How to I tone up without using weights?
IKilledBambi
Posts: 6 Member
I'm having an issue with trying to maintain my weight and tone up without using weights. Everything I used to include weights in my workout, I get bulky (manish). I can get great definition in my legs without weight, but my upper body is suffering... what can I do? No weights.
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Replies
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You get bulky? That's odd.
Have you tried body-weight exercises? Every heard of the TRX?0 -
That's what I was thinking... Bulky?0
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I am doing body weight exercises, I tend to keep gravitating to my lower body. I've not heard of TRX.0
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https://trxtraining.com/?c3api=3300,69624524329,trx&gclid=CKilnYaTw8sCFQEdaQodkkQAAQ
Doesn't look like much, but fantastic for body weight exercises. Very portable.0 -
Oh nice! I'm going to have to try that.0
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A lot of gyms have them, if you'd like to try one out before purchasing.0
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Being toned is just a fancy word for more muscle mass, so if being toned is your goal then you would ideally want to focus on lifting heavy weights. No you won't get bulky it will sculpt your physique. Consistency is the key once you get the basic fundamentals right your on to a winner0
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TRX is great! If possible, get proper instruction on using it at the gym first. The smallest form changes can drastically increase or decrease the effectiveness.
Also, have you tried using weights for just your upper body? If you feel your legs are fine with body weight only exercises but want to increase muscle definition in your upper body I'd go with lifting.0 -
What is you calorie intake like? If you eat at a deficit and lift heavy you will not get bulky.0
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I eat about 1,200 or less for my calories... perhaps the weights that I'm using are too heavy for just toning.0
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IKilledBambi wrote: »I eat about 1,200 or less for my calories... perhaps the weights that I'm using are too heavy for just toning.
really now...come on
eating 1200 or less any weight is too heavy.
I bench 135 do I look "manish" or "bulky"...
I squat 200...DL 235....
BTW I eat 1800 a day cutting 2400 in summer maintaining.
toned is not a real thing, it's gimmick from the fitness industry.
google I am my own gym, ice cream fitness or try fitnessblender.com0 -
IKilledBambi wrote: »I eat about 1,200 or less for my calories... perhaps the weights that I'm using are too heavy for just toning.
lmao.0 -
I gained 15 pounds over the last year from lifting heavy. I wear the same size clothes I wore last year when I was 15 pounds lighter (they're actually too big but I'm too cheap to buy new pants). I have lots and lots of muscles but I am by no means bulky. Lift heavy and the fat will melt away and you will look thinner.
And what everyone else said about TRX. It's no joke. One of the toughest leg exercises I do is with a TRX.0 -
You're not going to get 'bulky' from just adding light weights, that is a complete myth. In fact, it is almost the number 1 myth in every single article I could find on women and weight-lifting.
https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2013/09/11/7-strength-training-myths-every-woman-should-know/
http://bodybuilding.about.com/od/womensfitnesstopics/a/womenmyths.htm
http://breakingmuscle.com/womens-fitness/2-myths-about-women-and-weight-lifting-debunked
If you've experienced what appears to be "bulking" when you start weight training, it might actually be that your building muscle w/o losing fat...in which case you need to change your balance. What's been recommended to me is a 1/2 pound a week cut with 1-2 weight training sessions a week alongside other cardio. That's what I'm doing now. There is zero "bulking" and I am a naturally muscular-looking person (if you know what I mean...I show muscle very quickly when I have it...)
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IKilledBambi wrote: »I eat about 1,200 or less for my calories... perhaps the weights that I'm using are too heavy for just toning.
really now...come on
eating 1200 or less any weight is too heavy.
I bench 135 do I look "manish" or "bulky"...
I squat 200...DL 235....
