I need help getting an idea about how to get toned by Spring Break
lizfiz50
Posts: 179 Member
I've done great watching what I eat, lost 40 lbs in 4 months.
Haven't done much exercise. As a result, I have mild/moderate loose skin and not much tone. I don't look awful in a 2 piece bikini, but I'm no fit model either. I'd like to rock a 2 piece that doesn't need to hide any belly or thighs.
I know that we are all different, but I'm just looking for a general idea on how often I should work out and which exercises would give me the best results. I cannot afford to get a trainer, but I have all means of machines/places to train available.
I'm looking to target the whole body. What do you recommend for a 5'8" woman, 190 lbs, hour glass (that wants to stay one) that wants to tone up, but not necessarily needs to lose a lot of weight?
Thank you for your help!
Haven't done much exercise. As a result, I have mild/moderate loose skin and not much tone. I don't look awful in a 2 piece bikini, but I'm no fit model either. I'd like to rock a 2 piece that doesn't need to hide any belly or thighs.
I know that we are all different, but I'm just looking for a general idea on how often I should work out and which exercises would give me the best results. I cannot afford to get a trainer, but I have all means of machines/places to train available.
I'm looking to target the whole body. What do you recommend for a 5'8" woman, 190 lbs, hour glass (that wants to stay one) that wants to tone up, but not necessarily needs to lose a lot of weight?
Thank you for your help!
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Replies
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I have 8 weeks to do this!0
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Lift weights. Look up Stronglifts 5X5. However, 8 weeks is not a reasonable target time for changing.0
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I wouldn't put a time limit on the body you want. As others have said, 8 weeks is really not that much time when it comes to body recomp. It is a good start though and this time next year you could easily have that body you want if you are willing to put in the hard work and start thinking long term instead of short term.
I would look into a beginner lifting program. A lot of people push the 5 x 5 workouts because they work. They are however hard to maintain while eating in a deficit. The amount of weight you are pushing comes on fast on most 5 x 5 programs and people eating in a deficit tend to stall more quickly than someone who is eating more.
I would go to bodybuilding.com and pick a beginners program that meets your needs and go from there. I am personally using one of them myself and am seeing good results.
It is your body, do the research, and pick a program you will stick with. That is the most important part, stick with it.
Good luck.0 -
Packerjohn wrote: »
I agree as well. A good weight lifting program will help you in many ways beyond the cosmetic. You should see some change, but you do need to be realistic. You didn’t get where you are in 8 weeks, so getting back is a game of commitment and patience.
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I'm going to Hawaii in 8 weeks, so I need something to do to have the best body I can have by then. Of course, I'd like to fine tune it even after my trip, but I just need to advice on what will give me the best results by the time I'm in Hawaii.
If I work out, I see results pretty quick, actually. I just haven't stuck to a program that would tighten up areas. I'd like to do something that adds mass in the right areas. Don't wish to look like She-Hulk neither.
I also am not interested in wraps or pills.0 -
If I work out, I see results pretty quick, actually. I just haven't stuck to a program that would tighten up areas. I'd like to do something that adds mass in the right areas. Don't wish to look like She-Hulk neither.
Shaming is not necessary. And don't worry you won't accidently wake up one day and be muscular.0 -
DvlDwnInGA wrote: »I wouldn't put a time limit on the body you want. As others have said, 8 weeks is really not that much time when it comes to body recomp. It is a good start though and this time next year you could easily have that body you want if you are willing to put in the hard work and start thinking long term instead of short term.
I would look into a beginner lifting program. A lot of people push the 5 x 5 workouts because they work. They are however hard to maintain while eating in a deficit. The amount of weight you are pushing comes on fast on most 5 x 5 programs and people eating in a deficit tend to stall more quickly than someone who is eating more.
I would go to bodybuilding.com and pick a beginners program that meets your needs and go from there. I am personally using one of them myself and am seeing good results.
It is your body, do the research, and pick a program you will stick with. That is the most important part, stick with it.
Good luck.
Do you recommend that I focus more on burning extra calories than cutting them out of my diet?
Like, for example- instead of eating 300 calories less, burn 300 calories more?
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You’re not going to she-hulk regardless of what you do (short of steroids and even then, in 8 weeks, hardly). You’ll tone some (newbie gains are usually decent), feel better about yourself (confidence and posture make people look so much better). Work hard, lift heavy, push and you’ll accomplish something. There are no get fit quick schemes that work.0
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If I work out, I see results pretty quick, actually. I just haven't stuck to a program that would tighten up areas. I'd like to do something that adds mass in the right areas. Don't wish to look like She-Hulk neither.
Shaming is not necessary. And don't worry you won't accidently wake up one day and be muscular.
