Dumbbell Glutes Workout for Intermediate
A dumbbell glutes workout for intermediate that you can do at home or in the gym with a pair of dumbbells. 6 exercises, about 47 minutes, targeting glutes, hamstrings.
| Level | Intermediate |
| Equipment | Dumbbell |
| Time | About 47 minutes |
| Muscles | Glutes, Hamstrings |
The workout
| Exercise | Sets / reps |
|---|---|
| 1. Single Leg Glute Bridge | 4 × 8–12 / side |
| 2. Leg Lift | 4 × 8–12 |
| 3. Vertical Swing | 4 × 8–12 |
| 4. Glute Kickback | 4 × 8–12 |
| 5. Step-up with Knee Raise | 4 × 8–12 / side |
| 6. Flutter Kicks | 4 × 8–12 |
See each exercise
How to do this workout
- Warm up for 5 minutes: brisk walk or easy cardio, then one light set of the first exercise.
- Do the exercises in order. Finish all sets of one before moving on.
- Pick a weight that leaves about 1–2 reps in the tank on the last set. Rest 60–120 seconds on big lifts, 45–60 seconds on smaller ones.
- Do this workout 1–2 times a week, with at least one rest day before training the same muscles again.
How to progress
When you can do every set with good form at the top of the rep range, add one rep per set the next week, or a small amount of weight (1–2.5 kg). Progress slowly — consistent small jumps beat big ones. For fat loss, pair this with a small calorie deficit and around 1.6–2 g of protein per kg of body weight.
Exercise notes
1. Single Leg Glute Bridge
Lay on the floor with your feet flat and knees bent. Raise one leg off of the ground, pulling the knee to your chest. This will be your starting position.
2. Leg Lift
While standing up straight with both feet next to each other at around shoulder width, grab a sturdy surface such as the sides of a squat rack or the top of a chair to brace yourself and keep balance. With or without an ankle weight, lift one leg behind you as if performing a leg curl but standing up while keeping the other leg straight. Breathe out as you perform this movement.
3. Vertical Swing
Allow the dumbbell to hang at arms length between your legs, holding it with both hands. Keep your back straight and your head up. Swing the dumbbell between your legs, flexing at the hips and bending the knees slightly.
4. Glute Kickback
Kneel on the floor or an exercise mat and bend at the waist with your arms extended in front of you (perpendicular to the torso) in order to get into a kneeling push-up position but with the arms spaced at shoulder width. Your head should be looking forward and the bend of the knees should create a 90-degree angle between the hamstrings and the calves. This will be your starting position. As you exhale, lift up your right leg until the hamstrings are in line with the back while maintaining the 90-degree angle bend. Contract the glutes throughout this movement and hold the contraction at the top for a second. Tip: At the end of the movement the upper leg should be parallel to the floor while the calf should be perpendicular to it.
5. Step-up with Knee Raise
Stand facing a box or bench of an appropriate height with your feet together. This will be your starting position. Begin the movement by stepping up, putting your left foot on the top of the bench. Extend through the hip and knee of your front leg to stand up on the box. As you stand on the box with your left leg, flex your right knee and hip, bringing your knee as high as you can.
6. Flutter Kicks
On a flat bench lie facedown with the hips on the edge of the bench, the legs straight with toes high off the floor and with the arms on top of the bench holding on to the front edge. Squeeze your glutes and hamstrings and straighten the legs until they are level with the hips. This will be your starting position.
More workouts like this
Gear for this workout
Adjustable dumbbellsA full home gym in one small space.See it on Amazon →
Adjustable workout benchUnlocks presses, rows and step-ups at home.See it on Amazon →Stop if anything hurts (sharp pain is different from muscle burn). If you have an injury or health condition, check with your GP or a physio first.