Is 30lbs too much weight for triceps? (Toning)

2

Replies

  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    mulecanter wrote: »
    Yes. Toning is not really a thing. Soreness from lifting means you did some minor damage to the muscle fibers. They will repair themselves and you will achieve great strength if you keep stressing them over time. The chances of getting Hulk arms is minimal unless you spend hours at the gym each day. Some muscle in your arms is a good thing--and sexy!

    ** warning: pet peeve **

    Why do people say that? If bulking or cutting is a thing, then toning is a thing. They are all concepts. I get that you don't tone muscle, but you don't bulk or cut muscle, either. Are you just trying to be argumentative (or condescending), or am I missing something?

    The reason is people never say "Hi I want to cut but I don't want to lose any fat" or "Hi I want to bulk but I don't want to gain muscle" however people all the time say "I want to tone my body but I don't want to gain muscle". There is a clear confusion amongst those "tone-rs" that isn't there for the bulkers and cutters...that means a lot of regular forum posters carry a lot of baggage when it comes to seeing the word "tone".

    It is a reaction to a misconception that people have where they believe a "toned" person is just very thin in addition to being fit rather than more muscular. The concept that adding muscle can actually make you look thinner because of the way it contours your body escapes a lot of people.

    I dunno... bulking to me suggests adding muscle mass. How much is too much is up to the individual. Cutting means reducing body fat. How lean is too lean is up to the individual. Toning is increasing muscle definition, which could involve bulking, cutting, or both depending on the individual.

    But I just don't see how "toning isn't a thing" is even remotely helpful.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    mulecanter wrote: »
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    mulecanter wrote: »
    Yes. Toning is not really a thing. Soreness from lifting means you did some minor damage to the muscle fibers. They will repair themselves and you will achieve great strength if you keep stressing them over time. The chances of getting Hulk arms is minimal unless you spend hours at the gym each day. Some muscle in your arms is a good thing--and sexy!

    ** warning: pet peeve **

    Why do people say that? If bulking or cutting is a thing, then toning is a thing. They are all concepts. I get that you don't tone muscle, but you don't bulk or cut muscle, either. Are you just trying to be argumentative (or condescending), or am I missing something?

    There is no such thing as “toning.” Technically, muscle tone refers to the ability of muscles to reflexively contract. The baby has low muscle tone because it is unable to reflexively hold it’s head up.


    Colloquially, however…

    The word tone has taken on a life of it’s own. It’s used to refer to someone who has muscles and maintains low body fat so you can see the “muscle definition”.

    So saying "there's no such thing as toning" is simply being very literal?
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    edited February 2018
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    mulecanter wrote: »
    Yes. Toning is not really a thing. Soreness from lifting means you did some minor damage to the muscle fibers. They will repair themselves and you will achieve great strength if you keep stressing them over time. The chances of getting Hulk arms is minimal unless you spend hours at the gym each day. Some muscle in your arms is a good thing--and sexy!

    ** warning: pet peeve **

    Why do people say that? If bulking or cutting is a thing, then toning is a thing. They are all concepts. I get that you don't tone muscle, but you don't bulk or cut muscle, either. Are you just trying to be argumentative (or condescending), or am I missing something?

    The reason is people never say "Hi I want to cut but I don't want to lose any fat" or "Hi I want to bulk but I don't want to gain muscle" however people all the time say "I want to tone my body but I don't want to gain muscle". There is a clear confusion amongst those "tone-rs" that isn't there for the bulkers and cutters...that means a lot of regular forum posters carry a lot of baggage when it comes to seeing the word "tone".

    It is a reaction to a misconception that people have where they believe a "toned" person is just very thin in addition to being fit rather than more muscular. The concept that adding muscle can actually make you look thinner because of the way it contours your body escapes a lot of people.

    I dunno... bulking to me suggests adding muscle mass. How much is too much is up to the individual. Cutting means reducing body fat. How lean is too lean is up to the individual. Toning is increasing muscle definition, which could involve bulking, cutting, or both depending on the individual.

    But I just don't see how "toning isn't a thing" is even remotely helpful.

    Oh I agree that just saying "toning isn't a thing" period is condescending and unhelpful. I just understand where it is coming from, it is coming from a regular poster responding to a "I am worried I am going to put on muscle when all I want to do is tone" post for the hundredth time and finally just snapping from aggravation over how a myth that you can accidently put on too much muscle just won't die. That isn't an excuse for that, just saying I get where it comes from.

