My workout routine has changed a little bit over the summer. Along my favorite Barre and Pilates workouts I started doing more of my own workouts, around 2-3 times a week. Everything at home or outside, because me and the gym = no amigos, but rivales.

RELATED:

• 9 Barre Workouts You Can Do At Home
• 8 Pilates Workouts To Tone Everything Without Leaving The Mat

I think once you get familiar with working out, different exercises & their proper form it’s important to start trying to create exercise routines for yourself. This way you can do exactly the workouts that challenge you, without dull moments, that are also suitable for your own level.

That’s what I’ve been doing for 6-7 years now and I find the workouts that I do for myself the most effective ones for me. On the other hand I really love yoga, barre and pilates so I want to keep doing those as well on most days. Exercise should bring results, but mostly it should be fun.

The other thing I started doing this summer is that I started incorporating some weights into my workouts every now and then. You know, the ones I found from my dad? Nothing huge, just 8 pounds in each hand. I do arm workouts, leg and butt workouts, upper body workouts – and they get very challenging when I add that much weight. I’ve only used 2 pounds in the past and I used to hate weights. For now I actually like them and I haven’t become Arnold Schwarzenegger yet, so…And how can I, he’s older than me.

So this workout is a leg workout, that will also tone your booty and has a cardio component to it to burn some fat as well. I made sure to include some inner thigh work, as this is kind of a problem area for me – my inner thighs have their own life and they like to move wherever they want.

I did this workout in 15 minutes last week, after I woke up at 6am and then headed to my morning walk. Which is ironic…next day I almost couldn’t walk because everything hurt. So make sure to stretch after the workout, if you’ll need to get from point A to point B by foot the next day.

You can do this workout at home, outside or at the gym – it’s short, but very effective! Don’t forget to play your favorite music while you’re doing it and have fun!

Also, and I have to say it every time, please consult with your doctor when you start a new workout regimen.

15-Minute Workout To Tone Your Legs and Burn Fat

This short leg workout is made out of 5 different movements that target your lower body muscles.

2 rounds with almost no rest between each movement was what worked for me and it took me 15 minutes to complete the entire thing.

If you need breaks: make them. For every exercise, it’s really important to keep your core tight and keep the proper form as shown in the videos below. Also make sure to have your water there and to use weights that are suitable for your fitness level or no weights at all. I used 8 pounds, but even without weights I would feel this workout.

20x Skaters

video demo via Howcast, this is the more cardio part of the workout

20x Reverse Lunge with Front Kick

video demo via FITNESS Magazine, this move was challenging for me, especially my knees so I did no weights.

20x Side Lunges

video demo via LIVESTRONG.COM, love this move – it’s simple, but tones many muscle groups (inner thighs, glutes) – I used weights here.

20x Inner Thigh Leg Lifts

 video demo via Howcast, lovely to take a break on the mat while toning those inner thighs!

20 Side Lunge To Curtsey Lunge

video demo via Health Magazine, loooved this move! I felt my low back muscles tighten as well, it’s really important to keep core very strong here. As mentioned in the video, this move works your coordination and balance as well – awesome move!

Now that you’ve been through all the exercises once, do it again.

Don’t forget to stretch

My favorite part after the workout. While stretching, I feel so strong, relaxed, just awesome. It’s like the hard work is over, time to relax and enjoy. Here’s a 13-minute routine to stretch your lower body – pretty similar to what I always do.

I hope you enjoy this 15-minute leg workout for women, let me know how it was for you.