when should I start toning.....

jmwilliams10
jmwilliams10 Posts: 16
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Ok well I have lost about 21 pounds and I'm hearing different answers as to when I should start toning up...could I start now or wait until I've lost all the weight I want to lose which is between 125 to150...please help I'm so confused
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Replies

  • Overboard_Eater
    Overboard_Eater Posts: 105 Member
    IMO - Start now! Why would you wait? I once read that people who are overweight have muscle under there. they need it to move all that weight around. If you wait to start then you could lose all that base muscle.
  • jgic2009
    jgic2009 Posts: 531 Member
    It's never too early to start lifting weights!
  • sipseyab
    sipseyab Posts: 56 Member
    Strenghth training should be part of your exercise routine now. And "toning" is just building muscle. Strength training regularly will increase your metabolic rate.
  • Elisac2008
    Elisac2008 Posts: 83 Member
    Strenghth training should be part of your exercise routine now. And "toning" is just building muscle. Strength training regularly will increase your metabolic rate.

    this is always what i have heard. I have not been doing strength training because after cardio i just don't have the strength to do anymore.
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    Strenghth training should be part of your exercise routine now. And "toning" is just building muscle. Strength training regularly will increase your metabolic rate.

    This! The only thing I'd add is you should of started yesterday :wink:
  • HMVOL7409
    HMVOL7409 Posts: 1,588 Member
    Start building muscle, not toning, now. There's no weight loss requirement of when to start.
  • Ripcode
    Ripcode Posts: 142 Member
    this is always what i have heard. I have not been doing strength training because after cardio i just don't have the strength to do anymore.

    Strength training should be done *before* cardio. Give that a try.
  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
    I have not been doing strength training because after cardio i just don't have the strength to do anymore.
    Well flip your exercise around. First of all as you mentioned you'll be too tired after cardio to do a good job with the strength training. Secondly those calories you burn during strength training use up your glycogen stores (blood sugar energy - a.k.a. carbs). If you do your cardio right after strength training and keep your heart rate in fat burning zone your body will be more likely to resort to using stored fat for energy. It has to because your strength training used up the freely available energy in your blood stream.

    You get stronger, and burn more fat. That's a win-win.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,086 Member
    You don't "tone" the body. What is "toning" anyway? LIFTING WEIGHTS. When you lift weights you are building muscle or preserving muscle. And that should be done now and not later.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • srhershey
    srhershey Posts: 181 Member
    I'd start toning/strength training along with cardio. Muscle also helps burn fat, and there are a lot of really good workout DVDs out there that integrate strength training and cardio. Some of my favorites are Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred or her Last Chance Workout, and Bob Harper's Biggest Loser DVDs. Both of them mix cardio with upper and lower body routines. From squats, pushups, tricept curls, to jumping, quick feet, and high knees. Plus, in working out to the Biggest Loser DVDs, it motivates me to see people from the show working out as well, who are heavier than I am. If they can do it, so can I.
  • ATLMel
    ATLMel Posts: 392 Member
    Lift weights now. You don't want any of that weight loss to be lean mass. Good strength training will preserve that mass.

    And as someone else mentioned, yeah, do it BEFORE cardio or on different days...you don't need 7 days of cardio.
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    Yesterday.....lol
    Seriously, this very moment is the moment you've been waiting for. Strength training is great.
    Go!:drinker:
  • Bmontgomery613
    Bmontgomery613 Posts: 200 Member
    Yeah that to what everyone else says. Strength train, tone, lift weights (whatever you want to call it) TODAY!
  • BAMFMeredith
    BAMFMeredith Posts: 2,810 Member
    Lift weights now. You don't want any of that weight loss to be lean mass. Good strength training will preserve that mass.

    And as someone else mentioned, yeah, do it BEFORE cardio or on different days...you don't need 7 days of cardio.

    Ditto. I don't lift on my heavy cardio days. On the days that I lift weights, I do it first and go all out, and then if I'm up to it I do some kind of light cardio afterward. You'll notice really great changes in your body with strength training, so get started!

    The one thing I will caution you about is DON'T freak out if the scale stops moving for a little while (or just slows down). You're not gaining weight. Your muscles are retaining fluid to help repair them, and you will notice changes in your measurements. Your body fat percentage will be going down, so don't stress about the # on the scale. :smile:
  • CarrieAnne22
    CarrieAnne22 Posts: 231 Member
    Lift weights & build muscle (or 'tone' if you prefer the word) now, so that as the weight/fat melts away your lovely, toned muscles will be revealed. Why get to that point and THEN have to work on them when they could be helping you do the work along the way?
  • beckyinma
    beckyinma Posts: 1,433 Member
    Alternate strength days with cardio and you'll be off to a great start!
  • rileamoyer
    rileamoyer Posts: 2,412 Member
    NOW!!!!!!!!
  • Cambrendle
    Cambrendle Posts: 104 Member
    the more muscle you build/tone the faster you'll burn off the fat - muscle burns fat even while at rest :happy:
  • BrownEyedSister
    BrownEyedSister Posts: 74 Member
    Strenghth training should be part of your exercise routine now. And "toning" is just building muscle. Strength training regularly will increase your metabolic rate.

    This! The only thing I'd add is you should of started yesterday :wink:

    ^ This!! Don't wait.
  • w2bab
    w2bab Posts: 353 Member
    OMG! You used the "T-word"!!! While perfectly acceptable on other fitness sites and in health and fitness magazines, it is taboo on the the MFP forums. Prepare yourself for the attacks.
  • manderson27
    manderson27 Posts: 3,510 Member
    Yes as soon as possible is good. I recently changed my cardio to after my lifting and it has made a big difference to how much I lift. So all good advice from above posters.