    That said I haven't seen "toning isn't a thing." here, I have seeing "toning isn't a thing....(further explanation)"
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    mulecanter wrote: »
    Yes. Toning is not really a thing. Soreness from lifting means you did some minor damage to the muscle fibers. They will repair themselves and you will achieve great strength if you keep stressing them over time. The chances of getting Hulk arms is minimal unless you spend hours at the gym each day. Some muscle in your arms is a good thing--and sexy!

    ** warning: pet peeve **

    Why do people say that? If bulking or cutting is a thing, then toning is a thing. They are all concepts. I get that you don't tone muscle, but you don't bulk or cut muscle, either. Are you just trying to be argumentative (or condescending), or am I missing something?

    The reason is people never say "Hi I want to cut but I don't want to lose any fat" or "Hi I want to bulk but I don't want to gain muscle" however people all the time say "I want to tone my body but I don't want to gain muscle". There is a clear confusion amongst those "tone-rs" that isn't there for the bulkers and cutters...that means a lot of regular forum posters carry a lot of baggage when it comes to seeing the word "tone".

    It is a reaction to a misconception that people have where they believe a "toned" person is just very thin in addition to being fit rather than more muscular. The concept that adding muscle can actually make you look thinner because of the way it contours your body escapes a lot of people.

    I dunno... bulking to me suggests adding muscle mass. How much is too much is up to the individual. Cutting means reducing body fat. How lean is too lean is up to the individual. Toning is increasing muscle definition, which could involve bulking, cutting, or both depending on the individual.

    But I just don't see how "toning isn't a thing" is even remotely helpful.

    Oh I agree that just saying "toning isn't a thing" period is condescending and unhelpful. I just understand where it is coming from, it is coming from a regular poster responding to a "I am worried I am going to put on muscle when all I want to do is tone" post for the hundredth time and finally just snapping. That isn't an excuse for that, just saying I get where it comes from.

    Gotcha. And I'm pretty sure I agree.

    Thanks.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    edited February 2018
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    "Bulking" as a female is not something that will just happen one day by accident. Putting on muscle is extremely hard for anyone and doubly so for women and it takes years. You really don't have to worry about it.

    Also the only difference between "toning" and "bulking" is how far you take it, both have the same start which is putting on some muscle.

    To me toning is more dropping bodyfat down to show (some) muscle, but you do need a decent muscle base in the first place. Some people already have it without having to put on muscle or bulk.

    Fair enough but the common term for that is "cutting" isn't it? I'm more reacting to the idea that one can accidentally put on too much muscle. I don't think this has ever been an actual problem for anyone ever. I mean has anyone ever woken up one day, looked in the mirror and thought "oh dang, I have too much muscle now."

    Yea I don't know if the term "cutting" is common, but essentially you want to cut/lean out.. preserve muscle while losing fat.

    It's not typical but it can happen. It may not happen overnight, but I feel that way about my quads sometimes, they are a bit larger than I would prefer them to be. But my body is a result of several bulk cycles so not an accident.

    Also keep in mind in this particular case, OP has stated she is eating in a surplus, so it will be more of a concern than if she was eating in a deficit.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    edited February 2018
    sardelsa wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    "Bulking" as a female is not something that will just happen one day by accident. Putting on muscle is extremely hard for anyone and doubly so for women and it takes years. You really don't have to worry about it.

    Also the only difference between "toning" and "bulking" is how far you take it, both have the same start which is putting on some muscle.

    To me toning is more dropping bodyfat down to show (some) muscle, but you do need a decent muscle base in the first place. Some people already have it without having to put on muscle or bulk.

    Fair enough but the common term for that is "cutting" isn't it? I'm more reacting to the idea that one can accidentally put on too much muscle. I don't think this has ever been an actual problem for anyone ever. I mean has anyone ever woken up one day, looked in the mirror and thought "oh dang, I have too much muscle now."

    Yea I don't know if the term "cutting" is common, but essentially you want to cut/lean out.. preserve muscle while losing fat.

    It's not typical but it can happen. It may not happen overnight, but I feel that way about my quads sometimes, they are a bit larger than I would prefer them to be. But my body is a result of several bulk cycles so not an accident.

    Yeah well I imagine it is hard to work enough to look as amazing as you without having some amount of perfectionism that makes you constantly self-critique aspects of your body.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    "Bulking" as a female is not something that will just happen one day by accident. Putting on muscle is extremely hard for anyone and doubly so for women and it takes years. You really don't have to worry about it.