BTW I eat 1800 a day cutting 2400 in summer maintaining.
toned is not a real thing, it's gimmick from the fitness industry.
google I am my own gym, ice cream fitness or try fitnessblender.com
@SezxyStef thank you for this, someone needed to say this.0 -
Mapalicious wrote: »You're not going to get 'bulky' from just adding light weights, that is a complete myth. In fact, it is almost the number 1 myth in every single article I could find on women and weight-lifting.
https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2013/09/11/7-strength-training-myths-every-woman-should-know/
http://bodybuilding.about.com/od/womensfitnesstopics/a/womenmyths.htm
http://breakingmuscle.com/womens-fitness/2-myths-about-women-and-weight-lifting-debunked
If you've experienced what appears to be "bulking" when you start weight training, it might actually be that your building muscle w/o losing fat...in which case you need to change your balance. What's been recommended to me is a 1/2 pound a week cut with 1-2 weight training sessions a week alongside other cardio. That's what I'm doing now. There is zero "bulking" and I am a naturally muscular-looking person (if you know what I mean...I show muscle very quickly when I have it...)
One more: http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/muscle-tone/
Ain't nobody gettin' bulky on 1200 or less calories per day.0 -
Thank you those who gave me good advice without criticism. I'm here for advice and or motivation just like everyone else.0
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It's not criticism, its education.0
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You just have to come to terms that the science of weight lifting is real and even if you don't want to believe it it applies to you. You WILL NOT get bulky eating 1200 calories a day, you could lift 500 pounds and not get bulky eating 1200 calories a day, so one of two things happened you felt like you were getting bulky when really you were losing fat because you are actually eating 1200 calories a day, or (IMO the more likely) you felt like you were getting bulky because your eating over 1200 calories a day and either eating Maintence (which is a very slow process of gaining muscle and losing fat) or eating at a surplus (gaining muscle and fat much quicker). There is no other option unless you have a medical condition and no I'm not criticizing just trying to help you understand the truth0
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Mistraal1981 wrote: »It's not criticism, its education.
People could be educated without being laughed at or made to feel stupid. I have noticed too many people on this site being rude. If people ask questions cant we have answers without being made to feel stupid or laughed at. Lets be honest most of the people now giving advice have been in OP situation hence why they are on the site!0 -
Froggymcconnell wrote: »Mistraal1981 wrote: »It's not criticism, its education.
People could be educated without being laughed at or made to feel stupid. I have noticed too many people on this site being rude. If people ask questions cant we have answers without being made to feel stupid or laughed at. Lets be honest most of the people now giving advice have been in OP situation hence why they are on the site!
if a stranger on the internet can "make" you "feel" stupid you need to get off the www.
mine was quite to the point but excuse me if I am one of those people who doesn't do stupid well.
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Froggymcconnell wrote: »Mistraal1981 wrote: »It's not criticism, its education.
People could be educated without being laughed at or made to feel stupid. I have noticed too many people on this site being rude. If people ask questions cant we have answers without being made to feel stupid or laughed at. Lets be honest most of the people now giving advice have been in OP situation hence why they are on the site!
if a stranger on the internet can "make" you "feel" stupid you need to get off the www.
mine was quite to the point but excuse me if I am one of those people who doesn't do stupid well.
The LMAO comment i was referring to and if you read my comment you would see i wasn't referring to me feeling stupid! also everyone is entitled to their opinions but given that people are coming to threads for help they dont need to be laughed at or spoken to like they are stupid or by rude people that was my point. Everyone can give advice/help/advice without being rude. maybe it was the way i was brought up but hey ho.0 -
Hey there.
If you really don't want to lift weights, I would suggest body weight training. Things like push ups, pull-ups, planks, air squats, will certainly help you. Hey, yoga will also help.
I know it has been said again and again that lifting weights won't make you bulky (and that's true for me because I use weights and not bulky), it is not in my place (or anyone's) to tell you that you should lift weights whether you want to or not, but a little knowledge never hurt anyone. That's why we're here right?
Like someone suggested, if you are gaining a lot of muscle mass while lifting weight, there's a chance you might not be at a caloric deficit. Muscle gain is a slow process and usually doesn't happen on such a low calorie intake. Is it possible that you're taking in more calories than you think?
Good luck on your fitness journey.
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Froggymcconnell wrote: »Froggymcconnell wrote: »Mistraal1981 wrote: »It's not criticism, its education.
