Why the hate on "toning?"

csec6pak
csec6pak Posts: 54 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I've seen several responses that kind of give eye-rolls to the term "toning." As in "How can I best work on toning my abs?"

Just curious why people don't like this term.
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Replies

  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    Tone is a setting on your guitar.

    guitar-tone-pot.jpg


    What people want to do is look leaner and show off their muscles more. That's simply fat loss.
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    In...for the responses.
  • Galatea_Stone
    Galatea_Stone Posts: 2,037 Member
    This is all muscle tone is.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_tone

    What most people are really asking is how to increase muscle mass and how to lose fat. The answer there is resistance training, cardio, and eating fewer calories than consumed, coupled with eating the right balance of protein, fats and carbs to aid in muscle retention or growth.

    The term doesn't bother me that much. I don't care if people new to fitness use the wrong words to describe something. It's more important that people engage in something, not what they call it.
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  • csec6pak
    csec6pak Posts: 54 Member


    What most people are really asking is how to increase muscle mass and how to lose fat. The answer there is resistance training, cardio, and eating fewer calories than consumed, coupled with eating the right balance of protein, fats and carbs to aid in muscle retention or growth.

    The term doesn't bother me that much. I don't care if people new to fitness use the wrong words to describe something. It's more important that people engage in something, not what they call it.


    Yeah, that's kind of my take on it. I know what people mean when they ask and I know what the answer is.....and I think everyone else here does, too. I just don't get the hate when people use a slightly incorrect term. It's just semantics.
  • Burt_Huttz
    Burt_Huttz Posts: 1,612 Member
    The hate is directed at the fitness industry. "Tone", as they use it, is a mythical state that gives one the appearance of long, lean limbs.
    Muscle tone itself is a very small part of a much larger aesthetic equation, relatively insignificant when compared to body composition.
    Typically, if a person looks flabby, it is because of the ratio body fat to lean body mass, and not hypotonia.
    Aesthetic goals purportedly requiring "muscle tone" should focus on increasing the quantity of muscle tissue and decreasing the quantity of body fat.
    Even with these alterations, if you have a stout frame, you have a stout frame. That will not change regardless of the amount of ab-rolling, shake-weight-ing, PiYo!ing, Zumbaing, or lifting of infinite reps at 0.01lbs.


    With love,
    Burt
  • kirkor
    kirkor Posts: 2,530 Member
    It's not just semantics, because usually when people talk about toning they are also of the mindset of "I don't want to get all big and bulky like a bodybuilder" and people who take issue with the term toning are also taking issue with that parallel mindset. They roll their eyes at the people who have no idea what it really takes to get big. They're also being dismissive of magazine article-type workouts showing people with 3lb dumbbells ... after all, can't lift heavy weights, don't want to get too big, just want to tone.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    I've seen several responses that kind of give eye-rolls to the term "toning." As in "How can I best work on toning my abs?"

    Just curious why people don't like this term.

    You can't "tone" muscles. You can lose fat....or you can gain muscle. Women also will not look like the incredible hulk by lifting heavy....They should not focus on "toning" by lifting light weights for high reps.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    I've seen several responses that kind of give eye-rolls to the term "toning." As in "How can I best work on toning my abs?"

    Just curious why people don't like this term.

    It doesn't mean anything. It's some Hanoi Jane-ism from the 80s.

    It's a great way to ID that someone is basically clueless though.
  • H4rpy
    H4rpy Posts: 23 Member
    I think part of the angst is because it's often used by misinformed women who think picking up a weight will make them insta-hulk.

    "I don't want to be bulky, I just want to tone."

    I won't lie; that usage does make me itch. I've never crabbed at anyone for saying it, though.
  • calibriintx
    calibriintx Posts: 1,741 Member
    BECAUSE IT'S NOT A VERB.
  • calibriintx
    calibriintx Posts: 1,741 Member
    It's not just semantics, because usually when people talk about toning they are also of the mindset of "I don't want to get all big and bulky like a bodybuilder" and people who take issue with the term toning are also taking issue with that parallel mindset. They roll their eyes at the people who have no idea what it really takes to get big. They're also being dismissive of magazine article-type workouts showing people with 3lb dumbbells ... after all, can't lift heavy weights, don't want to get too big, just want to tone.

