Low calorie diet- Toning up?!

ImogenNicoleJacobs
ImogenNicoleJacobs Posts: 4
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm on a 1200 calorie diet and doing little exercise (just a few yoga poses and stretches and 10-20 minutes walking a day). I'm doing this mostly to lose weight and some fat, but I really need to tone up everywhere. I'm not sure what would benefit me most- cardio? Pilates? Any suggestions? I do NOT want to do any strength training, as my main problem area is my bottom half, especially my legs, and they are already pretty bulky with muscle (not from exercise, just an unfortunate family trait). What kind of workout/exercise be most beneficial for someone wanting to tone up without building muscle?

Replies

  • _GlaDOS_
    _GlaDOS_ Posts: 1,520 Member
    I highly doubt your legs are "bulky".

    My only suggestion is strength training. Lifting heavy. And eating a lot more.

    Basically, all the things you don't want to do.
  • engineman312
    engineman312 Posts: 3,450 Member
    I highly doubt your legs are "bulky".

    My only suggestion is strength training. Lifting heavy. And eating a lot more.

    Basically, all the things you don't want to do.

    qft
  • cgrout78
    cgrout78 Posts: 1,628 Member
    I'm on a 1200 calorie diet and doing little exercise (just a few yoga poses and stretches and 10-20 minutes walking a day). I'm doing this mostly to lose weight and some fat, but I really need to tone up everywhere. I'm not sure what would benefit me most- cardio? Pilates? Any suggestions? I do NOT want to do any strength training, as my main problem area is my bottom half, especially my legs, and they are already pretty bulky with muscle (not from exercise, just an unfortunate family trait). What kind of workout/exercise be most beneficial for someone wanting to tone up without building muscle?

    I guess if you're really dead set against weights. Pilates does work well for core strength training. not sure about losing fat though.
  • EngiAli
    EngiAli Posts: 83 Member
    What does "toning up" mean if it doesn't mean growing your muscles so that they have a nicer appearance. Cardio will burn fat off, and pilates will give you some added muscle strength and fat loss (it will not make your muscles them "long and lean" - you can't lengthen your muscles no matter what the sales guy says). Strength Training/Weight Lifting (heavy) will increase the size of your muscles while burning the fat off them - giving you the Toned look you are going for.
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    My thighs decreased in size from 20" when I was 102 pounds to 19" at 110 pounds and they are firmer and stronger. I do 150 pound deadlifts, 120 pound squats, and lunges with 50 pounds along with many other heavy weight exercise. My body fat is 17%. Not throwing these stats out there to brag, simply stating for the thousanth time that lifting weights does NOT make a girl bulky...you would need steroids for that...it makes you leaner and firmer.
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