Lower-body workouts should be part of your exercise regimen and not just because they can give your legs and bum a more toned appearance.

Your glutes, quads and hamstrings are among the largest and most powerful muscles in your body. When you’re faced with having to lift something heavy—as we all will from time to time—you want strong legs, they’ll be able to shoulder more of the load than your arms.

Plus, the more lean muscle you have, the better your metabolic health, according to a 2025 study in the Journal of European Clinical Nutrition . The fundamentals are that muscle costs calories to run and the bigger those already substantial muscles are, the more calories they burn, even at rest. You may like

An expert trainer says these three moves will build a stronger lower body, imp

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