Lose THEN tone, or tone WHILE losing...?

KarmaxKitty
KarmaxKitty Posts: 901 Member
edited September 30 in Fitness and Exercise
I seriously can't understand which one is better. Does anyone have any ideas? I'm down about 32 or 33 pounds and i'm aiming ultimately for aroung 20 or 30 more. :/

Replies

  • End6ame
    End6ame Posts: 903
    Toning doesn’t exist, you can build/maintain muscle and lose fat. That’s it. There is no special combination of sets and reps that equals “toning”. Not doing strength training while losing weight will result in muscle loss, so you should be doing both.
  • amysj303
    amysj303 Posts: 5,086 Member
    I don't know, I have heard different things. Basically, you can't build muscle if you are eating at a deficit to lose, but you want to build muscle so the weight you are losing is fat, not muscle. But I think you can do both if eat at a deficit on cardio days then eat at maintenance or a little over on strength days.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    Toning doesn’t exist, you can build/maintain muscle and lose fat. That’s it. There is no special combination of sets and reps that equals “toning”. Not doing strength training while losing weight will result in muscle loss, so you should be doing both.

    Agreed, I was going to say exactly the same thing.
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    Toning doesn’t exist, you can build/maintain muscle and lose fat. That’s it. There is no special combination of sets and reps that equals “toning”. Not doing strength training while losing weight will result in muscle loss, so you should be doing both.

    Totally agree. I have lost 80 lbs thru diet and exercise the first 20 I just did cardio and it was a long slow process...once I added weight lifting my results were amazing and I'm so MUCH stronger! I love that I can out lift a lot of guys I know!!
  • TS65
    TS65 Posts: 1,024 Member
    Strengthen while losing. More muslce means higher metabolism which means faster fat/inches lost (but possibly slower weight loss due to gain in muscle mass - focus on inches lost). Just make sure to fuel your body.
  • susanswan
    susanswan Posts: 1,194 Member
    Toning doesn’t exist, you can build/maintain muscle and lose fat. That’s it. There is no special combination of sets and reps that equals “toning”. Not doing strength training while losing weight will result in muscle loss, so you should be doing both.

    I agree. I set out to lose 70 pounds and am glad that I picked up my dumbbells along the way because: REGARDLESS OF MY WEIGHT, I AM SO MUCH SMALLER THAN I USED TO BE AT THIS WEIGHT? If that doesn't motivate you, I'm not sure what will!! Flatter stomach, smaller hips, thighs that don't rub and feeling strong! people commenting on muscles in my arms. You are missing out if you don't strength train NOW! = D
  • melizerd
    melizerd Posts: 870 Member
    Well I couldn't handle "learning" more than one thing at a time to begin with. So I focused on diet for awhile and didn't worry about the exercise portion until I had a handle on food.

    Then I added in cardio and weights in slowly so that I could learn one or two things at a time there too.
  • ChantalGG
    ChantalGG Posts: 2,404 Member
    I do weights every other day an d cardio everyday. Even though i am not at my goal weight i still want to be firm and look good. plus more muscle raises your metabolism.
  • laddyboy
    laddyboy Posts: 1,565 Member
    Well I would say since your are not far from your goal build muscle and let the muscle take care of the fat for you.
    When I was huge I lost weight 1st and then build muscle. Not the best way but I was obsessed with the scale.
    If I were you I'd do 3 days of resistance (60 minutes) and 3 days of HIIT Cardio (20-30 minutes max)
  • nuviag
    nuviag Posts: 131 Member
    Thanx for asking...I didnt have this question but now I know that perhaps I should start working on muscle.
  • KarmaxKitty
    KarmaxKitty Posts: 901 Member
    Thanx for asking...I didnt have this question but now I know that perhaps I should start working on muscle.

    I hadn't seen anyone else post about this subject, but it's been on my mind since i hit twenty down. :)



    @everyone: thanks a lot! i had to cut down on excercise for a while because i stressed my shoulder and my ankles a little too much, but im slowly bringing up the cardio again. will be readding strength as soon as my shoulder heals up a little more. :)
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Well, I believe you don't BUILD muscle while losing weight, in that you don't gain muscle weight. Like when people say, "Oh, but you put on muscle, and that's why the scale hasn't moved." That's a myth. But you can improve the muscle you have.

    I mean... I've *technically* lost some muscle mass while losing weight, but I have much firmer and more visible muscles in my arms, legs, back, and abs.

    My arms last summer vs this summer.

    armsd.jpg

    I even have an itty bitty bicep now. :smile:

    img1171z.jpg

    Photo comparison, from when I was skinny 13 years ago or so to now. I had NO muscle in my arms and legs then. They were like little spaghetti noodles. Now, I wear the same size clothes (more or less), but I'm more shapely.

    1998.jpg
  • End6ame
    End6ame Posts: 903
    Well, I believe you don't BUILD muscle while losing weight, in that you don't gain muscle weight. Like when people say, "Oh, but you put on muscle, and that's why the scale hasn't moved." That's a myth. But you can improve the muscle you have.

    I mean... I've *technically* lost some muscle mass while losing weight, but I have much firmer and more visible muscles in my arms, legs, back, and abs.

