Kettlebell Leg Workout

“Never skip leg day” is a mantra that gained traction in the fitness world thanks to the glut of young men who obsessively train chest, back, arms, and shoulders to the exclusion of quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves.

Why would anyone who hits the gym regularly skip half the body? Well, one reason is because they can often get away with it if they just wear long pants all the time. Another reason: it’s just plain easier to train the upper body. Multiple sets of squats and lunges require a focused commitment; they jack up the heart rate in a way that curls and press-downs don’t. And when your legs are sore for a couple of days after a particularly hard training session, it makes life a lot harder; getting up and down out of a chair becomes a chore, where as sore arms, well, you’ll barely notice those in the course of a regular day.

Back to the “never skip leg day” mantra: everyone should heed this advice. Strong, healthy legs form the foundation of a strong, healthy body. Because no part of your body is truly isolated from the rest, strong legs lead to better posture, making for a healthier neck and spine. Another major bonus: When you build muscle mass in your legs, those muscles become calorie-burning factories, increasing your metabolism and making it easier to get and stay lean.

As for that soreness you’re so worried about? The more you train legs, the less debilitating that soreness becomes, until eventually, it’s very minor and brief.

My trainer Steve Wrona is going to take it from here with a killer kettlebell leg workout that leaves no muscle fiber in your lower hemisphere untouched.