Is 1/2 a pound a week enough for toning up?

sngnyrslp

I read that it's very difficult to tone up and replace fat with muscle without some kind of caloric deficit. I'm starting Insanity on Monday so I know I want/need some kind of deficit, but I just weighed myself and if I continue losing 1 pound a week I'm going to be very underweight when the nine weeks are over. So, will I still be able to tone up if I'm only set to lose half a pound a week?

UponThisRock

If by "tone up" you mean "lose fat," then yes.

qtiekiki

I think there are a few things that you are talking about.

1. To lose fat, you need a caloric deficit. 1/2 lb a week loss is good for you since you have very little to lose (considering that you would be underweight if you lose 9lbs).
2. You can't replace fat with muscle.
3. It is very hard to build muscle on a caloric deficit.

But if I interpreted you correctly, I think you want to lose body fat and 1/2 lb a week would be realistic.

beccah88

If you want to lose fat then you will need a calorie deficit. If you want to gain muscle then you can't do that with a calorie deficit, so really it depends whether you want to lose weight or build up muscle.

sngnyrslp

I guess I'm being unclear, and I guess that's because I'm unclear! haha. I think what I mean is that I want to lose fat, not that I want to build muscle in the sense that I want to "bulk up," I definitely don't want to do that. I guess what I'm hoping will happen with Insanity is that I'll end up with some muscle definition, which I assume is dependent on burning fat. Yeah?

HeidiMightyRawr

I guess I'm being unclear, and I guess that's because I'm unclear! haha. I think what I mean is that I want to lose fat, not that I want to build muscle in the sense that I want to "bulk up," I definitely don't want to do that. I guess what I'm hoping will happen with Insanity is that I'll end up with some muscle definition, which I assume is dependent on burning fat. Yeah?

When you lose fat, you reveal muscles underneath, creating a toned look. If you are losing fat, no matter how slow, yes you will tone up

In terms of muscle, you won't bulk up. Most likely, with a strength training routine you will maintain the muscle you already have, (as most people can't really gain on a deficit) instead of losing muscle as well as fat (which is common) meaning you have more to show off after you lose the fat.
I wouldn't really count Insanity as "strength training" though. I've done it, and it's more like cardio, although it has bodyweight resistance stuff in there too.