    Also the only difference between "toning" and "bulking" is how far you take it, both have the same start which is putting on some muscle.

    To me toning is more dropping bodyfat down to show (some) muscle, but you do need a decent muscle base in the first place. Some people already have it without having to put on muscle or bulk.

    Fair enough but the common term for that is "cutting" isn't it? I'm more reacting to the idea that one can accidentally put on too much muscle. I don't think this has ever been an actual problem for anyone ever. I mean has anyone ever woken up one day, looked in the mirror and thought "oh dang, I have too much muscle now."

    Yea I don't know if the term "cutting" is common, but essentially you want to cut/lean out.. preserve muscle while losing fat.

    It's not typical but it can happen. It may not happen overnight, but I feel that way about my quads sometimes, they are a bit larger than I would prefer them to be. But my body is a result of several bulk cycles so not an accident.

    Yeah well it is hard to look as amazing as you without having some aspect of perfectionism that makes you constantly self-critique to that level I imagine.

    Haha thanks.. but I love the strength that comes with them more so while I don't do quad isolated work, I don't avoid them either!
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    edited February 2018
    sardelsa wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    "Bulking" as a female is not something that will just happen one day by accident. Putting on muscle is extremely hard for anyone and doubly so for women and it takes years. You really don't have to worry about it.

    Also the only difference between "toning" and "bulking" is how far you take it, both have the same start which is putting on some muscle.

    To me toning is more dropping bodyfat down to show (some) muscle, but you do need a decent muscle base in the first place. Some people already have it without having to put on muscle or bulk.

    Fair enough but the common term for that is "cutting" isn't it? I'm more reacting to the idea that one can accidentally put on too much muscle. I don't think this has ever been an actual problem for anyone ever. I mean has anyone ever woken up one day, looked in the mirror and thought "oh dang, I have too much muscle now."

    Yea I don't know if the term "cutting" is common, but essentially you want to cut/lean out.. preserve muscle while losing fat.

    It's not typical but it can happen. It may not happen overnight, but I feel that way about my quads sometimes, they are a bit larger than I would prefer them to be. But my body is a result of several bulk cycles so not an accident.

    Yeah well it is hard to look as amazing as you without having some aspect of perfectionism that makes you constantly self-critique to that level I imagine.

    Haha thanks.. but I love the strength that comes with them more so while I don't do quad isolated work, I don't avoid them either!

    I think being that fit is attractive on multiple levels...one is the physical appearance of course but along with that comes just and understanding that to achieve that a person needs to be able to focus and apply a certain caliber of determination that not very many people can muster. And that sort of just clear success through applied focus written upon your body has its own appeal. If someone has a lot of money you don't know if that is because they are hard working and dedicated or because they had a big inheritance...if someone is that fit you know it came from them.

    I understand different people find different things attractive but it is hard for me to imagine someone (anyone really) deciding to lift weights and find time to do so and end up being worse off than if they hadn't done that. Yeah I am sure there are some extreme examples but I choose to consider the most likely outcome which is that one will become stronger, more fit and look better as a result. That second guessing weight lifting on the fear you will become "too bulky" is not constructive towards that end.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    "Bulking" as a female is not something that will just happen one day by accident. Putting on muscle is extremely hard for anyone and doubly so for women and it takes years. You really don't have to worry about it.

    Also the only difference between "toning" and "bulking" is how far you take it, both have the same start which is putting on some muscle.

    To me toning is more dropping bodyfat down to show (some) muscle, but you do need a decent muscle base in the first place. Some people already have it without having to put on muscle or bulk.

    Fair enough but the common term for that is "cutting" isn't it? I'm more reacting to the idea that one can accidentally put on too much muscle. I don't think this has ever been an actual problem for anyone ever. I mean has anyone ever woken up one day, looked in the mirror and thought "oh dang, I have too much muscle now."

    Yea I don't know if the term "cutting" is common, but essentially you want to cut/lean out.. preserve muscle while losing fat.

    It's not typical but it can happen. It may not happen overnight, but I feel that way about my quads sometimes, they are a bit larger than I would prefer them to be. But my body is a result of several bulk cycles so not an accident.

    Yeah well it is hard to look as amazing as you without having some aspect of perfectionism that makes you constantly self-critique to that level I imagine.

