target training

From my understanding, you can target train muscles. That's basically what strength training is all about. I mean, if you exercise one arm on a regular basis, it will get stronger than the other. The other arm doesn't need to be strong.

When most people talk about target training though, they're talking about fat. You can't lose fat on specifically one part of your body. Your body will handle that however it wants to handle it. All you can do is strengthen the muscle beneath the fat. So while doing the elliptical will probably make your butt and legs stronger and more toned (because you're using those muscles vigorously), which will help make those areas look better, it won't actually take the fat away from those spots.

Does that make sense? Someone might tell me I'm way off base, but that's my understanding of target training. Most of the time when people say you can't target train, it's because the person wants to lose fat. For example, I want my calves to be smaller. Sadly, nothing I can do will make them smaller, I just have to hope it happens with overall fat loss. Similarly, I have a pretty sizeable stomach. I might want it to be smaller, but doing ab exercises isn't going to magically make the fat on my stomach go away faster than my boobs. That depends on your body's preferences.

You can target train a muscle or muscle group. You cannot target train to reduce fat from a specific area.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition