout/breakfast or meal. Is this something that you’re doing consciously/purposely?
I second this! I just wasn’t sure how to say it but you seem to be much more “absent” these days.
I think there is a big announcement coming soon!
I’m definitely starting to wonder!
i agree, i hope everything’s ok!
same here!! i’m thinking it’s probably just a lot of freelance work keeping her busy, busy! i know it has got it be tough/tiring keeping up with a blog every.single.day.
Yeah, I have to agree…
Totally! The blog hasn’t been as personal and I miss hearing more about you.
Agreed. Not trying to be a “hater” but it’s been really boring lately.
Agreed, I rarely come to this site anymore because it is always the same thing. A picmonkey workout that she wants everyone to pin, breakfast or lunch, maybe a survey that she read, a restaurant review for some place in FL that I will never visit. I’m sorry, but that is really boring. No substance! And not to mention, not applicable to tons of working women trying to eat healthy while working 40+ hrs in an office. (Of course, there is nothing wrong working from home, I just mean that this a small minority of people.) Anyway, no hard feelings, but I’m unsubscribing!
thank you all for the feedback. there are actually a few things behind this (a desire to “unplug” more in my life, concentrating more on freelance work/outside projects, feeling protective over my personal life due to some stinging comments in the past, etc.), but i will definitely take your comments to heart. i love sharing my life with all of you through the blog and appreciate the time you took to let me know what you’re missing and would like to see more of on PBF.
I am so bummed to see that there have been “stinging comments”. I’m so sorry, I hope you know how much I (and I am sure most of you readers) respect and appreciate all that you share with us. I also want to say thank you for updating so often. It seems as though there are few blogs that actually take the time to update as often as you do, and it is always fun to come back later in my day and see a new post.
Thank you for your awesome posting, always enjoyed and appreciated!!
I’m sorry to hear about about the crappy comments, but thank you for taking the time to respond to our comments! Like Sarah, I appreciate that you update often 🙂
I’m so sad to hear about “stinging comments”! I love your blog and appreciate that you share so much with your readers. As someone trying to stay healthy while juggling everday life, I always look here for workouts that are quick and effective that I can do at home. I also LOVE the recipes you post! Thank you Julie!!
I completely understand the need to “unplug” !! For lent I have given up cable, and am trying to limit myself to an hour a day on the internet.. It is crazy how much more productive / what you’re MISSING by being glued to the screen!!
( Though I do miss the frequent fashion page updates, you have the cutest dresses!!)
Julie I’ve been reading for over two years. Every single day. It has been my little happy place online, if you will. You and your blog a immensely inspiraional. However, I must agree with above comments. And it’s not a bad thing, you should take it as a compliment. We’re all just wanting to read about your life, things you do in the weekend, Ryan, Sadie, plenty of Sadie! Just th little life things that we can all relate to, or perhaps ponder for wee bit. That’s what makes pbfingers so great!! You’ve told us that haters gonna hate, and make stinging comments, but they’re in a very small minority here. So keep going and treat then with kindness and grace as you always do! They’ll hate that too 🙂
I agree! It has been differently lately 🙁
Favorite lower body exercise is leg lifts, you know the old fashioned ones where you lay on your side. I really like leg extensions too. Jumping squats would have to be my least favorite as well.
Wow! Those pancakes look amazing! Can’t wait to try them!!!
I love pilates for lower body, I have to avoid squats, lunges, and jumping moves because my knees get agitated easily.
I agree – I love pilates & yoga for toning. However, if I have to do strength training on my own, I suppose, I like squats and deadlifts the most
My favorites are squats and good mornings! Least favorite– I don’t really know! lol legs are actually my favorite body part to work. One thing I hardly ever do exercises for– my calves.
I love working out my lower body too! Barbell back squats are one of my faves along with jump squats. I hate/love jumping lunges too!
Working my lower body is my least favorite! I detest lunges and jumping squats (& burpees!), but if I had to pick a fave, I’d say the hamstring curls on a ball – I love that I can feel it the next day! I also like single leg deadlifts.
Thanks for the great workout! I just worked out my lower body yesterday, so I’m pinning this for next time. 😀
I love using the leg press machine, but my least favorite leg exercise is lunges!!!!
Thanks for sharing!
I definitely need to focus more on lower body work. I always think because I run and spin so much that I should be worrying more about upper body but I realize how much stronger my legs can be when I devote a day or two just to strength in the lower body. As always, thanks for sharing!
That workout looks awesome! My favorite lower body exercise is probably squats or deadlifts. I also realllly hate jumping lunges…my balance is not good at all.
My favorite lower body would have to the ones we do in body pump! I would never push myself as hard as I do in there, or have the motivation to do slow squats and fast squats. So nice to have someone instructing!
i agree! i loved the way bodypump somehow transformed some of the exercises i dislike into something fun!
