How toned up are you and what exercise do you do?

[majorcrowdpleaser]

I am 5'6", weigh around 9 stone and am a size 8-10. I can't afford to go to the gym so my main form of exercise is walking (I walk my dog and friends dogs. I walk around 3-5 miles a day).

However, now I am in my early 40's I notice that everything is a bit soft and squishy these days (arms, tops of thighs, round the middle etc!) Everything could do with a good tone up.

How toned are you and what do you do exercise-wise?

[carrie74]

I'm a very similar age, height and weight to you.

I see a PT fortnightly where I do LOADS of weights (a little bit on machines, or 5k free weights, 8k kettlebell and body weight stuff). So squats, lunges, press ups, burpees, etc etc.

On my own I sometimes go for a jog (5k), try to get to a yoga class weekly, and do various weights at home (I really like Fitness Blender for loads of free videos. I try to do a minimum of 30 mins of 'proper' exercise 3 times a week, plus I try to do10k steps a day (Fitbit).

I'd say I'm fairly toned but without much noticeable muscle tone IYSWIM (so my arms aren't muscle shaped, but they're slim and not wobbly). This isn't me trying to boast at all, but I have had quite a few friends compliment me and ask for advice (or my PT's number!).

I've been seeing the PT for 3 years now, and although always naturally slim, I'm now the fittest I've ever been, and for the first time ever, I get a bit fidgety if I haven't done a decent amount of exercise for a while.

[DownstairsMixUp]

My legs are really good, I run a few times a week and do staircliming and bike riding. I also do weights 3 x a week. I always squat, trying to add another kg every week or so. On top of squatting with barbell I do leg press at the gym and either lunges or deadliffs and always include two other machines at the gym. I have excess body fat on belly but I think if I lost it it'd be firm. I vary what ab exercises I do every other day. Quire lucky with my arms so 3 x a week I do one back, one shoulder, one chest and one tricep exercise (I switch up what I do) and this keeps them firm. :) I'm an inch shorter than you to and few lbs heavier but 28.

[DownstairsMixUp]

Also found the more I up my weights the more my body has changed. Really had to clean up diet to aka more fat and protein and less carbs and staying hydrated

[Paddington72]

I workout with kettlebells I either follow a dvd (kettlercise, Paul Katami was good when I was starting off) but my new hero is Greg Brookes the workouts are only 15 minutes long he's fantastic and talks so much sense.
Jillian Michaels 30 day shred seems to tone my upper body very fast.
I certainly don't look ripped but I don't know slimmish? my arms are quite toned but I still have bingo wings if I do wild waving. I've lost almost a stone recently and thought that would get rid of the jelly belly but no little kangaroo pouch still evident. I'm 44 and my BMI is 21.3

[feralcat19]

Is it best to work with low weights - say 1-2kg - with lots of repetitions or higher weights with less reps? Desperately need to tone up arms for wedding in October so watching this thread with interest.

[DowntonDiva]

Pre pregnancy very toned. Post DD a bit softer

Home basics

• squats (static & plyo)
• lunges (static & plyo)
• push ups (static & plyo)
• dips
• burpes
• mountain climbers
• bicycle crunches

[lljkk]

How does anybody know how toned they are.

I run (45-55 min? each time) maybe 4-5/7,
cycle (1 hr?) maybe 4/7,
walk (30 min?) 5/7,
swim (1 hr?) 1/7,
days each week.

Sometimes a skate session with kids, kayaking, gardening something else. I won a fitness contest at work (lots of fitness addicts there), so I imagine what I do is a lot.

[areyoubeingserviced]

Weight/ strength training
Callanetics- very effective in developing lean muscle.
Walking - great exercise
Tae bo

[DownstairsMixUp]

Highest weight you can manage 8-12 reps 3 sets. The low weight high rep thing is a waste of time

[KeyserSophie]

If by toned you mean hard-bodied/ jacked, you need to do weights plus control diet to reduce body fat so that the shape of those muscles shows through your skin. Cardio will get you fit (as in heart rate) but it doesn't create much muscle tone (and can actually discourage it in its extreme forms) unless there's also a resistance element (hence cyclists/ rowers tend to look a bit firmer than runners etc).

[rightknockered]

I do heavyish weights of 12 kg dumbbells 3 times a week
Also HIIT 3 times a week
And yoga in the evenings each day.
I don't know if I am toned, but I'm 5ft 7 and weigh 145 lb, and a size 10.
I don't think I look muscular but my friends think I do. I don't have any wobble on my arms, but have a little on my but and boobs obviously.
My stomach is not flat, but isn't bad considering Ive had 6 children.
I would describe myself as fit, rather than toned. I do have defined thighs, and arms etc.
I think the main thing is to do heavy weights
I'm not that strict with diet, but do roughly follow a high protein, low carb, high fat diet,