    And this
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I don't hate "toning" in and of itself as I understand what the person is ultimately after...what I do find annoying is when someone says, "I want to tone up"...and I suggest lifting weights and cutting body fat...and they say, "but I don't want to bulk, I just want to tone." :angry: :grumble: :huh:

    I also find it annoying that the fitness industry has convinced women that if they lift anything heavier than their purse, they will bulk on all of this muscle...and that they just need to use the little pink 1.5 Lb dumbbells if they want to "tone". I can assure you...my wife lifts heavy things and puts them down...she does traditional back squats with barbells and plates...she does dead lifts...she benches and does overhead presses...she is not bulky...she is "toned."
  • Amestris
    Amestris Posts: 152 Member
    This is all muscle tone is.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_tone

    What most people are really asking is how to increase muscle mass and how to lose fat. The answer there is resistance training, cardio, and eating fewer calories than consumed, coupled with eating the right balance of protein, fats and carbs to aid in muscle retention or growth.

    The term doesn't bother me that much. I don't care if people new to fitness use the wrong words to describe something. It's more important that people engage in something, not what they call it.

    +1
  • WhitneyAnnabelle
    WhitneyAnnabelle Posts: 724 Member
    I've seen several responses that kind of give eye-rolls to the term "toning." As in "How can I best work on toning my abs?"

    Just curious why people don't like this term.

    You can't "tone" muscles. You can lose fat....or you can gain muscle. Women also will not look like the incredible hulk by lifting heavy....They should not focus on "toning" by lifting light weights for high reps.

    Lifting heavy is one of the best ways to "tone" muscles. I learned that first hand while Olympic lifting. It's a very, very common misconception. Unless you're training voraciously or taking steroids, there's a decent chance you won't 'bulk up.'

    Edit: This is directed more toward women, but it goes the same for men, especially with regard to lack of steroids.
  • shirleygirl1013
    shirleygirl1013 Posts: 55 Member
    I went to my obgyn the other day and he told me that when I get pregnant that I need to focus on toning. I almost vomited!
  • eric_sg61
    eric_sg61 Posts: 2,925 Member
    This is all muscle tone is.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_tone

    What most people are really asking is how to increase muscle mass and how to lose fat. The answer there is resistance training, cardio, and eating fewer calories than consumed, coupled with eating the right balance of protein, fats and carbs to aid in muscle retention or growth.

    The term doesn't bother me that much. I don't care if people new to fitness use the wrong words to describe something. It's more important that people engage in something, not what they call it.
    The bolded and people imply spot reduction when they ask about "toning". How do I 'tone' my legs, or arms, or belly etc.
  • Fatandfifty3
    Fatandfifty3 Posts: 419 Member
    BECAUSE IT'S NOT A VERB.

    love it :-D
  • skeo
    skeo Posts: 471 Member
    Me personally? I don't like the word "tone" when it comes to fitness, BECAUSE I don't know how many times I've tried to explain to my family that by doing what I am doing, with the lifting, HIIT cardio, eating better etc it's for a better muscular build. BUT as soon as I use the word muscles, they then retort, "oh, I don't want to get bulky and muscular." *facepalm* it's like when trying to explain "tone" and using the word muscles in the same sentence can't be done without them thinking they'll get bulky. It's quite frustrating, hence my hatred for "tone." :grumble:
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    Toning is not the right word. Although when I get to my weight goal I will look so tone up.
  • Cameron_1969
    Cameron_1969 Posts: 2,855 Member
    Honest answer?

    Because people use it as an excuse to look down on others and show off how smart they are. They're really not. It's a commonly used word, it may not be entirely accurate, but trust me, plenty of people use words incorrectly every single day. People who ***** about it on the forums are doing just that, *****ing.

    ^^this
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Honest answer?

