If there’s one part of the body that is most often ignored by both athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike, it has to be the legs. Leg day is the most hated day at the gym throughout the entire week. In reality, leg day is probably the most important part of your weekly training session. For an athlete, this assertion holds even more weight. And here are three reasons why you shouldn’t skip leg day.
Leg Day Workout Better Musculoskeletal Health
You can chug in as much protein and calcium as you want for healthy bones, but if your stems aren’t good enough; you’re pretty much walking on the road to disaster. Imagine a table with weak legs. Yea, you get it; lack of balance and the risk of collapsing all together if too much weight or force goes on top.
The same is the case with your legs; they form an essential component of your body’s entire support system in combination with your backbone, and lend better support and balance to your body. Having weak legs not only compromises your ability to perform other fitness tasks as an athlete, but also reduces body balance and increases your chance of incurring injuries and fractures.
If you’re a female athlete, leg day workout is of even more value because you’re prone to the early onset of chronic degenerative ailments of the bones such as osteoporosis. Now you wouldn’t want a really bad fall to snap a bone and put a dent on your athletic career, would you? There are ways to resume exercise after leg fracture, but it’s not going to be as easy. Strong legs make a stronger and fitter you.
Better Productivity and Motivation
The more direct benefits of a good morning walk, or even a sprint, are well known to everyone. But a number of people tend to ignore the broader picture, even athletes themselves at times. The reduced levels of cortisol and stress act as a major motivator and thus induce a significant amount of productivity throughout the entire day. An early morning sprint can even substitute for a cardio routine that you would do at the gym otherwise.
And what part of your body does a good morning walk or run actually depend on the most? Yes, your legs. So naturally, the best way to get the maximum benefit out of a walk or run is to make your legs stronger so that the fatigue doesn’t get to you. In fact, jogging is a great way to maintain practice if you’re a race athlete in particular.
Better Body Contouring
It’s no hidden fact that women dig men with nice, firm, and well-developed tennis player or soccer legs. Well, I’m not saying that a pair of manly legs should be every woman’s goal as well, but a well-shaped physique is important for that extra bit of sex appeal.
A big part of body conditioning and contouring is developing the whole body uniformly. A well-built shoulder and chest (in the case of men), and a curvy torso (in the case of women) must be complemented with a nice pair of healthy and appropriately athletic legs instead a pair of matchsticks. And considering that most active wear for athletes is skintight, keeping the shape right becomes even more important.
Some Important Tips
So if you’re planning on taking leg day exercise a bit more seriously, which you definitely should after reading this, keep these tips in mind. Know your goals; if you’re a runner, then you’d want to throw in some strength training for the legs as well along with the regulars.
Effective exercises include squats, deadlifts and lunges, as well as single-leg variations of those movements. Opt for free weight exercise instead of lower body machines to engage your core in the process.
Don’t add more weight or attempt to go for speed until you’ve got the movement patterns right; you’ll injure yourself badly if you do so. When in doubt, consult a certified athlete trainer or coach.
