This is the single best lower-body exercise for men

pulse

March 22, 2017 2:47 PM

Add this move to your workout for a bigger, stronger, and more athletic body.

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The Bulgarian split squat is by far my favorite lower-body exercise. In the video below Im doing higher reps while wearing a 100-pound weight vest.

This is a nice variation to throw in because sometimes I just like to focus on the mind-muscle connection and not worry about holding weights.

I'm sure I'm beating a dead horse at this point, since I constantly promote this drill, but I still get a lot of people who ask me for my go-to legs exercise and this is it. The amount of muscular development I've achieved from this drill is really astounding. And the gainz keep coming.

Here are 10 reasons the Bulgarian split squat should be a staple in your training program:

1. It unloads the spine2. It improves hip and quad mobility3. It's easy to recover from4. You can perform it daily5. It works your inner and outer hip and thigh due to the split stance6. It can be performed anytime, anywhere by just about anybody7. It generates insane muscle pumps8. It fixes strength and mobility imbalances between sides9. It improves lower-body aesthetics10. It transfers very well to athletics

This is why I use Bulgarian split squats in almost every workout in my Men's Health body transformation program MetaShred Extreme. The safety and versatility of the move makes it perfect for building muscle while shredding fat.

Look, if you enjoy barbell squatting and it works for your body, keep rocking it. If anything, this move is a great accessory exercise to improve your squatting.

Frankly, bilateral loaded squatting doesn't come very naturally to me and it's never really felt right. A lot of this is due to the fact that I've had very poor ankle mobility and a history of knee injuries from my football days. And I've back squatted around 450 pounds before, which is light weight to an Instagram star or powerlifter but still a decent load. That being said, my legs are way more developed now than they were when I was doing heavy barbell squatting.

Make your fitness program work for you. Don't just do an exercise because it's what always has been done or because people you admire do it. And that same logic applies to Bulgarian split squats—if you give this move a chance and it doesn't groove with your body, don't do it. But I think you'll find it to be just what the doctor ordered.

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Follow BJ on Instagram at @bjgaddour for daily fitness tips and done-for-you workouts.

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