Favorite toning exercises

aklitten

So, sometimes spot-reducing doesn't always work. (You have to get rid of the belly flab before you see some fab abs!) But what are your favorite exercises for toning?
Personally, I love straight-up exercises, like squats and bicep curls. The more straight-forward, the better!
I have to do all of my working out at home with free weights and I might not be able to get away with this forever, but I will as long as I can!!

kmplatt94

Have you tried Pilates? I do Pilates twice a week. I've been doing Pilates for several years. I think its the best toner for your core, arms and butt! You do not have to go to a Pilates studio. You can get a dvd. I do both. If I cannot get to the studio during the week, I will do it at home. I love it. I also do other cardiovascular exercise besides Pilates. Keep up with the good work!

ReadyToLoseItNow

I am just starting to work towards toning along with losing the last 15 lbs I want to see gone so I am looking forward to seeing the responses to this topic.
I do a weight lifting class at the gym 2x a week and I am seeing definite improvement in my strength and am starting to tone a bit too.

aklitten

I am very interested in Pilates. I just got a Wi Fit for Christmas, so I want to play around with that. I really can't afford to go to a gym right now, so I am looking for at-home activities. And I've been reading a lot about how heavy lifting can really help women tone up. I just need to how to figure out how to do it at home.

incfighters

i'm just starting to try out resistence band workouts.

http://exercise.about.com/library/bltotalresistancebeginners.htm

my sister did this workout which i think is pretty difficult, but it does tone you up. i'm gonna try to incorporate some of this to my workout as well.

http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/9-9-9-workout

Rboch

You can try using a medicine ball if you haven't already, I have a 12 lbs one and there are a million exercises (you can find online) to do with it. Even adding the extra weight to squats, ab exercises, arms, etc. Makes a big difference! I also just purchased a pull up bar to go in my doorway, really great arm work out, you can use it for abs as well.

klb364

The Womens Book of Exercises by Women Health has great ideas on different excersizes. Each has a photo and instructions if you are not in a DVD mood, Many can be done with small or no weights.