How do I know whats best for me?

bluebell88xx

I've just started going to the gym, I joined as support for my sister but have actually become really addicted!
So far I go 3 times a week for 40 minutes and mainly stick to cardio but I really want to tone up my stomach area, what can you suggest?

rolemodel69

Eat clean and run a calorie deficit.

JoRocka

you cannot spot reduce fat either through diet or exercise.

You have to run a calorie deficit to lose fat to revel muscle. And you need to eat at a surplus to truly gain muscle.

i work on just getting stronger first- then worry about cutting down the body fat percentage.

bluebell88xx

I'm only 113lbs I dont want to lose weight, I want to get toned. I was asking what excercise to TONE not lose fat.

JoRocka

well- first things first.

Toning is not a thing.

You're muscles do one of two things. They either GROW - or they SHRINK.

They can only grow if they are at a calorie surplus. (this is generally called bulking- but it doesn't matter what you call it)

So- if you want to have muscle definition (typically the generic- wishy washy media induced implication of the word 'tone') you have to do two things.

You have to build muscle.

And then lose body fat so you can SEE said muscles.

that's how it works.

So. you can start lifting. Eat on a calorie surplus. Then you start cutting. And when you start cutting- you get to see all the beautiful muscles you created.


If you just start sort of lifting- and not eating- you'll just sort of build muscle and maybe lose some body fat... (newb gains as they are called) and you will see some results. But there is no point cutting if you have no real substantial muscle underneath- if you don't have a good base and you cut- you look a lot like... well not toned- just more like skelator with a little musculature.

that's how it works.

FrnkLft

well- first things first.

Toning is not a thing.

You're muscles do one of two things. They either GROW - or they SHRINK.

They can only grow if they are at a calorie surplus. (this is generally called bulking- but it doesn't matter what you call it)

So- if you want to have muscle definition (typically the generic- wishy washy media induced implication of the word 'tone') you have to do two things.

You have to build muscle.

And then lose body fat so you can SEE said muscles.

that's how it works.

So. you can start lifting. Eat on a calorie surplus. Then you start cutting. And when you start cutting- you get to see all the beautiful muscles you created.


If you just start sort of lifting- and not eating- you'll just sort of build muscle and maybe lose some body fat... (newb gains as they are called) and you will see some results. But there is no point cutting if you have no real substantial muscle underneath- if you don't have a good base and you cut- you look a lot like... well not toned- just more like skelator with a little musculature.

that's how it works.

This.

Also, and this fact kinda sucks for some people, you loose fat on the whole, and where you loose it is deterimined by your genetics. For instance, I store the majority of my fat, in my stomach... which means generally speaking that's the last place I'm going to loose it.