If you are not a registered member of our community, please click here to register...

 Home Message Boards Health Guide Join for Free Testimonials About Us
Search
   
  


PDA

View Full Version : Difference B/w Toning and Bulking up


underthehorizon
03-10-2006, 10:26 PM
Hey,
I've been going to the gym for the past 2 years, more frequently now since i've quit soccer. One thing ive always been a little confused over is how many reps and sets i should be doing if i want to get TONED rather than getting bulky. Should my workout be about an hour of cardio and then a half hour of weights??

Thank you :)
-Val

Sponsor
 



Naxis
03-10-2006, 11:28 PM
Most of the time when people say they want to get toned, they mean they want to get leaner, which is *largely* going to be diet. You want to keep lifting heavy (if you're lifting heavy now) in order to maintain your muscle mass, but if you're keeping a daily calorie deficit to lose fat you won't be building any significant mass.
How many days a week do you go to the gym? What does your workout look like? What does your diet look like?

underthehorizon
03-12-2006, 06:38 PM
I go to the gym 5-6 times a week for between 1hr-2hrs.

My workout is generally cardio and the last half hour ill start on the weights. legs, arms, stomach, etc. I also go to the fitness classes often. aerobics, step and toning mostly.

Well this is what i ate today:
Breakfast
-grapefruit juice
-slice of whole wheat toast w/ tsp. of peanut butter

Lunch:
-Tuna
- another slice of toast

Snack:
-Apple

Dinner:
-3oz of steak
-1 cup green beans
-1 cup carrots

Naxis
03-12-2006, 08:33 PM
Do your weights first. It will improve your weight workout and that will burn off your blood sugar and some glycogen, which will help yourt body to tap into fat for fuel when you get to the cardio. You really shouldn't do more than 60 minutes of cardio at a shot or you'll burn into a lot of muscle which actually drops your metabolism. Ideally, adopt an HIIT type program at least once or twice a week, which should only last 20-30 minutes per session. I know it feels too short, but if you're doing it right you get better fat loss with less time spent in the gym.
As for diet, it looks like you are probably WAY undereating. What you listed is *maybe* 800 calories, and unless you're 4 feet tall, is way too low and is actually preventing you from losing fat. You need to add some more food in there - protein and healthy fats. What are your current stats? Height/weight?

underthehorizon
03-13-2006, 09:19 AM
I appreciate your comments. I'll definetly use them. Im just wondering what an HIIT program is?

I am 5'4/138 pounds

Naxis
03-13-2006, 09:40 AM
For your height and weight, you should be eating closer to 1400 calories a day for weight loss. You really need to bump that up. If you can add a snack between breakfast and lunch and maybe work in some nuts, ground flax seeds, olives, avocadoes or something with some healthy fat, it would help. Go for a whole Tbsp. of peanut butter for breakfast, and maybe add an egg. You might sit and figure out exactly what your calorie intake is so you have a more accurate gauge of how much more you need to eat to safely lose fat.

HIIT is a method of doing cardio where you only do about 20 or 30 minutes, but you do intervals of very high intensity - literally sprinting intensities. There are different ways to do it, but here's how I do mine. I do 3 minute cycles: 1 minute jog, 1 minute run, 1 minute sprint. Repeat. You can do this on a treadmill, eliptical (easier on the knees), or stationary bike (last resort) just by speeding up, increasing resistance and/or incline. Just make sure that high intensity minute is really all out, as hard as you can go for the whole minute. It's a lot harder than it sounds. After 20 or 30 minutes you should be *unable* to do more. And it's excellent for fat loss and 'toning' legs.

 
 
 




Site owned and operated by HealthBoards.com (TM)
Copyright and Terms of Use © 1998-2008 HealthBoards.com (TM) All rights reserved.
Do not copy or redistribute in any form!