Cardio/toning question

jazzy020106
jazzy020106 Posts: 485 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey everyone!! Ok..so I'm about 8 to10 lbs from my goal weight!! Hooray!! BUT.. I feel like my skin is like sagging off my bones.. My main way of exercise is jogging..i love doing it and it melts the lbs off. But I'm wondering if at this point i should be doing more strength training?? Does doing all cardio give you that "skinny-fat" issue? Or if i keep going with What I'm doing will i eventually lose the looseness thats in my arms belly and thighs???

Replies

  • selina884
    selina884 Posts: 826 Member
    Yep, start lifting! You will tighten up eventually
  • briscogun
    briscogun Posts: 1,138 Member
    Congrats on almost reaching your goal weight!

    You are kind of mentioning two things: loose skin and being skinny-fat.

    There are no exercises that will relieve or eliminate loose skin. It's just a function of how your body adapts to the weight loss. If you are younger and your skin is more elastic, you will see improvement over time. Also, rapid weight loss will result in loose skin (you lose weight faster than your body can adapt to it). That's why some folks will advocate the slow-but-steady method to avoid loose skin issues as much as possible. Some folks will put lotion and whatnot on to help, but its just a function of how much, how fast, and how well your body adapts.

    The strength training question is a bit different, because what that will do for you is create a nice toned frame under the fat once its removed. In theory it can help with some loose skin in spots because you create more volume under the skin to replace the fat that was there. This doesn't mean getting all pumped up like a 'roided out weightlifter, either. Here's a good thread about strength training from a ladies perspective:

    community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/977538/halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky/p1

    A lot of folks will advocate beginning a strength training program as you get closer to your goal weight to help remove those last few pounds and create a toned frame underneath. It all depends on your goals and what you are trying to achieve.

    Congrats again and good luck!
  • kgj4105
    kgj4105 Posts: 41 Member
    Even body-weight training might be good for you if you don't want to go into a gym and start dead-lifting weights - push-ups, planks, various types of crunches, etc etc. If jogging is your main form of exercise, you might not have to worry about your quads and legs too much.
  • jazzy020106
    jazzy020106 Posts: 485 Member
    kgj4105 wrote: »
    Even body-weight training might be good for you if you don't want to go into a gym and start dead-lifting weights - push-ups, planks, various types of crunches, etc etc. If jogging is your main form of exercise, you might not have to worry about your quads and legs too much.

    Yes body weight training i guess is more What I have in mind as i have 4 kids and No time to really go to a gym so i do everything at home...
  • jazzy020106
    jazzy020106 Posts: 485 Member
    brian_gunther wrote: »
    Congrats on almost reaching your goal weight!

    You are kind of mentioning two things: loose skin and being skinny-fat.

    There are no exercises that will relieve or eliminate loose skin. It's just a function of how your body adapts to the weight loss. If you are younger and your skin is more elastic, you will see improvement over time. Also, rapid weight loss will result in loose skin (you lose weight faster than your body can adapt to it). That's why some folks will advocate the slow-but-steady method to avoid loose skin issues as much as possible. Some folks will put lotion and whatnot on to help, but its just a function of how much, how fast, and how well your body adapts.

    The strength training question is a bit different, because what that will do for you is create a nice toned frame under the fat once its removed. In theory it can help with some loose skin in spots because you create more volume under the skin to replace the fat that was there. This doesn't mean getting all pumped up like a 'roided out weightlifter, either. Here's a good thread about strength training from a ladies perspective:

    community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/977538/halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky/p1

    A lot of folks will advocate beginning a strength training program as you get closer to your goal weight to help remove those last few pounds and create a toned frame underneath. It all depends on your goals and what you are trying to achieve.

    Congrats again and good luck!

    Ty for the link! I will check it out now. And honestly I'm not sure if i have loose skin or a skinny fat issue.. I do know i need to tone but i hear mixed opinions on whether jogging tones your legs/lower belly or not
  • briscogun
    briscogun Posts: 1,138 Member
    kgj4105 wrote: »
    Even body-weight training might be good for you if you don't want to go into a gym and start dead-lifting weights - push-ups, planks, various types of crunches, etc etc. If jogging is your main form of exercise, you might not have to worry about your quads and legs too much.
    jazzy020106 wrote: »
    kgj4105 wrote: »
    Even body-weight training might be good for you if you don't want to go into a gym and start dead-lifting weights - push-ups, planks, various types of crunches, etc etc. If jogging is your main form of exercise, you might not have to worry about your quads and legs too much.

