I need some major toning advice, please!

drea85an

I need to tone...well, everything! I lost 130 lbs three years ago, and honestly did 95% cardio while doing it. My stomach is a mess, underarms, thighs...everything. I figure I will never get to fix it all, but I figure while I lose the last 50 or so, I should tone as much as possible. Right now I am going to the gym daily, and walking a lot during the day, but is there anything I can do that will give me the best toning results?

Loulady

Lift heavy things! New Rules of Weightlifting for Women and Starting Strength are good programs to look into.

jacksonpt

Eat right to lose the last bit of weight (fat and muscle)
Lift heavy to retain muscle (meaning most of your weight loss should be fat)
Be patient.
repeat.

drea85an

By lifting heavy, you mean free weights? Machines? Pilates? Or any of the above? Sorry, I could write a book on cardio, but I am clueless about weightlifting.

Thanks.

jacksonpt

By lifting heavy, you mean free weights? Machines? Pilates? Or any of the above? Sorry, I could write a book on cardio, but I am clueless about weightlifting.

Thanks.

Free weights preferably, but as long as it's weights you're ok. No pilates, yoga, etc. Body weight exercises can be ok for some muscles, but not for others, so be careful there.

Ideally you want to be doing 3-5 sets, each set should be 5-8 reps, and the last rep of each set should be a struggle to complete.

drea85an

Ok. Got it! I need you to follow me around a gym all day! So if I can do more then 5 to 8 reps it isn't heavy enough?

Thanks so much, again!

jacksonpt

Ok. Got it! I need you to follow me around a gym all day! So if I can do more then 5 to 8 reps it isn't heavy enough?

Thanks so much, again!

Yep, that's generally what I do. If I can't do 5 reps with good form, it's too heavy. If I can do 8, it's too light.

drea85an

Got it! You're awesome!

Loulady

Ditto jack. I'm really new to lifting myself, but I'm loving it so far. I would just say do a little research on a couple beginner weight lifting/strength training programs, go with what appeals to you, and make sure to get familiar with proper form for whatever exercises you decide to do.

MoveTheMountain

Lift heavy things! New Rules of Weightlifting for Women and Starting Strength are good programs to look into.

Agree with this, but I'd add StrongLifts 5x5. But definitely get the book "Starting Strength"!!

iWaffle

Check out some of the starting programs listed here:

http://4chanfit.wikia.com/wiki/Harsh's_Worksheet_(WIP)#Routines_that_are_pretty_good

It's actually worth your time to read the entire article. Tons of good stuff in there that gets asked about time and time again here.

kd_mazur

Check into the book "New Rules of Lifting for women" It gives an entire program that can be easily followed at most gyms.

jshort152

Tip on toning: you can't tone. Muscles either grow or shrink, they don't know how to tone. Growing muscles make them look better if that's what you mean, hope this helps!

drea85an

Thanks everyone!

jacksonpt

Tip on toning: you can't tone. Muscles either grow or shrink, they don't know how to tone. Growing muscles make them look better if that's what you mean, hope this helps!

While technically this is true, it's not very helpful. It's true, you can't "tone" muscle, but you can tone your body, or a specific part of your body. You can tone your arms or your legs. In that context, "toning" is a reasonable goal.

Toning, as most people intend, is making muscle more visible. To do this, you have to burn fat. To do this, you have to lose weight and retain muscle. To do this you have to eat right and lift.

yoovie

NROLFW is going to be your saving grace.

get it
read it
absorb it
love it
laugh with it
run with it
tell everyone else you know about it
watch your body change

Determinednoob

You can "fix it all" at once. Check this link http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/686963-large-collection-of-info-for-beginners

Southernsass6885

This actually helped me, too! Oh, the things you learn on MFP.