How to tone up?

[Ac143]

OK ladies & gentlemen I need some tips! I am getting married this June and have to get my butt in gear!

 

I want to first say I do NOT want to lose weight, Im 5'6 120lbs. Im happy with my weight and body just need it toned! My goal is this: Legs, butt and a 6 pack (would be happy with a 4 pack) for my honeymoon

 

I eat well, takes vitiamns etc...just not sure where to start to get to where I want to be. About a week ago I started doing fast pace walking 2-3miles on the trademill (for legs and butt) & do sit ups. The thing that scares me about the trademill is losing weight which I dont want. Should I be doing that?? That's about it...for now.

 

Any suggestions??

[ghost69]

you won't get a 4-6 pack without a good diet and doing cardiovascular activity. people think that doing situps and working your core will get you abs. ehhht, wrong. sure it works the muscle, but it will not make them show.

[Ac143]

Thanks ghost - well the good diet I got down packed...what carido do I need to do and how much? Do you know?

 

I figured sit ups wouldn't be enough or do much that's why I am asking Anyone out there with a 6 pack that can share some tips?

[Alezia]

Wouldn't she already have minimal fat enough to see the abs though? She's only 120lbs!

I like Jillian Micheals 30 day shred video. It's relatively cheap on amazon and elsewhere. It's really meant for toning up those muscles I find over simple "walking the fat off". It goes by levels, and I find level 3 is hard enough to keep me challenged!

 

If you never did any strength training then you would most likely start at level 1 and work your way up =) The three levels come in one video. They are 20 minutes each, so efficient and time saving! But, they work your ass like crazy during those 20 minutes with compound exercices and jump training for level 3.

[Massari]

OK ladies & gentlemen I need some tips! I am getting married this June and have to get my butt in gear!

 

I want to first say I do NOT want to lose weight, Im 5'6 120lbs. Im happy with my weight and body just need it toned! My goal is this: Legs, butt and a 6 pack (would be happy with a 4 pack) for my honeymoon

 

I eat well, takes vitiamns etc...just not sure where to start to get to where I want to be. About a week ago I started doing fast pace walking 2-3miles on the trademill (for legs and butt) & do sit ups. The thing that scares me about the trademill is losing weight which I dont want. Should I be doing that?? That's about it...for now.

 

Any suggestions??

 

Congrads first of all and wish you all the best in life and happiness with your husband. As Ghost said cardio is the key in getting toned and burn that extra fat( no matter how little it is) and a good diet. within a week or so you should see some results.

 

good luck

 

Massari

[george237]

5 months isn't a long time, should have started earlier. I would run not walk on the tread and pick up some pilates videos along with some light free weight workouts.

[EQD]

crossfit and additional cardio tabatas.

short intense workouts are proven to burn more fat quicker than long steady workouts.

food for thought.

3 days on 1 day off.

[Ac143]

Wouldn't she already have minimal fat enough to see the abs though? She's only 120lbs!

I like Jillian Micheals 30 day shred video. It's relatively cheap on amazon and elsewhere. It's really meant for toning up those muscles I find over simple "walking the fat off". It goes by levels, and I find level 3 is hard enough to keep me challenged!

 

I cant see my abs - I can feel them though if I tighten my stomach lol but I am going to definitely check out this video. I want a body like her! Dont we all LOL

[nimisaj]

Biking. Spin Classes. It's really good for the thighs, bum and overall phsyical fitness. Great cardio workout.

 

You said you're 120 pounds. Maybe that's a mistake? Or, I don't believe you. It just doesn't make sense. That's an unusually low wieght for your stature.

 

Maybe swimming, too. Make sure you eat lots of protein, some carbs and you need to get advice from someone experienced. An athlete, a dietician, or a doctor or someone to help you monitor your progress. You can do it!

[Ac143]

Thanks nimisaj - I was thinking of spinning classes since I use to do them back in my early twenties but got lazy & dont feel like going to the gym anymore. There is so much out there & I dont know where to begin. Maybe the workout videos that I can do at home will work best for me.

 

Nope no mistake Im 120 and have been since High School, I gain a few lbs here and there & then drop it again, I dont think I ever weighted more then 125. But just because Im skinny doesn't mean Im in shape either lol. I walk 2 miles and ache ugh! My doctor thinks Im at a great weight & suggested I stay this way to be healthy on top of eating well...of course.

[EQD]

sounds like you dont need to worry about burning fat then.

i'd do weight lifting and glute ham workouts, gh-situps and back extensions. i'd stay away from the crunches and things though... doesnt work a wide range of muscles and can even add bulk.

[Aviatormy]

Like Ghost said, you must have a solid diet to follow if you want to get a 6 pack and tone up.

 

You can easily tone up by walking 2-3 miles a day on a treadmill but you will LOSE weight in the process. Reason being, you are tightening up your muscles rather than gaining them. You are LOSING fat weight as well.

 

If all you do are sit-ups and treadmill workouts, you will in fact lose weight.

 

If you like the figure you have now but you just want to "replace" that excess soft/fat tissue with muscle, you should get a better "shred" diet and continue only working on the treadmill and sit-up excersises. You will most likely lose 7-10lbs but it will be fat that you lose.

 

Sure you will look skinny for a little while but one you see your abs showing (15%body fat or less), then you can start to do leg lifts and lunges to obtain the figure you want.

 

Lose the body fat first, then "bulk up". Bulking up for you wont take but 2 weeks to do with a proper diet.

 

So your diet to get those muscles showing would be a shred diet. Meaning that you eat very low fat (chicken breasts, salmon, tuna) and high amounts of vitamins (fruits veggies).

