Lifters get a little too nuanced and hyper focused when it comes to growing specific body parts. When it comes to a sculpted lower body the instinct (thanks to TikTok and Instagram) is to prioritize donkey kicks and inner-thigh machines. The reality is, if you want big glutes and sculpted legs, the best way is to focus on heavy, compound movements like squats, deadlifts, and lunges.
Building bigger muscle groups shouldn’t just be about looks. It should be about power, function, and longevity. Having aesthetically looking glutes and hamstrings looks nice, but it also supports your posture, protects your knees, low back, and makes you stronger overall in a way that carries over into real life.
Why Compound Movements Like Squats and Deadlifts Are Key
As mentioned before, focus should be on compound lifts. The reason is that these recruit multiple muscle groups at once. We don’t just want big glutes and legs. We want to bring up all the stabilizing and supporting muscles that round out a lower body look. They build real strength, and add shape quicker than any isolation movement can.
The Big Three:
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Squats: The king of leg exercises, squats target your quads, hamstrings, glutes, and core. They also boost overall athleticism, improve mobility, and build serious lower-body power.
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Deadlifts: Whether you choose conventional, sumo, or Romanian deadlifts, these are non-negotiable for strong hamstrings and glutes. Deadlifts train the posterior chain, which improves strength, posture, and overall movement efficiency.
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Hip Thrusts: One of the best exercises for directly targeting the glutes. If you want a round, strong backside, heavy hip thrusts need to be a staple in your program.
Use Isolations to Add Volume
Isolation movements DO have their place. I like to compare using more targeted accessory movements to add extra volume to bring up lagging areas. I find that they’re a low stakes tool that minimizes injury, and maximizes growth and definition.
Glute-Focused Exercises:
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Hip Thrusts (or Glute Bridges): These can still be loaded, but also create maximum glute activation.
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Bulgarian Split Squats: Super effective unilateral glute and quad work.
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Cable Kickbacks or Banded Glute Kickbacks: Great for finishing off a session with high reps.
Hamstring Exercises:
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Leg Curls: Stretch and add volume for the hamstrings for balanced lower-body development.
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Nordic Hamstring Curls (or Stability Ball Hamstring Curls): A tough but effective way to build strong hamstrings.
Quad Exercises:
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Leg Extensions: Target the four heads of the quads more directly than squat work giving them a fuller shape.
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Leg Press: A solid way to load up heavy without taxing the lower back.
How to Structure Your Lower Body Workouts
Train lower body 2-3 times per week, alternating between heavier strength-focused days and higher-rep, muscle-building days. This will provide the frequency to hit a lagging area more often, but also spread out the workload so you can approach them more refreshed and thus potentially more weight.
Example Split:
Day 1: Strength Focus (Lower reps, heavier weight)
- Squats – 4x5
- Romanian Deadlifts – 4x6
- Hip Thrusts – 4x8
- Bulgarian Split Squats – 3x10 each leg
Day 2: Glute & Hamstring Focus (Moderate weight, higher reps)
- Hip Thrusts – 4x10
- Romanian Deadlifts – 4x12
- Nordic Curls – 3x8
- Banded Glute Kickbacks – 3x15 each leg
Day 3: Volume & Unilateral Work
- Front Squats – 3x8
- Reverse Lunges – 3x10 each leg
- Step-Ups – 3x12 each leg
- Leg Press – 3x15
Consistency Is Everything
I can show you the most perfect program, but the reality is consistency is everything. You have to be willing to consistently push heavier weight each week or add one more rep. Build strength through the compound lifts and use the accessory exercises to add more sets and volume to provide enough stimulus to grow. It’s not about just doing “toning” exercises, but creating a well-rounded approach that targets the legs from all different angles and intensity techniques
