Is weight lifting / free weights the only way?

RunRun72

sijomial wrote: »

RunRun72 wrote: »

Thanks for your help guys ! I have some friends who just Run or Dance and they have amazing bodies ! They dont strength train or anything

That's quite a contradiction to your OP when you said "cardio won't do that".

The word "toned" is open to quite a lot of interpretation but have you never seen a "toned" swimmer, rower, cyclist, gymnast, even tennis player?

Don't confuse not the fastest or not optimal with impossible.

To me a lot of the toned look comes down to low body fat to reveal your muscles rather than hooooge muscles.

I guess I just thought that they were lucky and just have good genetics

RunRun72

carrieonline wrote: »

Why not try Pilates, yoga or barre?

Those I like ! Not sure if they work tho as I find them way easier than lifting

sijomial

RunRun72 wrote: »

sijomial wrote: »

RunRun72 wrote: »

Thanks for your help guys ! I have some friends who just Run or Dance and they have amazing bodies ! They dont strength train or anything

That's quite a contradiction to your OP when you said "cardio won't do that".

The word "toned" is open to quite a lot of interpretation but have you never seen a "toned" swimmer, rower, cyclist, gymnast, even tennis player?

Don't confuse not the fastest or not optimal with impossible.

To me a lot of the toned look comes down to low body fat to reveal your muscles rather than hooooge muscles.

I guess I just thought that they were lucky and just have good genetics

You don't think it's because they exercise a lot and are lean?

Biggster69

For me only heavy weightlifting (machines, dumbbells etc.) shaped and toned my body.

Lean59man

Resistance training is the best way to effect changes in your body from a visual standpoint.

What you use as resistance can vary.

Silentpadna

Lean59man wrote: »

Resistance training is the best way to effect changes in your body from a visual standpoint.

What you use as resistance can vary.

This. But I would add that it really truly depends what you actually want to accomplish.

If you are looking to tone what you have, then fat loss and muscle retention (resistance training, but not necessarily heavy or intense) would take precedence.

If you are looking to change your shape, then muscle building is more important.

If you want the muscle building, it's pretty much impossible without something that is progressive overload based.

So the answer to the OP's question is really: "it depends".