Best way to get toned, but not lose weight

violet976

I'm on my first week of a daily workout routine, & I want to make my focus on toning by butt, thighs & stomach. I don't want to lose any weight, and would not mind gaining about 5 to 10 pounds in the process.

Since I am new to this, & I know many of you are here mainly to tone up as well, I'd love to know what I need to be aware of to make sure that I keep my weight up. My weight tends to stay pretty standard, I usually wont gain but can easily drop if I forget about meals or go through long episodes of stress, so I really want to make sure I'm doing this right to keep weight on while I work to tone.

My current routine, daily, as follows:
- 30 Day Shred, day 8, level 1
- But Bible, day 4, level 1
- 2.5 mile uphill/downhill walk
- Richard Simmons Sweatin w/ the Oldies

I tend to be right about at my food diary's recommended calories & carbs each day, and really don't eat any processed or junk food. I'm also vegan, so I'm taking a calcium supplement for 50% of my daily requirement & can make up the rest with my diet, and am also looking for a joint support supplement. (my food diary is public, if it helps)

Does this all sound about right, or is there anything else I should be doing to ensure that I maintain my weight?

DopeItUp

If you're looking to maintain or gain weight and/or you want to gain a little muscle:

Forget most or all of the current exercises you do. They do not build any muscle.

Eat at maintenance or a moderate surplus (250 calories). Follow a beginner weight lifting program. Starting Strength (3rd edition, pick it up on amazon), Stronglifts or New Rules Of Lifting for example. These programs are usually M/W/F type programs, so if you really like doing your other exercises maybe fit them in on T/Th for a little bit of cardio? Don't go crazy with it though, it just means you'll need to eat more.

Follow the plan and enjoy the results.

JasonDetwiler

If you're looking to maintain or gain weight and/or you want to gain a little muscle:

Forget most or all of the current exercises you do. They do not build any muscle.

Eat at maintenance or a moderate surplus (250 calories). Follow a beginner weight lifting program. Starting Strength (3rd edition, pick it up on amazon), Stronglifts or New Rules Of Lifting for example. These programs are usually M/W/F type programs, so if you really like doing your other exercises maybe fit them in on T/Th for a little bit of cardio? Don't go crazy with it though, it just means you'll need to eat more.

Follow the plan and enjoy the results.

QFT, do this. Up your protein.

violet976

Since I'm beginning & have a bit of loose/jiggly fat around my thighs & butt, I figured the above mentioned routine might help to get rid of that first. I was told if I built up muscle without burning off the bit of fat, I would simply have muscle underneath a still present layer of fat.

Is that not the case? (sorry if this is obvious to most). I love muscle tone in my twenties and now just want this squishy skin gone & the muscle to come back.

FullOfWin

I would eat at maintenance and do this routine until you stall or have lost all the fat you want and then switch to eating a surplus

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=147447933

Bakkasan

Yup, lift heavy and eat at maintenance.

violet976

Thanks for the input everyone.