Best way to tone?

momoisgorgeousss

Hello all!
I'm looking for some advice! I'm looking to tone my body. I will put pictures below of my 'goals'. But first let me tell you a little bit about myself! I'm 19 years old, I'm 5'2 and I just lost 10 pounds to reach my goal weight! I weigh 109-111, and as mentioned before am 5'2. I'm looking to tone my body. Right now I work out 4-5 days a week. I do 30 minutes of Pilates some days, 20 minutes of cardio and BODY WEIGHT strength training a few days, and recently picked up some Zumba for 10 minutes, I'm also thinking about picking up some kick boxing. I have no access to a gym or weights, so all these work outs are done in my living room! I use YouTube to help find my workouts. This means no big heavy weights, but I am open to buying small weights and trying to incorporate them in my workouts.
Im just wondering what every ones opnions are on these workouts I've been doing? If they're wrong or won't help me achieve what I want, please help me and give me some tips!
*I have no timeline that I need

to reach my body goal.

sammyliftsandeats

Bodyweight strength training is an option for you. You Are Your Own Gym or the Nerdfitness Bodyweight Routine can all be done in your living room with minimal equipment.

It just has to get progressively harder for you to get stronger and change your body composition. I take it you are eating at maintenance now because you've reached goal weight? Keep doing so while doing the progressive strength training routines.

Unknown

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goldthistime

if you're willing to buy hand weights that's the way I'd go.

AnvilHead

Here's a great read on "The Toning Myth" and how to get "toned": http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/muscle-tone/

CharlieBeansmomTracey

k9education wrote: »

"Tone" is just another way of saying "reduce fat, build muscle." You're already eating at a caloric deficit, which will help you reduce weight/fat. You're already exercising, which will help you build muscle. Doing both at the same time, however, is only likely to work in the short term. Generally, you have to approach one goal at a time. Anyway, none of the ladies pictured have any significant amount of muscle, so I don't imagine they spend much time lifting weights (or at least not heavy weights). If you enjoy the exercise routine you're doing now, stick with it. It's far easier to stick with something you enjoy than to force yourself to do something you hate.

if she is eating in a deficit its really hard to build muscle(it takes certain conditions to do so) especially if not following a progressive lifting program. cardio exercise is not going to help build muscle, it can make you stronger,and its harder for a woman to build muscle. to build muscle you need to lift heavy and either eat at maintenance,or eat in a surplus and lift heavy. if you do body weight exercises/low weights you will only get so far with building muscle.it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to build muscle. its not as simple as exercising.not to mention you cant look like the women above unless you have a similar body type,height,weight and genetics plays a part to. its best to just try to become the best you you can be . its hard to lose weight and fat while building muscle.

momoisgorgeousss

CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »

k9education wrote: »

"Tone" is just another way of saying "reduce fat, build muscle." You're already eating at a caloric deficit, which will help you reduce weight/fat. You're already exercising, which will help you build muscle. Doing both at the same time, however, is only likely to work in the short term. Generally, you have to approach one goal at a time. Anyway, none of the ladies pictured have any significant amount of muscle, so I don't imagine they spend much time lifting weights (or at least not heavy weights). If you enjoy the exercise routine you're doing now, stick with it. It's far easier to stick with something you enjoy than to force yourself to do something you hate.

if she is eating in a deficit its really hard to build muscle(it takes certain conditions to do so) especially if not following a progressive lifting program. cardio exercise is not going to help build muscle, it can make you stronger,and its harder for a woman to build muscle. to build muscle you need to lift heavy and either eat at maintenance,or eat in a surplus and lift heavy. if you do body weight exercises/low weights you will only get so far with building muscle.it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to build muscle. its not as simple as exercising.not to mention you cant look like the women above unless you have a similar body type,height,weight and genetics plays a part to. its best to just try to become the best you you can be . its hard to lose weight and fat while building muscle.

I'm eating at maintence now, sorry didn't know that was important to mention!

sardelsa

Without knowing your body starting point (BF%, build, etc) it is hard to tell, but as mentioned as long as your body weight program is getting progressively harder over time, it is possible. While the women in the photos don't look particularly muscular, most likely they work hard in the gym and do some form of resistance training. (I mean, I work hard and I'm bulking and Pamela there has more abs then I'll ever have, haha).
Anyways, if you had access to a gym I would say lifting heavy, resistance training would be the most optimal option, however, working out at home using bodyweight/minimal weight it is possible to "tone", it again depends on your starting point and how you are progressing. I mean, my yoga instructor does nothing but yoga and her body is banging (after two kids!) but I mean, she is constantly teaching and practicing and challenging herself. So will you look like the women you have outlined the photos there? Maybe, maybe not. I say, as long as you enjoy what you are doing, go for it.

Ps. Congrats on reaching your goal by the way, I am sure you look great!

CharlieBeansmomTracey

momoisgorgeousss wrote: »

CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »

k9education wrote: »

"Tone" is just another way of saying "reduce fat, build muscle." You're already eating at a caloric deficit, which will help you reduce weight/fat. You're already exercising, which will help you build muscle. Doing both at the same time, however, is only likely to work in the short term. Generally, you have to approach one goal at a time. Anyway, none of the ladies pictured have any significant amount of muscle, so I don't imagine they spend much time lifting weights (or at least not heavy weights). If you enjoy the exercise routine you're doing now, stick with it. It's far easier to stick with something you enjoy than to force yourself to do something you hate.

if she is eating in a deficit its really hard to build muscle(it takes certain conditions to do so) especially if not following a progressive lifting program. cardio exercise is not going to help build muscle, it can make you stronger,and its harder for a woman to build muscle. to build muscle you need to lift heavy and either eat at maintenance,or eat in a surplus and lift heavy. if you do body weight exercises/low weights you will only get so far with building muscle.it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to build muscle. its not as simple as exercising.not to mention you cant look like the women above unless you have a similar body type,height,weight and genetics plays a part to. its best to just try to become the best you you can be . its hard to lose weight and fat while building muscle.

I'm eating at maintence now, sorry didn't know that was important to mention!

yeah it helps to know so other people can give you sound advice or help you out along the way.

AnvilHead

A couple people have alluded to the point already, but genetics have a lot to do with it too. You may or may not end up looking like those women, depending on whether or not you have a similar body type. We can all improve our physiques and change them to some degree, but we can't all necessarily look like whoever we wish we looked like. It's better to aim to be the best you you can possibly be rather than to try to be somebody else.

jessef593

Everybody with me now

Calorieeeeee deficitttttt.

In order to achieve a lower body fat percentage you need to eat in a deficit. If you're looking to increase muscle mass to increase your abs, shoulders, and other aspects of your body, you will have to eat in a surplus while also doing progressive resistance to stimulate muscle growth. Other than that, you cannot spot reduce stomach fat by working your core. It's the sad truth.

trigden1991

jessef593 wrote: »

Everybody with me now

Calorieeeeee deficitttttt.

In order to achieve a lower body fat percentage you need to eat in a deficit. If you're looking to increase muscle mass to increase your abs, shoulders, and other aspects of your body, you will have to eat in a surplus while also doing progressive resistance to stimulate muscle growth. Other than that, you cannot spot reduce stomach fat by working your core. It's the sad truth.

This basically. Lift weights and eat in a calorie deficit until you are as lean as you need to be. Then slowly increase calories into a surplus. You will only build muscle in a surplus but lower bodyfat will "reveal" the definition you have.

People generally look more defined or "toned" as they have low bodyfat, as is the case in the pictures you posted.