    Because people use it as an excuse to look down on others and show off how smart they are. They're really not. It's a commonly used word, it may not be entirely accurate, but trust me, plenty of people use words incorrectly every single day. People who ***** about it on the forums are doing just that, *****ing.

    I think it is more of hate on the fitness industry more than anything as they use the term to tell women to "tone" your muscles you need to lift light weight for a lot of reps. when really the muscle toned look comes from having enough lean body mass and lower BF%. Best way to get there is heavy strength training and a moderate caloric deficit over time.
  • OnTheGround
    OnTheGround Posts: 78
    Honest answer? weight lifting snobs.

    Just ignore them.
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRXPXNGOf7TtvCEBGmSjlUGki1byFW4J_Q38DqLgUKqN5fuuhBX
  • clewpage
    clewpage Posts: 44 Member
    Generally, when people talk about tone, what they are actually referring to is composition or definition.
    Example... A girl has a bicep circumference of 11", but it's soft and even, the muscles aren't defined. When she says she wants to just "tone" her muscles, not make them bigger, it means she wants her arm to stay 11" roughly, but wants muscle definition, ridges and firmness.
    Same with legs, butt, abs.
    "I just want to tone" is short for I like my size, but not the composition/definition.
    I'm pretty happy with the size/circumference of my thighs/butt, I just want less jiggle, more firmness and rigidity.
    It doesn't bother me at all if people use incorrect words to describe their fitness goals. I'm just happy that people HAVE fitness goals...too many people don't.
    In the end, it doesn't really matter what you call it, as long as you're getting off your butt and moving.
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  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I don't hate "toning" in and of itself as I understand what the person is ultimately after...what I do find annoying is when someone says, "I want to tone up"...and I suggest lifting weights and cutting body fat...and they say, "but I don't want to bulk, I just want to tone." :angry: :grumble: :huh:

    I also find it annoying that the fitness industry has convinced women that if they lift anything heavier than their purse, they will bulk on all of this muscle...and that they just need to use the little pink 1.5 Lb dumbbells if they want to "tone". I can assure you...my wife lifts heavy things and puts them down...she does traditional back squats with barbells and plates...she does dead lifts...she benches and does overhead presses...she is not bulky...she is "toned."

    this is the heart of the issue.
  • shirleygirl1013
    shirleygirl1013 Posts: 55 Member
    It is not fitness snobs. Any woman that has spent time at the gym has heard from friends and family about how "toning is the goal" not "muscles" and then they give really awful advice about how to tone up. Usually, it involves high reps and baby weights. The word "toning" and the philosophy behind it has wasted thousands of hours of women's time in the gym (including my own). I started making progress when people around me, that knew what they were talking about, told me that building your muscle will give the "toned" appearance that we want. They said that I would do it by lifting heavy and like a "man". That was the best advice I ever got.

    Sorry, after reading some other posts I think I am preaching to the choir. Maybe, Im just fussy because of the months I spent toning on the chest press machine at 10lbs 20reps, 4 sets cuz I was told that is what I needed for toning...
  • _KitKat_
    _KitKat_ Posts: 1,066 Member
    Actually I hate the word toning simply because I have been criticized for lifting (heavy) and told that I should work on toning instead, the other day I was told by a girl that works at my gym, that I was wasting my time lifting heavy (low volume), she actually suggested reps of 25-50 (per set).....this is high for even the high rep people. Volume has a place in training but the myth that lifting a 2lb pink weight a hundred times in a row will melt fat off at only a select location is just that a myth and stops many women from meeting their goals.

    Retaining/building muscle and burning fat (unfortunately we can't select where it comes off at) is what most people want when they think of toning, unfortunately the way they believe you get it, is normally not accurate.

    Now if someone just says toning and they are new, then fine it is just a word and they are trying to state what their goal is.....if they preach to me or others on why I or others should only focus on "toning" as it is generally used....then I take issue with the word and advice.
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    It's a term that gets used almost exclusively when you're talking about women, and I hate marketing language that treats women as if we're a completely different species. My muscles don't behave differently from a man's, so I don't need special girl-only language or methods in order to use them. I feel the same way about special yogurt-for-women or tools with pink handles.

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