Best Beginner Legs Workouts To Get Lean And Burn Fat

About

This workout is designed to enhance your lower body strength and overall fitness.

The exercises focus on the major leg muscle groups, including glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, adductors, and abductors, and promote comprehensive engagement during your routine.

Beginners will appreciate the straightforward yet effective movements, ideal for those with less than one year of training experience.

To help foster leanness and metabolism activation, the regimen incorporates higher repetitions paired with lower weights, ensuring a steady calorie burn while preserving muscle mass.

Equipment chosen for these exercises minimizes complexity and emphasizes safety, suitable for individuals at the start of their fitness journey.

This approach effectively ensures gains in strength and endurance for a well-rounded workout.

The 15 Best Beginner Legs Exercises to Get Lean and Burn Fat

Ranked By

Ranked based on Fitbod's internal data set of the most effective exercises. Learn More

  • 1. Air Squats

    SETS LOGGED
    4,829,470
    Quadriceps Strength
    98 mScore
    Quadriceps

    Air Squats are simple exercises that use your body weight to strengthen your legs, especially the quadriceps. They are perfect for beginners as they help build strength and prepare you for more challenging workouts.

    How to do it

    Air Squats are simple exercises that use your body weight to strengthen your legs, especially the quadriceps. They are perfect for beginners as they help build strength and prepare you for more challenging workouts.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    9reps
    2
    9reps
    3
    9reps
  • 2. Dumbbell Lunge

    SETS LOGGED
    4,322,067
    Quadriceps Strength
    98 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Lunge is a way to make lunges more challenging by adding dumbbells. It mainly works your thigh muscles (quads) while also helping with balance and strength.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Lunge is a way to make lunges more challenging by adding dumbbells. It mainly works your thigh muscles (quads) while also helping with balance and strength.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 3. Dumbbell Squat

    SETS LOGGED
    3,249,788
    Quadriceps Strength
    98 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Squat is a modified version of the standard squat that uses dumbbells instead of a barbell. This exercise mainly works your thigh muscles and offers more freedom of movement, making it easier for those with mobility issues. It also helps improve squat stability and build strength for advanced exercises.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Squat is a modified version of the standard squat that uses dumbbells instead of a barbell. This exercise mainly works your thigh muscles and offers more freedom of movement, making it easier for those with mobility issues. It also helps improve squat stability and build strength for advanced exercises.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    17.5lbs
  • 4. Dumbbell Squat To Shoulder Press

    SETS LOGGED
    2,183,541
    Quadriceps Strength
    97 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Squat to Shoulder Press combines a squat and a shoulder press to strengthen your legs and shoulders. It helps build functional strength and is a good foundational exercise for more advanced movements.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Squat to Shoulder Press combines a squat and a shoulder press to strengthen your legs and shoulders. It helps build functional strength and is a good foundational exercise for more advanced movements.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 5. Lunge

    SETS LOGGED
    3,165,912
    Quadriceps Strength
    95 mScore
    Quadriceps

    Lunges are a great exercise for strengthening your legs, especially the quadriceps. By stepping forward with one leg, you can focus on improving balance and strength on both sides of your body.

    How to do it

    Lunges are a great exercise for strengthening your legs, especially the quadriceps. By stepping forward with one leg, you can focus on improving balance and strength on both sides of your body.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    2
    8reps
    3
    8reps
  • 6. Mountain Climber

    SETS LOGGED
    1,930,231
    Quadriceps Strength
    62 mScore
    Quadriceps

    Mountain Climber is an exercise that strengthens your core while improving stability. You start in a plank position and alternate bringing your knees toward your chest, which makes the workout more intense.

    How to do it

    Mountain Climber is an exercise that strengthens your core while improving stability. You start in a plank position and alternate bringing your knees toward your chest, which makes the workout more intense.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    9reps
    2
    9reps
    3
    9reps
  • 7. Walking Lunge

    SETS LOGGED
    1,338,423
    Quadriceps Strength
    82 mScore
    Quadriceps

    Walking Lunges are a great exercise that works your thighs, glutes, and hamstrings. You step forward into a lunge, then continue walking, which helps improve your balance and strength.

    How to do it

    Walking Lunges are a great exercise that works your thighs, glutes, and hamstrings. You step forward into a lunge, then continue walking, which helps improve your balance and strength.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    2
    8reps
    3
    8reps
  • 8. Mini Loop Band Squat

    SETS LOGGED
    133,352
    Quadriceps Strength
    52 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of Mini Loop Bands
    Mini Loop Bands

    The Mini Loop Band Squat is a squat variation that uses a mini loop band to strengthen your legs, especially the quadriceps. The band helps stabilize your knees while you squat, improving your form and preparing you for heavier squats.

    How to do it

    The Mini Loop Band Squat is a squat variation that uses a mini loop band to strengthen your legs, especially the quadriceps. The band helps stabilize your knees while you squat, improving your form and preparing you for heavier squats.

  • 9. Glute Kickback Machine

    SETS LOGGED
    1,405,344
    Glutes Strength
    99 mScore
    Glutes
    Photo of Glute Kickback Machine
    Glute Kickback Machine

    The Glute Kickback Machine helps strengthen your glutes using a machine for added resistance. This exercise gives you better control and stability while allowing you to focus on the movement without worrying about balancing.

    How to do it

    The Glute Kickback Machine helps strengthen your glutes using a machine for added resistance. This exercise gives you better control and stability while allowing you to focus on the movement without worrying about balancing.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 10. Cable Hip Extension

    SETS LOGGED
    1,064,458
    Glutes Strength
    95 mScore
    Glutes
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable

    Cable Hip Extension is an exercise where you attach your leg to a cable machine and extend it behind you while standing. This helps strengthen your glutes and improve balance, as the cable provides controlled resistance.

    How to do it

    Cable Hip Extension is an exercise where you attach your leg to a cable machine and extend it behind you while standing. This helps strengthen your glutes and improve balance, as the cable provides controlled resistance.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    22.5lbs
  • 11. Hip Thrust

    SETS LOGGED
    3,890,283
    Glutes Strength
    99 mScore
    Glutes

    The Hip Thrust is an easy exercise that focuses on strengthening your glutes. It helps improve your glute drive, which benefits many other movements and exercises.

    How to do it

    The Hip Thrust is an easy exercise that focuses on strengthening your glutes. It helps improve your glute drive, which benefits many other movements and exercises.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    16reps
    2
    16reps
    3
    16reps
  • 12. Stability Ball Hip Bridge

    SETS LOGGED
    746,166
    Glutes Strength
    87 mScore
    Glutes
    Photo of Stability (Swiss) Ball
    Stability (Swiss) Ball

    The Stability Ball Hip Bridge is a variation of the Glute Bridge that strengthens your glutes while using a stability ball for added challenge. It helps you improve muscle activation and stability. This exercise is performed by holding the position for a set time.

    How to do it

    The Stability Ball Hip Bridge is a variation of the Glute Bridge that strengthens your glutes while using a stability ball for added challenge. It helps you improve muscle activation and stability. This exercise is performed by holding the position for a set time.

  • 13. Step Up

    SETS LOGGED
    1,602,387
    Glutes Strength
    89 mScore
    Glutes
    Photo of Box
    Box

    Step Ups are a simple exercise that strengthens your legs, focusing on your glutes, quads, and hamstrings. They allow you to work each leg individually while standing, making them easier for beginners to perform.

    How to do it

    Step Ups are a simple exercise that strengthens your legs, focusing on your glutes, quads, and hamstrings. They allow you to work each leg individually while standing, making them easier for beginners to perform.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    2
    8reps
    3
    8reps
  • 14. Balance Trainer Mountain Climber

    SETS LOGGED
    281,320
    Quadriceps Strength
    30 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of BOSU® Balance Trainer
    BOSU® Balance Trainer

    The Balance Trainer Mountain Climber is a challenging cardio and core workout that uses a BOSU balance trainer. It helps improve your balance, core strength, and endurance while getting your heart rate up.

    How to do it

    The Balance Trainer Mountain Climber is a challenging cardio and core workout that uses a BOSU balance trainer. It helps improve your balance, core strength, and endurance while getting your heart rate up.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    2
    8reps
    3
    8reps
  • 15. Balance Trainer Squat

    SETS LOGGED
    550,232
    Quadriceps Strength
    29 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of BOSU® Balance Trainer
    BOSU® Balance Trainer

    The Balance Trainer Squat adds an unstable surface to the standard squat, helping to improve balance and coordination while targeting your thighs. This exercise challenges your muscles more than regular squats, leading to better results.

    How to do it

    The Balance Trainer Squat adds an unstable surface to the standard squat, helping to improve balance and coordination while targeting your thighs. This exercise challenges your muscles more than regular squats, leading to better results.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    2
    8reps
    3
    8reps

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Alternative Beginner Workouts to Get Lean and Burn Fat

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Best Beginner Legs Workouts To Get Lean And Burn Fat | Fitbod Workout Generator