    Haha thanks.. but I love the strength that comes with them more so while I don't do quad isolated work, I don't avoid them either!

    I think being that fit is attractive on multiple levels...one is the physical appearance of course but along with that comes just and understanding that to achieve that a person needs to be able to focus and apply a certain caliber of determination that not very many people can muster. And that sort of just clear success through applied focus written upon your body has its own appeal. If someone has a lot of money you don't know if that is because they are hard working and dedicated or because they had a big inheritance...if someone is that fit you know it came from them.

    I understand different people find different things attractive but it is hard for me to imagine someone (anyone really) deciding to lift weights and find time to do so and end up being worse off than if they hadn't done that. Yeah I am sure there are some extreme examples but I choose to consider the most likely outcome which is that one will become stronger, more fit and look better as a result. That second guessing weight lifting on the fear you will become "too bulky" is not constructive towards that end.

    That last sentence is right on. I was always scared of getting too bulky and now I regret not working to build my upper body more. I am weaker and don't look as balanced as I'd like. But that's ok.. sometimes people have to live and learn!
  • goatg
    goatg Posts: 1,399 Member
    Just came in to say, wow, you have a beautiful back. :)
  • tirowow12385
    tirowow12385 Posts: 697 Member
    edited February 2018
    30 pounds isn't much at all. I've been using 80 pounds now, but I've been going through a progressive program, so I've moved from 30 to 40 all the way to 80.

    You're not going to bulk up from 30 pounds FYI.. it takes a lot of work to bulk up. I'm not even close to being bulky from weight lifting.

    ^ This isn't really relevant....

    There's been no mention in this thread what type of tricep exercises anyone is doing. You can't compare your 80 lbs to OP's 30. Even if it were the exact same exercise, it wouldn't matter. What is heavy enough for one person may not be for another. It sounds like you've been working on your tricep strength much longer than the OP has.

    'Tricep work' may be more of a compound movement (bench press or close grip press hit the triceps) which will typically be a heavier weight compared to an isolation move like a cable extension or a skull crusher.

    I can do like 200 lbs on those tricep push down machines. I have close grip bench pressed 150+ lbs.
    Skull crushers or EZ bar extensions, I find 30-40 lbs to be a challenging weight if I'm going for higher reps.
    But again, another person's weights are mostly irrelevant. Especially with no context.

    Ok rant over.

    The thirty pounds affect their muscle the same way as far as bulking, right?
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    30 pounds isn't much at all. I've been using 80 pounds now, but I've been going through a progressive program, so I've moved from 30 to 40 all the way to 80.

    You're not going to bulk up from 30 pounds FYI.. it takes a lot of work to bulk up. I'm not even close to being bulky from weight lifting.

    ^ This isn't really relevant....

    There's been no mention in this thread what type of tricep exercises anyone is doing. You can't compare your 80 lbs to OP's 30. Even if it were the exact same exercise, it wouldn't matter. What is heavy enough for one person may not be for another. It sounds like you've been working on your tricep strength much longer than the OP has.

    'Tricep work' may be more of a compound movement (bench press or close grip press hit the triceps) which will typically be a heavier weight compared to an isolation move like a cable extension or a skull crusher.

    I can do like 200 lbs on those tricep push down machines. I have close grip bench pressed 150+ lbs.
    Skull crushers or EZ bar extensions, I find 30-40 lbs to be a challenging weight if I'm going for higher reps.
    But again, another person's weights are mostly irrelevant. Especially with no context.

    Ok rant over.

    The thirty pounds affect their muscle the same way as far as bulking, right?

    I'm not sure what you're asking. I just said that "30 lbs" was irrelevant.
  • tirowow12385
    tirowow12385 Posts: 697 Member
    30 pounds isn't much at all. I've been using 80 pounds now, but I've been going through a progressive program, so I've moved from 30 to 40 all the way to 80.

    You're not going to bulk up from 30 pounds FYI.. it takes a lot of work to bulk up. I'm not even close to being bulky from weight lifting.

    ^ This isn't really relevant....

    There's been no mention in this thread what type of tricep exercises anyone is doing. You can't compare your 80 lbs to OP's 30. Even if it were the exact same exercise, it wouldn't matter. What is heavy enough for one person may not be for another. It sounds like you've been working on your tricep strength much longer than the OP has.

    'Tricep work' may be more of a compound movement (bench press or close grip press hit the triceps) which will typically be a heavier weight compared to an isolation move like a cable extension or a skull crusher.

