6 Squat Alternative Workouts

Tired of the same old squat workouts to strengthen your leg muscles? We don’t blame you. Is your trainer doing the same old leg workouts? Well then they don't know SQUAT. It’s important to switch things up in order to keep building your quadricep, hamstring and calf muscles. Squats are also great for promoting total body muscle building, so no personal trainer would say they are a waste of time in your workout routine. We can do one better though, with these squat alternatives to traditional moves, your workout will be more high energy and more effective.

Your best bet to find fun, new leg exercises that are best for your body, is working with a personal trainer who can create a customized workout plan just for you. In the meantime, you can try these workouts today:

1. Alternating Walking Double-Lunge
2. Box Step-Up With Barbell
3. Tire Flips
4. Sliding Lateral Lunge
5. Kettle Bell Swings
6. Skaters With Weights

Instructions:

Alternating Walking Double-Lunge

Mix up your standard walking lunge, by incorporating a double-lunge. With a barbell resting on your shoulders, start out in a walking lunge. Before standing completely upright, stand up half way then lunge down again. Stand upright, bring your feet together and alternate legs. (12 lunges for each leg x 2 sets)

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KAM9cqwNEU[/embed]

Box Step-Up With Barbell

Stand facing a plyomettic platform box, with a barbell resting on your shoulders. Put your right foot on top of the box. Using just the strength in your right leg, step up onto the box. You can use your left foot to balance on top of the box for a beat, but then extend your left leg back, squeezing your glutes for a moment, then returning back to the ground. Repeat this 15 times, then switch legs. (15 reps for each leg x 2 sets)

Tire Flips

Start out by positioning your feet shoulder-width apart, underneath the tire. Squat down, keeping your chest up and eyes looking forward. Lift the tire up while rising up from your squat and flip the tire. Walk forward and repeat 12 times. (12 reps x 2 sets)

Sliding Lateral Lunge

You can do this easily at home with just a sock and tile floor. Keep your right foot planted and slide your left foot out laterally so your right knee lunges. Be sure to keep your feet facing forward. Slide left foot back to starting position. Repeat 15 times, then switch legs. (15 reps for each leg x 2 sets)

Kettle Bell Swings

Stand in a squat position with your hips and shoulders thrust backwards. Holding the kettle bell in both hands out in front of you, swing the kettle bell upwards in front of you while thrusting into a standing position. Then return to the squat position as the kettle bell falls.

Skaters With Weights

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand. As you bend your right leg into a squat, swing your left foot under your body in a skater position. Return to the starting position and do the same thing on the opposite side. Do 15 reps on each side. (15 reps for each leg x 2 sets)