Known for boasting one of the best lower bodies of all time, Jay Cutler didn’t ascend to the top of bodybuilding by luck. He weaponized willpower and work ethic to become an unlikely champion against one of the greatest to ever do it: Ronnie Coleman. In a recent YouTube video, Cutler systematically broke down a leg day workout after his successful fit-for-50 transformation.
After taking Ronnie Coleman‘s Mr. Olympia title by force in 2006, Cutler finally reached the peak of the IFBB Pro League mountain. While he’s best known for his thrilling rivalry with “The King,” Cutler was also responsible for defeating a who’s who of threats within the Men’s Open division.
Whether it was besting Phil Heath, Kai Greene, or Dexter Jackson on stage, Cutler’s ability to command a crowd made his appearances true spectacles. He also is the only man in history to win back an Open Mr. Olympia title that was surrendered.
In addition to four Mr. Olympia gold medals sitting on his mantle, Cutler took home three Arnold Classic victories in his prime. Retiring in 2013, his influence on the sport is undeniable and his opinions about bodybuilding are sought after. Recently transforming his physique for his 50th birthday, Cutler is back to educate fans with a workout that helped him form his iconic quad stomp.
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Jay Cutler Smokes His Lower Body With Extensive Leg Day Training Routine
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Standing Single Leg Machine Hamstring Curl | 3 sets | 12 reps |
| Dumbbell Stiff Leg Deadlift | 3 sets | 12 reps |
| Seated Machine Hamstring Curl | 3 sets | 12 reps |
| Walking Barbell Lunges | – | – |
| Lying Machine Hamstring Curl | 3 sets | 12 reps |
| Seated Machine Leg Extension | 3 sets | 12 reps |
| Vertical Machine Leg Press | 2 sets | 2 reps |
| Machine Front Squat | 1 set | 10 reps |
| Unilateral Machine Leg Press | 2 sets | 10-12 reps |
Standing Single Leg Machine Hamstring Curl
“This exercise, I’m going to focus on doing around 12 reps, everyone knows 12 reps. This is going to – I actually will have a pump after the first set of standing leg curls. I remember at certain times there was a long period of time where I had a lot of trouble getting a pump in my hamstrings. It was probably my least favorite body part to train.”
Dumbbell Stiff Leg Deadlift
“Three sets here. I always talk about it, it’s awkward stiff-legged deadlifts, I feel like I don’t really lock my knees in. I engage everything. I kind of engage my glutes and hamstrings you notice I bend a little bit.”
“I pyramid up, still focusing on 12 reps.”
Seated Machine Hamstring Curl
“This is a 145 set. Same rep range [12 reps]. I’ve got a pretty good pump,” added Cutler. “I’m not going crazy, but I just kind of go for the pump. People talk about breaking muscle tissue down and saying oh the pump sometimes doesn’t matter, the pump means a lot to me. That’s how I judge the workouts. I don’t get super sore. I don’t push to that point.”
Walking Barbell Lunges
“I’ve always got a better pump this way. It’s going to be a lot more beneficial to get it done.”
Lying Machine Hamstring Curl
“Focusing on three sets and go up to 110 and 125.”
Seated Machine Leg Extension
Cutler proceeded to the seated machine leg extension next.
Inverted Machine Leg Press
“Inverted leg, how important is it? In 2009, I learned how important this was. I think this exercise… has a lot of benefits actually. I think it works a lot of the quads, I think you get hamstring, glutes, depending on the foot position.”
“I’m looking at where my feet actually are [on the platform]. My feet are kind of in the middle of this and I think depending on where your foot placement is, you can target more quad and less hamstring and vice-versa right?”
Machine Front Squat
“So we’re going to try to do 10 reps out of this thing, it’s a little heavy.”
Unilateral Machine Leg Press
“This is a great movement. Hamstring and quad. It’s a little harder on this side [right side].”
“Crazy glute involvement, hamstring, quad, this exercise is good for that,” shared Jay Cutler.
Post-Workout Thoughts
“Since I did my 12 weeks, I wasn’t eating six meals a day. Even when I went to Romania I packed food for the plane I was eating. So I was staying on track,” said Cutler after wrapping up the workout. “I’ll have to try to get back on track, maybe five meals a day. That’s ideal. I’d like to stay with six but I don’t think I’m going to be able to.”
“Leg workout was good. We did the hamstrings we were able to narrate the whole thing,” said Cutler.
With the 2023 Mr. Olympia approaching from November 2-5, in Orlando, Florida, competitors are beginning the more challenging weeks of contest prep. However, Classic Physique star Urs Kalecinksi took insight from training with Cutler recently, where the two crushed a chest workout. They also recently posed in stellar physique updates, where fans were blown away by Cutler’s quad development at 50.
Refusing to slow down in retirement, Cutler’s latest quad, glutes, and hamstring-focused training session left him feeling energized. Looking to remain in shape, fans are excited to see if Cutler continues to transform his body, though as of this writing, it doesn’t appear a comeback is on the table for the bodybuilding legend.
You can watch the full video from the JayCutlerTV YouTube channel below:
RELATED: Bodybuilding Legend Jay Cutler Shares Shoulder-Building Workout for a Pump & ‘Stretching Fascia’
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