Muscle Building Information

Lower Body Exercises For Beginning Bodybuilders


The lower body contains some of your biggest muscles which are capable of bearing significant weights. The temptation for beginners to go for broke by performing heavy squats should be resisted. To begin with you should concentrate on building the muscles safely by using machines that isolate muscle groups. The squat is an excellent compound exercise that trains numerous lower body muscles but it is one you should learn properly after spending three months strengthening the individual muscles that will be utilized later.

The muscles of the lower body can be divided into five groups:

1. Quads - this is the big muscle group consisting of four muscles at the front of the thigh. These are the primary muscles used when performing exercises such as squats, leg press, lunge and leg extension.

2. Hamstrings - these are the main muscles at the back of the thigh. These are the primary muscles used when performing leg curls.

3. Gluteals - these are the muscles that make up the buttocks.

4. Hip flexors - these are the small muscles at the front of the pelvis that allow you to raise your legs to the front.

5. Calves - these are the two muscles found in the lower leg.

For beginners these muscles should be exercised as follows:

1. Leg press - 1 set of 10-15 reps. This is a useful exercise for the quads but it also works the hamstrings and glutes to a lesser degree.

2. Leg extension - 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This is a useful exercise for adding definition to the quads.

3. Hamstring curl - 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This exercise isolates the hamstrings.

4. Standing calf raise - 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This exercise works the gastrocnemius muscle.

5. Seated calf raise - 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This exercise works the soleus muscle underneath the gastrocnemius muscle.

As with all exercises you need to take care in scheduling specific body parts. To begin with you should incorporate your lower body exercises into a program similar to the one suggested below:

Day 1: Biceps, Back, Abs

Day 2: Hamstrings, Shoulders, Abs

Day 3: Quads, Forearms, Calves

Day 4: Triceps, Chest, Abs

For the first couple of weeks complete one set but then add one set each week to a maximum of three. At the end of three months you will be ready to move on to more intensive intermediate level exercises.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the bodybuildingadvisor.com website that provides guidance and information to athletes at all levels of bodybuilding experience. Go to Bodybuilding Advice to learn more about the issues covered in this article.


MORE RESOURCES:

Painkillers help build muscle in older exercisers
Tehran Times, Iran - Apr 27, 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- In a study of healthy older adults lifting weights regularly, for 3 months, taking recommended daily doses of ibuprofen (like that in ...


COD Student Greg Gruszecki Offers Tips To Get In Shape For Summer
Chaparral (subscription), CA - May 13, 2008
If you're training to build muscle you need to eat a lot - basically on the hour every hour. The best healthy foods are deli and peanut butter and jelly ...


Girls more susceptible to athletic injuries
Austin American-Statesman, TX - 19 hours ago
Estrogen makes it harder to build muscle mass and makes joints more flexible in young women. Wider hips also change the way women run, which could be partly ...


ic Wales

splashing time for man’s best friend
ic Wales, United Kingdom - May 15, 2008
“ We began a programme of swimming and the treadmill, encouraging her to walk on all four legs to place her feet properly and build muscle. ...


Theratechnologies Explores Tesamorelin in Growth Hormone Deficient ...
FOXBusiness - May 15, 2008
... mg/dL) and increased lean body mass by an average of 1.3 kg demonstrating that not only can tesamorelin decrease VAT but also it can build muscle mass. ...


Message to Nebraska Residents: Forgo Fad Dieting and Join the ...
Earthtimes (press release), UK - 23 hours ago
... that along with physical activity, are especially important when cutting calories -- calcium to prevent bone loss and protein to help build muscle mass. ...


Want Popeye’s bulging biceps? Palak khao
Mid-Day Mumbai, India - May 13, 2008
LiFE@WORK gets a nutritionist to examine one regular gym-goer’s diet, and to tell you how to build muscle without turning to extreme diets Frank Morris at ...


Shattering Jackson's throwing records
Southeast Missourian, MO - May 16, 2008
"Those sports helped build muscle. But what I also think it does is help me get a competitive edge. The more you compete, the better you are at competing ...


Miley's Got Milk
E! Online - May 14, 2008
Some studies suggest that teens who choose milk over sugary drinks tend to be leaner and the protein helps build muscle. It's the best of both worlds. ...


Who needs recipes?
guardian.co.uk, UK - May 13, 2008
Dedicated umami receptors on our tongues hunt for and recognise proteins, which we need to build muscle. Umami is the rich, stock-like taste that makes it ...

Build-Muscle - Google News

home | site map
© 2006