Will this help tone me while I loose weight?

fruitloop2

I've made up a little strength training circuit for myself and just want to make sure it will actually help me tone up while I loose this weight (or even help me loose it) or if I'm just waisting my time. I don't have equipment to work with other than my treadmill (I do interval training on it) that I use for cardio 3 days/week so I've had to get inventive using my body weight and a milk jug as my weights. I can see some definition starting in my arms which I'm happy about. So, if anyone could give me your opinion/feedback, that would be great. The circuit goes like this...

-jumping jacks (30 sec)...to get my heart rate up
-push-ups (15)
-bicycle style stomach crunches (30)
-dumbbell rows (20 on each are with 8.5lb weight)
-backwards leg lifts (20)
-20 squats or lunges (depending on my mood that day)

-jumping jacks (30 sec)...to get my heart rate up
-push-ups (15)
-reverse sit-ups(30)
-dumbbell rows (20 on each are with 8.5lb weight)
-kneeling backwards leg kicks (20)
-20 squats or lunges (depending on my mood that day)

-jumping jacks (30 sec)...to get my heart rate up
-push-ups (15)
-cross stomach crunches (30 each way)
-dumbbell rows (20 on each are with 8.5lb weight)
-kneeling side leg lifts (20)
-20 squats or lunges (depending on my mood that day)

So, this is the circuit I've been doing and alternating days with my treadmill...although I've been slacking a bit lately because life has been crazy busy for me the past week or so but plan to get my *kitten* back on schedule again. This circuit takes me about 20 minutes to complete...so...what do you think?

Oh, and what would you log this as...circuit training or Calisthenics? I've been logging it as calisthenics.

fruitloop2

Anyone?

Awkward30

So, I hate the word tone, because it implies that you can do some special thing and make your muscles look different. In reality, you can grow, lose, or maintain muscle. Those are the only options. The look that most women call toned is achieved by lowering your body fat so a little muscle shows through. Lower your body fat a lot, you will look very muscular, lower your body fat less, you will look "softer"

So, now that we are talking about the same thing, growing muscles requires a calorie surplus, so you won't be able to do that efficiently while losing weight. Weight loss favors muscle loss because muscle costs more to maintain than fat (so having more muscles raises your bmr slightly, a good reason to not lose it). To prevent muscle loss, you have to prove to your body that it needs it's muscle by challenging your muscles. There is disagreement on these boards, some think it has to be lifting weights that are heavy (for you), but I think something like your circuit would work as long as you progressed. When 10 pushups feels not bad, put your legs up on the couch, when your dumbbells feel less heavy, get heavier ones, etc. I've seen some arguments that keeping your heart rate high when you work out keeps your body catabolic and favors muscle break down, but I've never seen anything proving this, so it could be bro-science. I like the challenge of lifting heavy, so I wouldn't compromise my ability to do so by keeping my heart rate up... I rest in between sets so I can feel strong. To each, his/her own.

Also, get 1g/lb of lean mass in protein to help with muscle maintenance.