Key to athletic legs: Simple exercises for success

Hip thrusts

Lie on a bench with your shoulders on it and your feet on the floor. Place a barbell with weight plates on your hips and lift your hips.

Perform 5 sets of 8 reps with a 60-second rest.

Hip thrusts (photo: eatthis.com)

Romanian deadlifts

Stand with your feet hip-width apart, holding a barbell. Push your hips back, keep your back straight, and lower until you feel a stretch in your hamstrings.

Romanian deadlifts (Photo: eatthis.com)

Lateral lunges

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and sit back on one hip. Repeat with the other leg.

Lateral squats (photo: eatthis.com)

Step-ups

Place one foot on a box, shift all your weight onto that foot, and push up through your heel.

Step-ups (photo: eatthis.com)

Goblet squats

Hold a kettlebell with both hands over your chest. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes slightly pointed out.

Squat down and spread your knees apart, lowering below parallel while keeping your lower back straight.

Perform 4 sets of 6 reps.

Goblet Squats(photo: eatthis.com)

Previously, we reported on how to quickly slim down specific parts of the body.

We also wrote about 6 workout mistakes that can cause serious harm to the body.