 

Then once your muscles are showing (15% body fat or lower). Change you diet a little bit to a higher non monosaturated fat diet (add a tblsp of peanut butter and handful of almonds) to your diet along with a protein bar. Change your workout to just a couple days of cardio and a few days of actual weight training. This will allow your body to stay at the fat percentage you want (muscles showing) and allow you to "bulk" up your butt and legs

 

Good luck.

[Ac143]

thank you Avi! This is what I needed, the whole diet thing - I eat healthy now, chicken (I love of chicken breasts) & fish lol, veggies, fruit etc..those things are my main dishes everyday. I also added in peanut butter, snack on almonds & protein bars so I think that's my problem there, I been reading too much on the internet & just kept adding things haha. Im doing both "diets" at once. I need to lose the body fat first then shred! - Great advice - exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again!

 

I might have to ask my SO to do my body fat percentage even though I didn't want to ask him LOL

[ghost69]

i do the stairmaster for 20 mins a day no matter what. i use the one with the rolling stairs, not the one with the pedals. but each is good. if i'm really feeling it i will do another round of 20 mins on it and do 30 mins on the bike. not the sit down stretch your legs bike, but the sit up normal like you are on a bike stationary bike.

[ghost69]

i would also try and eat more of your calories earlier in the day than later. i try and eat before 7pm as my last meal...but sometimes my workouts will go to 9 cause i get to the gym later.

[Ac143]

ugh ..stairmaster I dont wanna sign up for the gym LOL we have the trademill at home and some weights. Me and my SO are going bike riding this weekend though. Maybe I will need to sign up and get serious if I want that 6 pack.

 

I usually dont eat later then 6 or 7pm. That's dinner & Im done for the night.

[ghost69]

ugh ..stairmaster I dont wanna sign up for the gym LOL we have the trademill at home and some weights. Me and my SO are going bike riding this weekend though. Maybe I will need to sign up and get serious if I want that 6 pack.

 

I usually dont eat later then 6 or 7pm. That's dinner & Im done for the night.

 

just watch the calorie intake versus what you think you are burning throughout the day. on a side note, just an extra way to burn calories, chew gum throughout the day. it's just that little bit more. it also causes a sexy jawline.

[Ac143]

just watch the calorie intake versus what you think you are burning throughout the day. on a side note, just an extra way to burn calories, chew gum throughout the day. it's just that little bit more. it also causes a sexy jawline.

 

I watch my calories for the most part, I hardly ever eat junk food. My big problem was soda and coffee, this is when I gained a few lbs here and there. I cut those out of my diet a few months ago. Mostly everything I eat is homemade &/or low in fat. BUT if only... chewing gum could get my butt in shape lol

[.piper.]

120 is not a low weight for you. I am 5'8" and around 125ish. I am by no means skinny. I do alot of cardio at the gym and I don't lose any weight. I think losing weight mainly has to do with eating.

 

As for toning up, you need to do manys reps with low weight. I would do 3 sets of probably 12-15 for weights.

[Ac143]

120 is not a low weight for you. I am 5'8" and around 125ish. I am by no means skinny. I do alot of cardio at the gym and I don't lose any weight. I think losing weight mainly has to do with eating.

 

As for toning up, you need to do manys reps with low weight. I would do 3 sets of probably 12-15 for weights.

 

Thank you I was starting to think there was something wrong with me when someone said I was unusually low weight lol. Even though no one every told me I looked too skinny everyone always says I look like I work out alot & I dont.

 

I appreciate everyones advice - I know where I need to start & as much as I dont want to I will sign up for the gym & work my butt off for the next 5 months. I NEED that 6 pack...gotta look great for my honeymoon

[amtjrtcet]

BUT if only... chewing gum could get my butt in shape lol

 

For that do 'Ass to the grass squats' with weights. Try 10lb weights, one on each shoulder....squat using correct form (back straight and don't let your knees go out past your feet) and squat ALL the way down slowly, and come back up...Keep it slow and controlled. You'll feel the burn. Trust me. Do about 4 sets of 15 reps. SLOW.

[Scorpion Fury]

Walking is actually really good for your abs. Use your treadmill, just change the incline, don't just walk on a flat surface

[Ac143]

For that do 'Ass to the grass squats' with weights. Try 10lb weights, one on each shoulder....squat using correct form (back straight and don't let your knees go out past your feet) and squat ALL the way down slowly, and come back up...Keep it slow and controlled. You'll feel the burn. Trust me. Do about 4 sets of 15 reps. SLOW.

 

Hey - yes squats! My SO told me to do those if I want my butt in shape lol.

 

 

The trademill I do change the incline it goes from 1-10 and when I started I kept it at 2 or 3 now up to 5.

 

I now wonder "if" I keep up with trademill, do squats and a cardio work out video with weights....that should be enough right? For those 3 body parts & of course the right diet....

 

I just really really dont wanna go to the gym, there isn't enough time in the day. I get up early and do my work out before work, if I went to the gym I would have to come back home to shower and get ready for work cause its a small gym with no showers & the only place around & I definitely cant go after work that place is PACKED at that time so I would wait 20 mins just to use the machines.

[COtuner]

I cant see my abs - I can feel them though if I tighten my stomach lol but I am going to definitely check out this video. I want a body like her! Dont we all LOL

 

Ummm... she's a little too masculine for my tastes, actually Balance ball can really help by allowing you full extension which you can't get in regular crunches. Pilates helps me the most, BTW.

[ghost69]

Ummm... she's a little too masculine for my tastes, actually Balance ball can really help by allowing you full extension which you can't get in regular crunches. Pilates helps me the most, BTW.

 

in the face yeah, but her body is amazing.