    Good luck
  • HMVOL7409
    HMVOL7409 Posts: 1,588 Member
    OMG! You used the "T-word"!!! While perfectly acceptable on other fitness sites and in health and fitness magazines, it is taboo on the the MFP forums. Prepare yourself for the attacks.

    Calm down there, no one is attacking but rather informing.
  • mmmyotwnz
    mmmyotwnz Posts: 119 Member
    Lift weights now. You don't want any of that weight loss to be lean mass. Good strength training will preserve that mass.

    And as someone else mentioned, yeah, do it BEFORE cardio or on different days...you don't need 7 days of cardio.

    Ditto. I don't lift on my heavy cardio days. On the days that I lift weights, I do it first and go all out, and then if I'm up to it I do some kind of light cardio afterward. You'll notice really great changes in your body with strength training, so get started!

    The one thing I will caution you about is DON'T freak out if the scale stops moving for a little while (or just slows down). You're not gaining weight. Your muscles are retaining fluid to help repair them, and you will notice changes in your measurements. Your body fat percentage will be going down, so don't stress about the # on the scale. :smile:



    I wish I had heard this when I started this journey. I only learned this a couple of weeks ago. It seriously freaked me out that I was doing all of this cardio and hitting the weight machines and the scale stopped. Matter of fact it increased a couple of pounds and stayed there for about 13-15 days. Then I had a sudden drop and it has cycled this way for all of my recent journey(52days now). The thing that the scale can't say is the inches I have lost, I am pushing 20" now. The total dependence on the scale has thwarted my journey in the last 8-10 years. Why bust my butt if nothing is happening, this isn't worth it - WRONG!.

    So hit the weights! And like other posters on here, I have alternated the heavy lifting days with the heavy cardio. You don't need to hurt yourself and have a set back.
  • jmwilliams10
    jmwilliams10 Posts: 16
    Didn't know.....just trying to figure our the best way to reach my goal.....
  • SPNLuver83
    SPNLuver83 Posts: 2,050 Member
    NOW! "toning" is just another word for shredding fat and exposing muscle, so it is ALWAYS time to tone. If you haven't already, get some strength training into your routines!
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    IMO and this is not based on scientific fact or bro-science = start now!!!! It's always great to have a well rounded fitness routine with Cardio and strength training, keeps your body guessing and keeps the workouts from getting to mundane!!
  • sisierra
    sisierra Posts: 659 Member
    this is always what i have heard. I have not been doing strength training because after cardio i just don't have the strength to do anymore.

    Strength training should be done *before* cardio. Give that a try.

    not necessarily, but it's a good suggestion.

    However, I think you should alternate lifting days with cardio days. and start sooner rather than later =)
  • starcatcher1975
    starcatcher1975 Posts: 292 Member
    I have been wondering the same thing lately. I want to start lifting weights but I still have over 100lbs to lose. Didn't know if it would really help with weight loss. Yes, I want to lose fat and inches but seriously...(*IMO*) a person who weighs over 200lbs is never going to be a size 8...at least not at 5'1" so I do need to drop some serious poundage. Guess I'll just stop worrying about it and start lifting weights. Also glad to see that I should not do heavy cardio and lifting on the same day, because that is exactly what I would have ended up doing. Now to finally stop making excuses and order that darn NROLFW book :happy:
  • MrsLVF
    MrsLVF Posts: 787 Member
    Lift weights now. You don't want any of that weight loss to be lean mass. Good strength training will preserve that mass.

    And as someone else mentioned, yeah, do it BEFORE cardio or on different days...you don't need 7 days of cardio.

    Ditto. I don't lift on my heavy cardio days. On the days that I lift weights, I do it first and go all out, and then if I'm up to it I do some kind of light cardio afterward. You'll notice really great changes in your body with strength training, so get started!

    The one thing I will caution you about is DON'T freak out if the scale stops moving for a little while (or just slows down). You're not gaining weight. Your muscles are retaining fluid to help repair them, and you will notice changes in your measurements. Your body fat percentage will be going down, so don't stress about the # on the scale. :smile:

    exactly this ^^^^
  • Cambrendle
    Cambrendle Posts: 104 Member
    I have been wondering the same thing lately. I want to start lifting weights but I still have over 100lbs to lose. Didn't know if it would really help with weight loss. Yes, I want to lose fat and inches but seriously...(*IMO*) a person who weighs over 200lbs is never going to be a size 8...at least not at 5'1" so I do need to drop some serious poundage. Guess I'll just stop worrying about it and start lifting weights. Also glad to see that I should not do heavy cardio and lifting on the same day, because that is exactly what I would have ended up doing. Now to finally stop making excuses and order that darn NROLFW book :happy:

    starcatcher - you may be pleasantly surprised when you start building muscle and losing inches. I'm 5'9" and at 170 lbs I was wearing a size 8 in jeans- albeit a few years ago - I don't know what your goal is, but it may take some time to get there, but if you keep at it, it'll happen :flowerforyou: also - I'm financially limited so I can't purchase any dumbells or a gym membership yet to lift heavy - but I'm using what's in my cupboard - refilling 42 and 64 ounce tea jugs and ketchup bottles and using those - it's a great way to start without hurting yourself, and not saying "I can't afford the equipment so I'll just start later..." <--- my biggest excuse. I got the 30 day shred and shred it with weights from JM for a total of $4.95 delivered- I've only started the 30 day shred and it's kicking my behind with the 42 oz tea jugs :bigsmile:
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