    My arms last summer vs this summer.

    armsd.jpg

    I even have an itty bitty bicep now. :smile:

    img1171z.jpg

    Photo comparison, from when I was skinny 13 years ago or so to now. I had NO muscle in my arms and legs then. They were like little spaghetti noodles. Now, I wear the same size clothes (more or less), but I'm more shapely.

    1998.jpg

    You can build (some) muscle while on a caloric deficit, especially if you are obese and/or a beginner, it just won’t last forever. I started obese and was able to put on about 6lbs of muscle while on a caloric deficit even though I was not completely new to it. Beginners can see similar results if their training is right, but like I said those kind of results will trail off as time goes by.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Toning doesn’t exist, you can build/maintain muscle and lose fat. That’s it. There is no special combination of sets and reps that equals “toning”. Not doing strength training while losing weight will result in muscle loss, so you should be doing both.

    Of course toning exists. It's even in the dictionary:

    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tone
    18. ( tr ) to give greater firmness or strength to (the body or a part of the body)
  • marie_2454
    marie_2454 Posts: 881 Member
    Toning doesn’t exist, you can build/maintain muscle and lose fat. That’s it. There is no special combination of sets and reps that equals “toning”. Not doing strength training while losing weight will result in muscle loss, so you should be doing both.

    Agree!
  • End6ame
    End6ame Posts: 903
    Toning doesn’t exist, you can build/maintain muscle and lose fat. That’s it. There is no special combination of sets and reps that equals “toning”. Not doing strength training while losing weight will result in muscle loss, so you should be doing both.

    Of course toning exists. It's even in the dictionary:

    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tone
    18. ( tr ) to give greater firmness or strength to (the body or a part of the body)

    OK, fine, but how do you build firmness and strength?... Through building muscle. My point still stands.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I seriously can't understand which one is better. Does anyone have any ideas? I'm down about 32 or 33 pounds and i'm aiming ultimately for aroung 20 or 30 more. :/

    The best answer is "both". Whether you are trying to lose weight, gain weight or maintain your weight it's a good idea to do some type of toning exercises - lifting, resistance, something of that nature - to maintain (or gain) muscle tone.
  • maureensm
    maureensm Posts: 183 Member
    Train train train!
  • mustanggirl_2011
    mustanggirl_2011 Posts: 116 Member
    I think it is so cool that you kept all the old clothes and have pics from then and now :)
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    I think it is so cool that you kept all the old clothes and have pics from then and now :)

    This ^^

    I love those 50s bathing suit photos more than any other before-and-afters I've seen here!! Even the same dresser, the same haircut, the same pose - and facing each other. Very cool. And you look better and happier now.

    :flowerforyou:
  • christian_finn
    christian_finn Posts: 12
    From Practical Programming:

    The modern fitness industry’s concept of “toning” muscles is specious – it might sound cool, but it lacks any tangible and definable meaning.

    The term “muscle tone” or tonus describes an electrophysiological phenomenon, a measure of ionic flow across muscle cell membranes. It can be thought of as the muscle’s readiness to do anaerobic work. The more fit the muscle, the more electrophysiological activity it exhibits at rest.

    Lack of exercise leads to poor tone, aerobic exercise improves tone a little bit, low-intensity weight training improves tone more, and high-intensity training improves tone the fastest.

    As a test, go poke the traps or quads of an elite weightlifter at rest, if she’ll let you. They’ll be as hard as rock. The same muscles of an elite road cyclist at rest will be firm, but not hard. Then compare the athletes’ muscle tone to that of a sedentary person. The results will be quite enlightening.

    Most exercise programs that claim to improve muscle tone are actually low intensity hypertrophy programs and are only moderately at effective improving muscle tone.

    If “tone” is the goal, strength is the method.

    http://www.christianfinn.com/how-to-tone-up/
  • End6ame
    End6ame Posts: 903
    From Practical Programming:

    The modern fitness industry’s concept of “toning” muscles is specious – it might sound cool, but it lacks any tangible and definable meaning.

    The term “muscle tone” or tonus describes an electrophysiological phenomenon, a measure of ionic flow across muscle cell membranes. It can be thought of as the muscle’s readiness to do anaerobic work. The more fit the muscle, the more electrophysiological activity it exhibits at rest.

    Lack of exercise leads to poor tone, aerobic exercise improves tone a little bit, low-intensity weight training improves tone more, and high-intensity training improves tone the fastest.

    As a test, go poke the traps or quads of an elite weightlifter at rest, if she’ll let you. They’ll be as hard as rock. The same muscles of an elite road cyclist at rest will be firm, but not hard. Then compare the athletes’ muscle tone to that of a sedentary person. The results will be quite enlightening.

    Most exercise programs that claim to improve muscle tone are actually low intensity hypertrophy programs and are only moderately at effective improving muscle tone.

    If “tone” is the goal, strength is the method.

    http://www.christianfinn.com/how-to-tone-up/

    Great excerpt! I love Practical Programming.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    If “tone” is the goal, strength is the method.

    Well ... duh! I don't believe the OP was asking what toning was or how to achieve it. They were asking was it better it to do it while trying to lose weight, or lose the weight first and then work on toning.
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