I Do CrossFit and These Are the 15 Leg Exercises I Do Every Week, Without Fail

Updated on 2/10/2019 at 10:00 AM

Every day in CrossFit seems like leg day because we do so many exercises that involve the lower body. From squats and deadlifts to box jumps, my legs are in a constant state of "holy crap, we're sore as hell!" But that's why I do CrossFit; I love working hard, getting strong, and challenging myself. While many elements of CrossFit involve full-body workouts, here are the exercises I love that work my legs.

Goblet Squat

Stand with your feet wider than shoulder width, with your toes pointed slightly out. Hold your dumbbell at chest level with both hands. Keeping your back flat, push your hips back, bend your knees, and lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the floor and your elbows touch your knees.
With your weight focused on your heels, push yourself up to the starting position to complete one rep.

Dumbbell Thrusters

Stand with your legs just slightly wider than hip-distance apart, arms raised to shoulder height with elbows bent, holding weights by your ears.
Bend your knees as if you were sitting in a chair, keeping weight on your heels.
Press the dumbbells overhead as you straighten your knees to return to standing.

Wall Balls

Stand in front of a wall holding your med ball with both hands in front of your chest.
Squat down low with your hips below your knees. As you straighten your legs, throw the ball up to a specific spot on the wall or a target, about eight to 10 feet from the floor. You want to use the power of your lower body to propel the ball up, coming onto the balls of your feet.
Keep your arms extended, ready to catch the ball after it bounces off the wall. This counts as one rep.

Box Jumps

Stand with your feet slightly wider than hips-width distance apart in front of a sturdy box that's six to 24 (or more!) inches tall.
Bend your knees and swing your arms back.
Jump onto the top of the box with both feet, swinging the arms forward to give you a little momentum.
Step one foot at a time back to the floor or jump down softly with both feet.
This counts as one rep.

Wall Sit

Stand with your back against a wall, placing your feet about two feet in front of you. Feet should be hip-distance apart.
Bending your knees, slide your back down the wall until your knees are at 90-degree angles. Your knee joints should be over your ankle joints, so you may need to inch your feet farther from the wall to create proper alignment. Don't let your knees fall into the midline of your body or sway outward.
Hold for 30 to 60 seconds, and then stand up.
Make this even more challenging by resting a soft medicine ball on your lap.

Jump Squats

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Start by doing a regular squat, then engage your core and jump up explosively.
When you land, lower your body back into the squat position to complete one rep. Land as quietly as possible, which requires control.

Surrenders

Stand with your hands behind your head with your elbows wide, and bring your right knee to the floor, onto a yoga or exercise mat for padding.
Bring your left knee down so you are kneeling.
Lift your right knee up and place your right foot in front of you. Bring the left foot forward coming into a deep squat, then press through your heels to come to standing.
Reverse the move and bring your left knee to the floor to repeat the sequence on the other side to complete one rep.
Make this even harder by holing a pair of dumbbells, a kettlebell or a soft medicine ball.

Lateral Band Walks

Place a resistance band just below your knees.
Begin standing with feet directly underneath your hips, and squat about halfway down.
Take a step sideways to the right as far as you can. To fully activate the muscle, be sure to step onto your heel, rather than your toes.
Actively resist the pull of the exercise band as you bring your left leg slowly toward your right, returning to the starting position.
Step to the right 20-30 times, then reverse directions stepping to the left 20-30 times.

Jump Rope

While this is meant as a cardio move, jumping rope absolutely works my legs, especially my calves.

Alternating Forward Lunge

Stand tall with your feet hips-width distance apart. Bend the elbows at your sides or rest your hands on the hips.
Step forward with the right foot, lowering your hips until both knees are bent at about a 90-degree angle. Keep the front knee directly above the ankle, and lower the left knee to just above the floor.
Keep the weight in your heels as you push back to the starting position.
Repeat stepping with the left foot this time, completing one rep.

Back Squat

Start with a loaded barbell; 75 pounds is a great starting point. Beginners should start with just the barbell and gradually add weight as they become familiar with the movement.
Position your hands about shoulder-width apart on the barbell, and lightly grip the bar with an overhand grip.
Step in front of the rack, and rest the bar on your trapezius muscles (the muscle closest to your neck/upper back).
With your feet about hip-distance apart, lift the barbell off the rack. Take one to two steps backwards.
Shift your weight back into your heels. Brace your abs as you begin to lower into a squat, keeping your head and spine in a neutral position. Your knees should be as close to 90 degrees as possible. Hold for one second.
With your core still braced, drive through your heels to stand back up. Be sure to squeeze your glutes at the top of your squat. That's one rep.

Front Squat

Start with a loaded barbell; 65 to 75 pounds is a great starting point. Beginners should start with just the barbell, gradually adding weight as they become familiar with the movement.
Position your hands about shoulder-width apart on the barbell and lightly grip the bar.
Rest the bar on your clavicle and shoulders as you lift your elbows up. Your elbows should go as high as your mobility allows.
With your feet about hip-distance apart, lift the barbell off the rack. Take 1 to 2 steps backwards.
Shift your weight back into your heels. Brace your abs as you begin to lower into a squat, keeping your head and back straight. Your knees should be as close to 90 degrees as possible.
With your core still braced, drive through your heels to stand back up. Be sure to squeeze your glutes at the top of your squat.
That's one rep.
Do three sets of 8.

Single-Leg Deadlift With Kettlebell

Hold a kettlebell (between 10 and 20 pounds) in your right hand, and lift your left foot slightly off the ground.
Keeping your back neutral, lean your entire torso forward while raising your left leg, which should stay in line with your body. The kettlebell will lower toward the ground. Keep your left shoulder blade pulled down your back.
With your back straight, return upright, coming to your starting position. This completes one rep. Maximize this move by keeping your right foot off the ground as you go through your reps.
Do 12 reps on each leg to complete one set.

Romanian Deadlift

Holding the barbell (or two dumbbells at your side), keep your arms straight and knees slightly bent.
Slowly bend at your hip joint, not your waist, and lower the weights as far as possible without rounding your back, which should remain straight. Looking forward, not at the ground, will help you avoid rounding your back. Keep the weights close to, almost touching, your legs.
Squeeze your glutes to slowly pull yourself up. Be sure not to use your back or round your spine!
Do 12 reps to complete one set.

Burpees

Lower into a crouching squat with your hands on the floor.
Do a squat thrust by jumping your feet back into a plank position.
Do one basic push-up, bending the elbows and then straightening back to a plank.
Jump the feet forward to the hands, and come into a squat.
Do an explosive jump straight up, getting as much height as you can.