Think You Know What Toning Is?
We’ve all heard the word “tone” before, but what exactly does that mean? Is it simply losing excess fat? Is it simply bulking up? Do you have to gain muscle and lose fat? We break down what exactly toning is and how you can get started today!
Get started toning
Staying in shape is a goal that every person needs to take seriously as they grow older.
The degree of physical fitness that a person requires can range from a full-out seven-day-a-week gym workout (pro-athletes) to a simple and relaxed maintenance regimen.
For those who are wishing for a tight and toned body, there are specific exercises and physical activities that will help the exerciser to achieve their toning goals.
What is “toning?”
There are probably a thousand different personal definitions of toning but to us toning is the physical result of the action taken by a person to achieve a physically fit body that contains low body fat, significant muscle definition, and healthy muscle shape.
This type of physical activity builds the cardio system and reduces fat within the body without increasing muscle mass and size.
What is the best way to tone?
There are a number of activities that will help a person tone their body, and it is up to each individual to the type of exercise that is best for their particular situation or physical limitations.
Some of the types of activities that people choose to tone their bodies include resistance training, proper nutrition, and cardiovascular workouts.
Resistance Training
Using resistance training to tone one’s body includes such activities as lifting light weights with multiple repetitions. Other methods of resistance training include such things as:
- Exercise Bands
- Dumbbells
- Water Resistance
- Weight Stations
- Many More
Using these methods of low-level activity will burn calories and define muscles without the risk of serious injury.
Proper Nutrition
It is essential that the body receives the proper nutrition to keep up with a toning plan. Eating throughout the day combined with a strength training program will keep your metabolism high while decreasing the desire for snacks at the same time.
Because many people are incredibly busy, they can’t take the time to eat properly throughout the day.
Often these people choose to make up for nutrient and vitamin deficiencies by taking a supplement to boost their health and immune system.
Many of these supplements offer additional health benefits for a number of common health issues and are enhanced by a healthy lifestyle.
For instance, using a good pre-workout can help you get ready to begin your exercise program.
Cardiovascular Workouts
The idea behind this type of exercise is to raise the heart rate of the exerciser to help the body burn off fat and maintain muscle mass.
This type of exercise will naturally tone the body as the participant progresses through their exercise or workout sessions. These workouts usually involve light exercises such as:
- Treadmills
- Stationary Bikes
- Aerobics
- Pilates
- Running
- Personal Body Weight
- Jumping Rope
- Speed Walking
You can start your cardio program with sessions of at least 10 minutes or more. As enthusiasts gain strength and stamina, the sessions can be stretched out into longer time spans.
You can even split these sessions up into small blocks of time if you can’t find a good amount of free time in your schedule. Two or three days of exercise a week is a great starting point for a new exercise program. After a short period of time, the workouts can be stretched out to an hour.
The idea is to raise the heart rate 55% to 85% higher than its normal rate.
Wrap-Up
Keeping and maintaining a healthy toned body is possible by incorporating resistance training, proper nutrition, or cardiovascular workouts into a person’s daily life.
Toning will keep a body healthy and fit, tighten muscles for a younger look, raise energy levels, and increase self-esteem.
When it comes to getting in shape, getting started is the first and hardest step and then it’s all about devotion and drive!
- What Is “Toning?” - October 22, 2015
