Leg workout

Todd: Mike, you're giving tips about weight training and we've talked about upper body. Now what about lower body and legs? I actually don't want to lift weights with my legs. I just... It is OK if I just skip it?

Mike: Well, you should do your legs because you should get a full body workout because if you just do one part of your body it affect the other parts of your body as well, so you need to be balanced.

Todd: OK, so I'm convinced. I'm gonna work on my legs. What's the most basic exercise I should do?

Mike: I think you should start off squatting. That's where you put... make sure you have a squat rack, and you put the bar behind your head on your shoulders and you just squat as if you are sitting on a bench and come back up.

Todd: Now often I see guys in the gym that do that. They have the big weight belt. Do I need to get a weight belt?

Mike: It would be good, that if you're just starting off to use the weight belt but once you get the motion I would advise you to to not use the weight belt so that it forces you to keep good posture yourself.

Todd: Now, when you do the squat, like how low should I go. Should I go until I'm almost sitting on the floor?

Mike: As is there was a bench underneath your.....

Todd: Bottom?

Mike: Bottom.

Todd: Right. Yeah, right. So basically, your legs and your knees should be about 90 degrees.

Mike: Yeah.

Todd: OK, so that's... that will work out all my legs? That's all I have to do is squats?

Mike: Yeah, that's probably the best one you can do.

Todd: OK, and that is for my calves and my hamstrings too?

Mike: Not your calves but for your hamstrings and your bottom.

Todd: OK. So what should I do for my calves?

Mike: You can do calf raises, which is... you can do it on a squat rack, and you just hold the bar in the same position as you would a squat and just raise your legs up on your toes.

Todd: OK, so in terms of how... of sets, like how many sets should I do of the squats?

Mike: I think you should start of with three sets.

Todd: Three sets.

Mike: The same as the other exercises.

Todd: And about ten reps?

Mike: And about ten reps, yes.

Todd: So do I always keep the weight constant? I don't have the weight go up or down?

Mike: Well, once you get used to the motion and the position that you're in, then you can start increasing the weights as you go.

Todd: OK, but I mean, each set should be the same weight.

Mike: Yeah, when you're starting off.

Todd: OK, yeah. And also just for the calves, just do three sets?

Mike: Yep, just do three sets.

Todd: Alright.

Mike: Well, thanks a lot, Mike. I'm gonna get started.