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Looking to get fit and stay fit? Check out our home workout and health and fitness articles daily! From nutrition to exercise, we're dedicated to giving you the tips and advice you need to succeed.

P90X Legs and Back Workout

Written by: Elizabeth Renter

LegsThe P90X Legs and Back Workout is definitely one of the favorites. This one is designed to blast your lower body into solid shape and includes some old fashioned pull ups and upper body work to break the workout up. According to the P90X Fitness Guide, the P90X Legs and Back workout wasn’t always so versatile. Originally it was just intended for the lower body. But the test group thought it needed something else. Tony added some back work to mix it up and vary the program a little.

 

The legs carry some of the largest muscles in the body. It’s no wonder squats and lunges are so popular in nearly every workout program. By increasing the size of these muscles you can actually speed your fitness progress. The P90X Legs and Back workout will help you develop some killer gams while also working that back to ensure a varied workout and not complete overkill on the lower body.

 

Guarantee you will feel the effects of the P90X Legs and Back workout the following day for at least the first two times you try it. And if you are doing it right—increasing intensity as you develop—you will feel it for long after those initial workouts as well.

 

With 5 different types of lunges and 5 different squats, your legs will be screaming for a break. But, it will all seem worth it when those results start showing through.

 

The P90X Legs and Back workout is one of the more popular because it is highly effective and the results are quick to manifest. Be sure to have your Fitness Guide handy the first few times you run through this workout. The guide has great tips for each of the moves including hints for intensifying the workout if you feel like you need it.

 

Exercises to Jump Higher: Increasing Your Vertical Leap

Written by: Elizabeth Renter

j0442234There are sports where your vertical jump is a huge asset. Basketball is the primary example, obviously, when how high you jump often translates into rebounds and points. NBA phenom LeBron James, for example, has a vertical leap of 44 inches! While you may be well below that or even within reach, working on your vertical leap can be quite easy when you know the best exercises to jump higher.

 

Vertical jumps mostly utilize the leg muscles. As you slightly squat and then spring up, you are engaging everything below your hips. It would make sense, then, that the best exercises to jump higher are those that build up the muscles in your lower body and also increase that springing action. Finding a workout program with a high quality lower body routine is a great place to start.

 

One of the best exercises to jump higher is the squat. Squats primarily work the thighs and the gluteus muscles, crucial groups when jumping. Proper form is important to ensure you are using the right muscle and preventing injury with squats. Consider using a workout ball and doing your squats against the wall. You want to sit back into the squat and slowly lower until your hips are in line with your knees. If these are easy, add some weights. Do 3 sets of 15 to start.

 

Lunges are another great group of exercises to jump higher. There are numerous ways to do lunges. You can step back into the lunge or lunge forward. As they are all pretty effective, the method you use is largely personal preference. Maintain good form and don’t extend your front knee over your ankle when lunging.

 

Another powerhouse when examining the best exercises to jump higher is the step-up. Using a chair and being cautious to maintain your balance, step up on to the chair using one leg; raise the other leg and then slowly step back down. You will definitely feel these in the morning.

 

Lastly, when working on your vertical, remember your reaction time and that initial spring can be improved with some drills. Plyometric workouts are the way to improve your jump height. Check out the Plyo DVD in the P90X series for some serious work and a great way to get your leaping higher.