    I can do like 200 lbs on those tricep push down machines. I have close grip bench pressed 150+ lbs.
    Skull crushers or EZ bar extensions, I find 30-40 lbs to be a challenging weight if I'm going for higher reps.
    But again, another person's weights are mostly irrelevant. Especially with no context.

    Ok rant over.

    The thirty pounds affect their muscle the same way as far as bulking, right?

    I'm not sure what you're asking. I just said that "30 lbs" was irrelevant.

    It makes more sense if they both lifted, regardless of muscle group, and they both receive the same stimuli and therefore "bulk", or am i missing something here?

    Continuing to lift will have you plateau and neither will past the peak of 30 pounds.
  • Muscleflex79
    Muscleflex79 Posts: 1,917 Member
    No, it's very difficult for a woman to bulk. It requires a lot of time and focus on that specific goal (which includes a lot of food!) so it's not going to happen by accident. So please do not worry about that, at all.

    You can't determine how heavy a weight is just based on the number, because 30lbs for one person may be really light, but then a struggle for someone else and therefore the results it'll have for those 2 people will be very different.

    As a general guide;
    3-6 reps for strength
    8-12 reps for hypertrophy (muscle size)
    15+ reps for endurance

    This is the rep range assuming that the last couple of reps are a struggle while still maintaining good form.

    Even with the hypertrophy range for example though, you will still need an excess of calories (calorie surplus) to gain muscle.

    "Toning" is pretty much just a situation when the body fat is low enough to show some muscle definition but not loads of muscle mass. For most people this just means a very small calorie deficit, and weight training to maintain the muscle that you have. Most aesthetic focused training programs will be based around the hypertrophy range but as I said above in a calorie deficit or even maintenance this will be nothing to worry about and will just help you maintain muscle you have already.

    this!
  • Muscleflex79
    Muscleflex79 Posts: 1,917 Member
    Thanks to everyone who answered kindly, appreciate it. The exercise was the tricep extension machine BTW. I feel like if I want a toned upper body and a built lower body I shouldn’t be made fun of for that because that’s the look I want. I don’t laugh at women with built upper bodies and no legs? But thanks anyway.

    I don't think people are making fun of your goal, they're flipping out over the word toning, I see these in other threads.

    Every dumbbell/ weight will give you a look or tone ( muscle mass size plus) until it doesn't or won't anymore ( plateau) so you might want to experiment and log the inches you get from working with certain weights.
    If you want to be small, lift small or under 50 lbs until you plateau, you want a bulky lower body, you might need to work with over hundred pounds. If you don't like the "bulk", decrease the weight, your muscle will atrophy and decrease.
    It's all just a matter of logic.

    I figured I’d join this app and people would be supportive but it’s the opposite. Even IF they see the word toning on other threads and it’s annoying they aren’t obliged to make rude comments. I haven’t been working out for long, and I’m getting condescending answers on this thread.

    Lovely fitness community. Lmao

    stop and think about your original question - do you really think one day of tricep extensions with 30lbs is going to bulk you up? when you see people that are bulky/muscular/whatever you want to call it - do you really think they got that way from one workout? if it were that easy wouldn't everyone be walking around jacked??
  • gamerbabe14
    gamerbabe14 Posts: 876 Member
    Thanks to everyone who answered kindly, appreciate it. The exercise was the tricep extension machine BTW. I feel like if I want a toned upper body and a built lower body I shouldn’t be made fun of for that because that’s the look I want. I don’t laugh at women with built upper bodies and no legs? But thanks anyway.

    I don't think people are making fun of your goal, they're flipping out over the word toning, I see these in other threads.

    Every dumbbell/ weight will give you a look or tone ( muscle mass size plus) until it doesn't or won't anymore ( plateau) so you might want to experiment and log the inches you get from working with certain weights.
    If you want to be small, lift small or under 50 lbs until you plateau, you want a bulky lower body, you might need to work with over hundred pounds. If you don't like the "bulk", decrease the weight, your muscle will atrophy and decrease.
    It's all just a matter of logic.

    I figured I’d join this app and people would be supportive but it’s the opposite. Even IF they see the word toning on other threads and it’s annoying they aren’t obliged to make rude comments. I haven’t been working out for long, and I’m getting condescending answers on this thread.

    Lovely fitness community. Lmao

    I thought you got some solid advice here. Sure... some was *kitten* but that's kind of what to expect when asking strangers on the internet.