I didn't intend that as a shaming- but I'd like to just tighten up everywhere and build glutes (my butt disappeared 30lbs ago). I'm not sure if having large muscles is what I'm looking for.
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The girls who have muscle, worked really hard for it. I wouldn't worry to much about accidentally becoming a "She-Hulk."
It really isn't easy to get that way. However, weight training and "toning up," all follow the same principles. If you followed a she hulks workout, you would find that you would get in good shape and probably end up in the body composition you were hoping for in the first place.0 -
AllanMisner wrote: »You’re not going to she-hulk regardless of what you do (short of steroids and even then, in 8 weeks, hardly). You’ll tone some (newbie gains are usually decent), feel better about yourself (confidence and posture make people look so much better). Work hard, lift heavy, push and you’ll accomplish something. There are no get fit quick schemes that work.
I'm no stranger to exercise and when I was bigger, I actually had a good body going- now, I just have this wobbly skin to that I'd like to tighten.
I guess what I should be asking is:
After I have excess skin, what can I do to tighten it up the best I can in 8 weeks. Again, I'm not looking to weigh less, so if I need to do more exercise and more calorie consumption, I'm good with that.
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If I work out, I see results pretty quick, actually. I just haven't stuck to a program that would tighten up areas. I'd like to do something that adds mass in the right areas. Don't wish to look like She-Hulk neither.
Shaming is not necessary. And don't worry you won't accidently wake up one day and be muscular.
I didn't intend that as a shaming- but I'd like to just tighten up everywhere and build glutes (my butt disappeared 30lbs ago). I'm not sure if having large muscles is what I'm looking for.
Are you paying attention? You won't (other than newbie gains) get bigger from lifting. Have you checked out some of the success stories from lifting women on this site? None of them look like "She Hulk".0 -
It takes months, if not years, to build any noticeable muscle mass. And only if you’re working with some intensity. You’re not going to get large muscles. If you want to improve your posterior view then deadlift and lunges, heavy and consistently will be your friends.0
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DvlDwnInGA wrote: »I wouldn't put a time limit on the body you want. As others have said, 8 weeks is really not that much time when it comes to body recomp. It is a good start though and this time next year you could easily have that body you want if you are willing to put in the hard work and start thinking long term instead of short term.
I would look into a beginner lifting program. A lot of people push the 5 x 5 workouts because they work. They are however hard to maintain while eating in a deficit. The amount of weight you are pushing comes on fast on most 5 x 5 programs and people eating in a deficit tend to stall more quickly than someone who is eating more.
I would go to bodybuilding.com and pick a beginners program that meets your needs and go from there. I am personally using one of them myself and am seeing good results.
It is your body, do the research, and pick a program you will stick with. That is the most important part, stick with it.
Good luck.
Do you recommend that I focus more on burning extra calories than cutting them out of my diet?
Like, for example- instead of eating 300 calories less, burn 300 calories more?
Like I said, find a beginner program and start following it. You will see noticeable difference in your body composition in 8 weeks. I don't know how much, but you will be able to tell that you have put 8 weeks worth of strength training in.
You really can't spot reduce unfortunately, it is going to take time and effort to get there.
At the bare minimum I would try a workout video like p90x or another beach body equivalent.
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AllanMisner wrote: »You’re not going to she-hulk regardless of what you do (short of steroids and even then, in 8 weeks, hardly). You’ll tone some (newbie gains are usually decent), feel better about yourself (confidence and posture make people look so much better). Work hard, lift heavy, push and you’ll accomplish something. There are no get fit quick schemes that work.
I'm no stranger to exercise and when I was bigger, I actually had a good body going- now, I just have this wobbly skin to that I'd like to tighten.
I guess what I should be asking is:
After I have excess skin, what can I do to tighten it up the best I can in 8 weeks. Again, I'm not looking to weigh less, so if I need to do more exercise and more calorie consumption, I'm good with that.
If its loose skin, there is nothing you can do other than be patient (and gain muscle to fill it out if that's a goal, depending on how much you have to lose) - and not much will happen in 8 weeks.
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To "tone up" by Spring break the starting point should have been 150 weeks ago.AllanMisner wrote: »It takes months, if not years, to build any noticeable muscle mass.0 -
AllanMisner wrote: »It takes months, if not years, to build any noticeable muscle mass. And only if you’re working with some intensity. You’re not going to get large muscles. If you want to improve your posterior view then deadlift and lunges, heavy and consistently will be your friends.
