No matter how long you spend on a treadmill or the different machines you use for your legs, you’re still not happy with the way you think your thighs look in pants or how they jiggle when you walk. Use ankle weights or elastic bands to increase the difficulty of the exercise. Burns more calories than lying straight leg raise. Arms stay stationary throughout the whole exercise. But if you can’t, then raise your leg as high as you can and work your way up in the course of time. Resisted Leg Kickback on Knee Your information has been successfully processed! While aerobic activity and weighted leg lifts can help strengthen your thighs, standing side leg raises are one of the best ways you can target and tone that part of your body, and you don’t need a gym membership to do it. This flexibility is useful, as you can vary the exercise according to the strength of your back. Instructions. Aim to ramp up to between 20 and 30 reps after four weeks. There are a variety of leg lifts that you can do, depending on your physical condition and the level of intensity that you're looking for in a workout. The reverse leg raise is a single-joint exercise that strengthens the glutes and improves hip mobility. Are Standing Side Leg Raises Good for Thighs? Keeping your midsection tight, contract your glutes to lift one leg in the air. Keeping your midsection tight, contract your glutes to lift one leg in the air. Glute bridges strengthen deep glute muscles. Author of the "From Fat To Six Pack" E-mail training course. Do them safely: one set of 10 at a time. All rights reserved. This exercise you start with the palms of your hands on the floor and raise up to a reverse plank and then engage the leg lift alternating slowly between your left and right leg. Standing or lying hamstring curls are apt for severe knee conditions. Standing leg lifts (also known as standing straight leg raises or “Frankensteins”) is a dynamic standing ab exercise targeting lower abs. This lengthening, or stretch, results from the work your thighs perform to lift your leg and keep it up. Lie facedown on the floor with your feet together and hands overhead. You can find him on Google+ and Facebook. Switch legs after you complete a set. Thank you for signing up. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Here's Why You Should Eat Black Fly Larvae, Ultramarathoner Zach Bitter's Tips for a New Routine, Angelica Teixeira's Diet and Training Tips, What Other Sports Can Learn From The NBA Bubble, Ms. Olympia Returns: A Tradition Restored, Shawn Ray: A Pound-For-Pound All-Time Champion, Ronnie Coleman's 6 Tips for Getting Shredded, Frank Zane: The Thinking Man's Bodybuilder, Breathing Tips From Halle Berry's Trainer, Phil Heath Officially Started His Olympia Prep, Flex Lewis Took a Year Off Before — It Paid Off, Shaq Talks Mr. Olympia and Bodybuilding Motivation, Take Baking Soda to Prevent Muscle Soreness.