Thought I’d share a version using the greek yogurt pancake recipe
I had a banana that was getting too ripe so I smashed it, put it in the batter and added a bit more flour. I didn’t like how dark the pancakes were turning out (presumably from the addition of the banana as I’ve never had that problem before) so I put the remaining batter in a bread pan and cooked it at 350 for something like 15 minutes (I don’t know the time for sure because I basically just watched it the whole time. Out came a very delicious banana bread-like concoction. Up next I’m trying more bananas and maybe a few chocolate chips will make an appearance
Cheers!
that sounds yummy!
My favorite is a tie between squats, deadlifts and the “clamshell” I don’t know what the proper name is for it but its the one exercise I can really feel right away. I do not like jumping lunges at all!
Hey Julie! I have a question about the step ups–I don’t have aerobics benches to use at the gym in my condo, but is there something else I could use to do them? I think we have crate boxes–or is there a way to modify them?
hi jen! i used a box at my gym, but you can use anything that is stable. if the crate boxes you have provide enough stability and won’t slip and slide, i think they sound like a great option.
My favorite lower body exercise is a FULL squat (booty to the ground) while standing on the flat side of a bosu and holding weights…it’s killer every time and really works the core too!! 🙂
I think that jumping lunges will be the death of me. I can’t wait to try this leg blast later, I really need to work on all strength training in general.
That workout seems like no joke. My legs feel sore just thinking about it. I like squat thrusters with a kettlebell and backwards lunges. I also hate jumping lunges, I always feel very uncoordinated doing them.
I love one legged squats and deadlifts! But lately I’ve been enjoying ballet inspired exercises, so stuff like plie and releves with pulses have been my go-to exercises these days.
one legged deadlifts make me so sore!
OY! My legs hurt just reading this! I’m going to try this out this week. It looks awesome! I love to hate lower body workouts. My favorites are probably leg up lunges with bent over rows, and curtsey lunges!
i love me some squats!
check out my post today about bulu box! monthly vitamin and supplement samples sent straight to your doorstep…for $10/month!
http://www.runningathousandmiles.com/2013/03/bulu-box.html
Great workout! I love lower body exercises but squat jumps are probably my favourite as well! I’m no a fan of bulgarian split lunges just cause hurt like hell when weighted!
You had strawberry pancakes, I had blueberry pancakes then had the best swim ever right after! I love bending the knee and pulsing my heel up from a doggy position. It hurts so much after a while but for some reason you just feel like laughing in pain! lol
Those pancakes look good!
I love back squats, leg press, and romanian deadlifts. Not a fan of lunges.
I actually like jumping lunges! haha they kick my butt every time!
yesterday we worked on back squats and overhead squats at crossfit, and I hate anything that I have to do over my head! My I love working the legs!
haha I def. agree jump lunges are killer — wall sits are def. not that great either. haaa. Squats & dead lifts are my fav. :] great workout though!
I’m loving the workout!
Squats always get the job done!
Great workout! Those strawberries look delicious
Oooo I love workouts that use my legs! Silly question, but what is a step up? I’m sure I should know this, but I’ve never heard of it before!
here’s a good picture demo: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/dumbbell-step-up
The pancakes look great! I made some pancakes with ricotta recently and they turned out so fluffy and delicious! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
That workout looks amazing, I can’t wait to try it!
I love lunges and squats!
I’m a big fan of “water skis.” You use the cable cross station and put a light (20-50) weight on to help counter balance you, and then you do a squat with a straight back (like you’re doing a wall sit, but not on the wall). I like it because it takes a lot of the pressure off of my knees.
i need to try this! thanks for sharing, logan!
Love the workout above! Did you use any added weight?
i used weights for the step ups, deadlifts and squats. 🙂
Looks like a good workout! One question – do you use weights for the deadlifts in this routine?
Yes!
How much weight typically?
Hi! I stumbled across your blog when I was googling for blog tips. I really enjoyed your blog talk Tuesdays series and found it really helpful. I kept on reading and found even more posts that interested me, I especially love the workouts! They’ll help me get my body back in shape after giving birth 4 months ago. I’m on maternity leave right now with my first baby and I’m trying to change careers and turn my love of writing into something I can make money doing from home.
Keep up the awesome work!
Just did this workout and my legs already feel sore!! Love trying out your workouts, keep them coming!
I am new to your site and already love what I see! 🙂 I can not wait to try both your lower leg work out and your greek yogurt pancakes!! Thanks for sharing!!
Kim
My family always say that I am killing my time here at
web, however I know I am getting familiarity all the time by reading such good articles or reviews.
Julie, I just found this workout and did it on Friday. It’s now Tuesday and I’m still sore! It was a good one! Thanks!