For a female, working hard (like a college or pro conditioning program) a gain of a pound of pure muscle a month is realistic. Most people don't work at that level, so less gain. You will burn some calories in the process though and look better.0 -
AllanMisner wrote: »You’re not going to she-hulk regardless of what you do (short of steroids and even then, in 8 weeks, hardly). You’ll tone some (newbie gains are usually decent), feel better about yourself (confidence and posture make people look so much better). Work hard, lift heavy, push and you’ll accomplish something. There are no get fit quick schemes that work.
I'm no stranger to exercise and when I was bigger, I actually had a good body going- now, I just have this wobbly skin to that I'd like to tighten.
I guess what I should be asking is:
After I have excess skin, what can I do to tighten it up the best I can in 8 weeks. Again, I'm not looking to weigh less, so if I need to do more exercise and more calorie consumption, I'm good with that.
If its loose skin, there is nothing you can do other than be patient (and gain muscle to fill it out if that's a goal, depending on how much you have to lose) - and not much will happen in 8 weeks.
Listen to Sara. She is wise. Patience is the only thing that will tighten up loose skin.
Or a good plastic surgeon. You should be healed in 8 weeks.
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Like most said. Start a good lifting program. Continue to eat at a small deficit. You will NOT gain muscles eating at a deficit, especially not in 8 weeks. Just won't happy.
Also, I have some progress pictures in my profile. I am 5'9" and 163lbs and have been lifting weights for 4 years.
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After I have excess skin, what can I do to tighten it up the best I can in 8 weeks.
You have your answer. Start resistance training of some kind, personally I'd complement that with some CV work but that's secondary to your objectives. Don't expect significant improvement in 8 weeks, it's a long term initative.
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Getting a fit body takes a long time . It takes months to build muscle & sticking to a program .0
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You lost a lot of weight in a short period of time so the body couldn't get toned . Cardio &weight lifting.0
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Lets see some pics.0
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Eight weeks is really not enough time to do much, however, and I hope lifters here will speak to this, I've read that higher rep routines (supersets?) can create a temporary (on the level of hours) "pump" effect due to muscles retaining water. Now I don't think it's brilliant to be doing that with crazy weights if you don't currently have a base in lifting, because that way of lifting is still challenging - it's why some bodybuilders do like one body part a week - and your recovery capacity will probably suck, and you may not know form, etc. The best thing for beginners to do is get the basics down with a full-body program a few times a week, and it takes a couple of months to get used to that.
But I wonder whether you might get some temporary cosmetic results (water pump) by doing regular high-rep metabolic workouts that might be easier for you to handle right now, a la Jillian Michaels, Chalean Extreme - that old Men's Health Spartacus workout is one I used to do - stuff like that. I know I saw encouraging results when I did that stuff. It would not build a ton of real muscle mass, because you need to keep lifting heavier and heavier to damage those muscles enough for them to repair (and get bigger), but you could fake it.
Then, when you get back, you could get on a real lifting program.
I am speaking from my old knowledge but also kind of out of my butt, so hopefully someone else will correct me if they know better.0 -
DvlDwnInGA wrote: »I wouldn't put a time limit on the body you want. As others have said, 8 weeks is really not that much time when it comes to body recomp. It is a good start though and this time next year you could easily have that body you want if you are willing to put in the hard work and start thinking long term instead of short term.
I would look into a beginner lifting program. A lot of people push the 5 x 5 workouts because they work. They are however hard to maintain while eating in a deficit. The amount of weight you are pushing comes on fast on most 5 x 5 programs and people eating in a deficit tend to stall more quickly than someone who is eating more.
I would go to bodybuilding.com and pick a beginners program that meets your needs and go from there. I am personally using one of them myself and am seeing good results.
It is your body, do the research, and pick a program you will stick with. That is the most important part, stick with it.
Good luck.
Yeah, actually, I've heard good things about Jamie Eason's Livefit program. You could do the first 8 weeks of it, maybe0 -
Are you at your target weight ? If not lose more fat, in 8 weeks that will be the most noticeable.
Also skin shrinks or tightens slower then you lose fat so as long as you are losing fat your skin is going to be loser.
Genetics plays the biggest role on the rate your skin shrinks. On some it lags 2 months and others 2 years, some just have no luck.You get what your get.
Oh ya, and lift heavy things occasionally.0 -
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You probably aren't going to tighten up loose skin in a matter of weeks using any sort of diet or exercise plan. To do this, you need to burn fat off and build a good muscle foundation. Cardio alone is just going to burn even more fat and leave additional loose skin. And lots of cardio is definately not going to give you your butt back either! Have you ever compared a runners butt and legs to those of a lifters, no comparison! And why oh why do woman actually think that a few weights sessions are going to give you a body like Dana Lynn Bailey?!?!? That takes serious dedication and years of damn hard work! How about looking like Wonder Woman by this time next year? That's my goal anyway!!0
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