    Yes body weight training i guess is more What I have in mind as i have 4 kids and No time to really go to a gym so i do everything at home...

    This is what I am currently doing myself. I use a You Are Your Own Gym (YAYOG) program that I found. I think I'm on week 6? I have kids, no gym membership, no time to go to a gym if I did have a membership, and no heavy weights at home. I do have a treadmill, a small stationary bench, and a pull-up bar! But the program I use does not require any equipment at all. It uses things like chairs, tables, doors, etc., to complete the exercises.

    It's amazing what you can do with your own body to create a progressive overload and build some strength/musculature.

    Good luck!
  • MattReeceCPT
    MattReeceCPT Posts: 163 Member
    jazzy020106 wrote: »
    Hey everyone!! Ok..so I'm about 8 to10 lbs from my goal weight!! Hooray!! BUT.. I feel like my skin is like sagging off my bones.. My main way of exercise is jogging..i love doing it and it melts the lbs off. But I'm wondering if at this point i should be doing more strength training?? Does doing all cardio give you that "skinny-fat" issue? Or if i keep going with What I'm doing will i eventually lose the looseness thats in my arms belly and thighs???

    Everyone is different. With that being said, I found that this worked best for me:

    I start every session with 10 minutes of cardio. Follow it up with weight training. I do between 8-12 reps of moderate weight. If time permits, I break up my sets with 5 minute cardio sessions. After the weights, I do an additional 10 minutes of cardio. I try to keep my heart rate around 135 for the duration of the session. Best of wishes.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    edited March 2016
    If you want to get in a body work routine at home give this a try. It's free
    It is simple so you can work it in between careing for the family.

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/

    Cheers, h.
  • RebeccaNaegle
    RebeccaNaegle Posts: 236 Member
    Start lifting weights. Cardio wont do much but the skinny fat thing you mention. Weights and building muscle is where its at!
  • jazzy020106
    jazzy020106 Posts: 485 Member
    middlehaitch wrote: »
    If you want to get in a body work routine at home give this a try. It's free
    It is simple so you can work it in between careing for the family.

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/

    Cheers, h.

    thanks! I saved this!!
  • jazzy020106
    jazzy020106 Posts: 485 Member
    Do you guys think insanity tones?? We have insanity but seems to me like more cardio than anything..what about the chalean extreme?? Any opinions??
  • ASKyle
    ASKyle Posts: 1,475 Member
    RebeccaParmenter wrote: »
    Start lifting weights. Cardio wont do much but the skinny fat thing you mention. Weights and building muscle is where its at!

    This.

    And I wanted to add that this "toning" thing you keep mentioning (OP) doesn't exist. You can build muscle, or you can lose fat. One of those things gives the "toned" (or opposite of toned appearance).
  • jazzy020106
    jazzy020106 Posts: 485 Member
    ASKyle wrote: »
    RebeccaParmenter wrote: »
    Start lifting weights. Cardio wont do much but the skinny fat thing you mention. Weights and building muscle is where its at!

    This.

    And I wanted to add that this "toning" thing you keep mentioning (OP) doesn't exist. You can build muscle, or you can lose fat. One of those things gives the "toned" (or opposite of toned appearance).

    I mean if You want to Get All technical..but Yes I'm aware..so technically i need to build muscle
  • chiptease
    chiptease Posts: 70 Member
    Congrats! Maybe you can try breaking up your jogs with circuit training sessions (planks, push ups, sit ups, squats, etc). Also, try sprint training a few times a week to switch things up. I would definitely, as others have said, incorporate a few days of weight training.
  • jazzy020106
    jazzy020106 Posts: 485 Member
    chiptease wrote: »
    Congrats! Maybe you can try breaking up your jogs with circuit training sessions (planks, push ups, sit ups, squats, etc). Also, try sprint training a few times a week to switch things up. I would definitely, as others have said, incorporate a few days of weight training.

    Ty..i like these ideas!! Trying to figure out what works best for me!!
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,331 Member
    jazzy020106 wrote: »
    Do you guys think insanity tones?? We have insanity but seems to me like more cardio than anything..what about the chalean extreme?? Any opinions??

    My experience with Insanity ended with a knee injury, but based on how the program is designed it will not really "tone" (How I hate that term, it is simply designed to say put on muscle to make women not get scared they will get bulky which because of their lack of testosterone they won't even lifting heavy weights).

    I also suggest the You Are Your Own Gym book by Mark Lauren and the app that goes along with it. Well worth the purchase price. I have not seen a DVD that will do anything close to what it will, they are all really cardio.

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