Happy Wednesday!

Today’s post is for the lower body and is a great work-out for your legs and butt, y’all! My two not-so-favorite parts of my body.

The images below are taken with me using stairs, but you certainly don’t need stairs to do these.

If you do, however, have access to stairs in your home or if your gym has them grab a barbell weight and hold it in your right hand for 2 trips and then switch to your left hand for two trips. This is set 1. For set 2 grab a heavier weight and, you guessed it, a heavier one for set 3.

I skip a stair landing in between each step to “feel the burn” a little better. The reason for the weight is because it also works your core because you have to balance your weight while climbing the stairs while the weight throws you off balance.

Image by BellaFotografica

If you do not have stairs then all you need is a weight bench and a dumbbell for step-ups, for these you won’t alternate between right and left legs like you do when you climb up stairs.

I usually start with my right leg, meaning I step-up onto the bench with my right leg, so my left leg is free. For these your weight (I use a dumbbell) goes in the opposite hand of the one you are stepping up with, so that means the weight starts in my left hand. I step-up with my right leg for 15, then switch legs and hands with the weight for another 15. That my friends, is set 1. Then it’s on to heavier weights for set 2 and 3!

Happy Fitness Wednesday y’all!

Tamara