People could be educated without being laughed at or made to feel stupid. I have noticed too many people on this site being rude. If people ask questions cant we have answers without being made to feel stupid or laughed at. Lets be honest most of the people now giving advice have been in OP situation hence why they are on the site!
if a stranger on the internet can "make" you "feel" stupid you need to get off the www.
mine was quite to the point but excuse me if I am one of those people who doesn't do stupid well.
The LMAO comment i was referring to and if you read my comment you would see i wasn't referring to me feeling stupid! also everyone is entitled to their opinions but given that people are coming to threads for help they dont need to be laughed at or spoken to like they are stupid or by rude people that was my point. Everyone can give advice/help/advice without being rude. maybe it was the way i was brought up but hey ho.
Then quote the response you are referring to next time.
and if you read my last comment you would see I wasn't necessarily referring to "you" as individual but those who "feel stupid" based on what a stranger on the internet says.
and how do you know what they need? I mean really...some people do need it actually...some need the not so lovey all gooey we love the world attitude boot in the butt to get off it and just do what they need...
and no not everyone can do it the way you feel it should be done...some come across as "rude" when they are being blunt...
I was brought up to not lie and if the truth hurts don't ask the question.0 -
IKilledBambi wrote: »I'm having an issue with trying to maintain my weight and tone up without using weights. Everything I used to include weights in my workout, I get bulky (manish). I can get great definition in my legs without weight, but my upper body is suffering... what can I do? No weights.
Are you sure your getting "bulky"?
Are you positive it's not just water retention causing bloating (happened to me the first couple weeks into lifting and went away)?
Are you sure it's not you losing fat and seeing the muscle underneath?
It's not really possible to bulk at 1200 calories. To gain muscle your body needs the energy to do so. When people bulk, they go into a surplus to give their body the energy it needs to add muscle mass.
So I see a few possibilities:
- Eating more than you think (really easy if your guessing at serving sizes or using measuring cups for solid foods) to the point your in a surplus which is causing fat and muscle gain
- Experiencing water retention that is causing some swelling. The result being slightly larger measurements and slightly higher weight which you aren't giving your body enough time to adjust.
- Losing fat and revealing existing muscle which you are mistaking for muscle gain.0 -
You're not getting bulky- That's impossible.
You need to drop fat that's over your muscles. Toning does not exist. You can build muscle, and you can lose fat. That's it.
How do you calculate your 1200 calories? Cups? Spoons? Food scale? Guessing?0 -
If you are in to your first couple weeks of exercise, you may be experiencing a "bulky" feeling. Just stick with a progressive training (body or weights) routine and deficit. You may see more definition as you lose fat and your muscles adjust to the training. It may take 6 weeks to see the change you are after.0
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Froggymcconnell wrote: »Froggymcconnell wrote: »Mistraal1981 wrote: »It's not criticism, its education.
People could be educated without being laughed at or made to feel stupid. I have noticed too many people on this site being rude. If people ask questions cant we have answers without being made to feel stupid or laughed at. Lets be honest most of the people now giving advice have been in OP situation hence why they are on the site!
if a stranger on the internet can "make" you "feel" stupid you need to get off the www.
mine was quite to the point but excuse me if I am one of those people who doesn't do stupid well.
The LMAO comment i was referring to and if you read my comment you would see i wasn't referring to me feeling stupid! also everyone is entitled to their opinions but given that people are coming to threads for help they dont need to be laughed at or spoken to like they are stupid or by rude people that was my point. Everyone can give advice/help/advice without being rude. maybe it was the way i was brought up but hey ho.
Then quote the response you are referring to next time.
and if you read my last comment you would see I wasn't necessarily referring to "you" as individual but those who "feel stupid" based on what a stranger on the internet says.
and how do you know what they need? I mean really...some people do need it actually...some need the not so lovey all gooey we love the world attitude boot in the butt to get off it and just do what they need...
and no not everyone can do it the way you feel it should be done...some come across as "rude" when they are being blunt...
I was brought up to not lie and if the truth hurts don't ask the question.
I didn't ask the question but yeah ok. anyway, I was giving my opinion based on the fact the OP clearly felt criticised. I am entitled to do that.
Anyway I wont get into this and that because I don't need to! so enjoy your journey! ta-ra0
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