The Best Leg Lifts for Toning Men's Legs

Men can tone their legs through a variety of light weightlifting movements in combination with a healthy diet and consistent exercise. You can achieve the desired tone by performing compound exercises that hit the quads, hamstrings and calf muscles. Men can generally lift more weight than women, so they will retain more muscle mass through exercise, resulting in toned legs.

  1. Dumbbell Lunges

    • Dumbbell lunges are a convenient exercise you can perform anywhere. Lunges are a natural movement that hit each muscle in your legs including the quads, hamstrings calves and glutes. Lunges also tone your core as they help balance the movement. Warm up without weights and then take a pair of moderately heavy dumbbells that allow you to perform 10 to 15 reps for each leg for three sets. Alternate legs each rep or complete all reps for one leg before moving to the other based on your preference.

    Barbell Squats

    • Barbell squats work your quads, hamstrings and calves. They target your glutes while you are at the bottom of the movement, and they hit your core as you stabilize the weight throughout the movement. Warm up without weight and then place a moderately challenging weight on the bar that you can perform 10 to 15 reps over the course of three sets to exhaust the muscles and promote growth and definition. Squats present a safety risk, so have someone spot you when you perform the movement with weight. Squats specifically target your legs and will help you tone your legs through repetition.

    Leg Press

    • Using a leg press machine presents an ideal way to promote definition of your legs. The machine targets only your legs and does not present risk for injury to your upper body. As an isolation exercise, leg presses allow you to focus fully on the movement and the flex of your muscles as you work -- specifically your quads, hamstrings, calves and glutes. This exercise also allows you to use more weight as a result. Load a challenging weight on to the bar and aim for 10 to 12 reps over three sets.

    Considerations

    • A proper diet is important, as is doing aerobic exercise that will help you to burn fat. Consume lean proteins such as chicken, as well as fruit and vegetables, such as broccoli and salad, and do cardio to help you burn more calories than you consume. This combination will help you to shed excess body fat and reveal muscle definition.