Leg training doesn’t need to be complicated. You can get as fancy as you want, but nothing hits like the classics. A good leg day is built on the basics—because the basics work.
The best exercises are effective, efficient, and great at building strength and muscle. And, lucky for you, that means you don’t need to spend hours in the gym to get a solid workout. With a small handful of the right moves, you can hit all your bases and see real results.
That’s what WH’s Muscle in Minutes program is all about: delivering the most effective workout possible in the shortest amount of time. Led by me, Cori Ritchey, CSCS, personal trainer and fitness editor here at WH, each of the 10-minute workouts targets a major muscle group to help you build lasting strength—on a schedule that works for you.
Ready to fire up those quads and calves? Press play, toss on your favorite workout playlist, and grab some heavy weights. And, if you’re ready for more, find all of the other Muscle in Minutes videos below.
Watch Now: Quads + Calves
Time: 10 minutes | Equipment: medium and heavy dumbbells | Good for: quads, calves
Warm Up
30 seconds each
Runner’s Lunge
Forward Fold into Deep Squat
Plank Shoulder Taps
The Workout
45 seconds of work / 15 seconds of rest / 3 sets each
Heel-Elevated Goblet Squat
Eccentric Calf Raise
Alternating Reverse Lunges
Video Director Janie Booth
Director of Photography Derrick Saint Pierre and Romy Rainer
Video Editor Josh Archer
Hair and Makeup Sara Jade
Photographer Rona Ahdout
Find the Perfect Women’s Health Training Program for You
Cori Ritchey, C.S.C.S., is the fitness editor at Women's Health, as well as a certified strength and condition coach and group fitness instructor. She’s reported on topics regarding health, nutrition, mental health, fitness, sex, and relationships for several years. You can find more of her work in Men’s Health, HealthCentral, Livestrong, Self, and others.
