Worried i'm buliding muscle instead of toning and getting smaller...

[newstart2010]

I've been woking out for about 4-5 months on and off. My arms and legs are getting muscley and are quite big, not fat but not slim.

My belly and hips do not seem to be getting very toned.

My legs are quite solid, but my thighs do not seem to be getting smaller just more muscley.

Any tips? Am I doing something wrong?

I'm doing exercise classes with and without weights, and going to the gym a little.

Have also done 30day shred a little but feel going to the gym is more effective for me.

bump

How old are you?? Once in your 20's it is still easyish to make muscel, but in your 30's gets harder - so would say as long as you are not building loadsa muscel don't worry - it will keep you slim

I guess the key is balance. A mixture of toning/anaerobic exercise, pure cardio and stretching and toning should give you reasonable results. Body type will also be a factor, and the intensity if the exercise.

i'm 25, and want to be slimmer, i'm not big i'm a size 10-12 but want to be a 10 thatsfits into a 10, including my hips

I would have thought that 2 or 3 circuits sessions plus 2 or 3 cardio (including a intervals session in one of those) and then a challenging pilates or yoga session maybe once a week. It probably needs to be different and challenge you in a different way if what you ate doing isn't working after 4-5 months.

what do you mean by circuit sessions?

I do a class with the gym ball, which i think is really good, and do classes with aerobic and weights included, then gym sometimes as well.

I did a class yesterday that was for toning and used weights all the way through which I thought gave me a great work out.

Circuits session would be a mixture of cardio and resistance:

running for 2 minutes, followed by sit-ups for 2 minutes, followed by running (or other cardio) then squats and so and so forth.

It sounds like you are doing regular resistance work - resistance work can mean using your own body weight (as in tricep dips) or using weights machines. You do need to be doing a reasonable amount of cardio as well - probably 30 to 60 minutes 3 times a week? Doing an intervals session during one of them will really help your endurance.

I think pilates/yoga great for stretching the muscles after some hard workouts and also in building core stability - i.e the 6 pack.

Just enjoy having some muscle tone whilst your are soooooo young.

i feel old and out of shape, but have the feeling things will keep getting worse

ok i think i am doing circuits in the classes then. I dont think i do enough cardio tho as do what ever cardio in the classes, but if i'm in the gym i do 15-20 treadmill and 10mins step machine or cross trainer. I did one spin class once and felt like i was going to die, maybe i should be doing more of those?

You are not old!!

Running is by far the best exercise in terms of calorie burn/ fitness improvement and creating a long and lean physique. Spinning def tough and good for heart /lungs but can actually bulk up thighs and bottom if not careful. You could also run without having to go to the gym, thereby saving on time; just save the gym visits for weights sessions or classes.

i hate running and always have. Before having dd, I smoked so never had great fitness, now i can see it improving, but still hate running, it makes me feel dizzy and sick

You are definitely young.....22 years younger than me! I didn't reach my peak (fitness wise) until 35 when I managed a 3.35 marathon.......it's been all downhill since then!

I honestly think it is worth the pain because it makes such a difference to your fitness and burns fat. Having said that, if you hate it so much that you will never stick to it, then the crosstrainer is probably the nearest equivalent.

I always thought younger people are fitter, but I now know fitness becomes more important as you get older.

I would love to run, but really dont like it, i tried to download the podcast thing but it didnt work, I need a way of easing into running I think

notyummy - thanks for the advice, it has finally sunk in after talking to you that actually i am not really doing any cardio

I do classes as often as possible, which include alot of resistance work and weights, but little cardio.

I have been going through what I'm doing with dp and there is hardly any cardio

I really enjoy the classes but need to focus on cardio, I am just going to hit the gym, dp reconds 30mins treadmill (very fast walking with incline, and running when I can) build upto 10mins rowing and 10mins cross trainer - I will be dead after!!!

I realise now that I have veered towards classes as I am quite lazy and hate cardio. And it will be my challenge to get better at cardio... Help, any tips on how to keep going?

I'm going to try this for one month then re-asess....

Have you tried a body combat class?

You don't have to take it to a high intensity if you don't want to. I don't and I come out dripping in sweat just punching and kicking. I can drop a good couple of inches in a couple of weeks of 2 to 3 sessions a week. Pumping music keeps you motivated. I find it the best for losing inches and toning bum and shoulders.
I hate running too and will never, ever do it!

If you are a gym member, why don't you make an appointment to speak to one of the trainers? They will be able to give you good advice on what to do and maybe come up with a programme.

newstart2010 - ease into running with Couch to 5k!

It totally worked for me. Just make certain that you don't skip weeks/workouts because they're "too easy". :D

www.c25k.com/

Do you live somewhere where they have British Military Fitness? (google it to find the website).

Amazing results. Hardcore cardio and resistance using own body weight. Fast results.

I don't work for them- was just a very satisfied customer.

It caters for all levels as well so you can just move yourself up a class when you feel ready.

I think Ive done body combat before but not for a while, I will have a look to see if they still do it at my gym.

I really wanted to do a boot camp class before, but it was around 200pound for 6 weeks I think. But really intrested in it, Did you loose weight while doing it? Was you fit before you started?

I've done quite a few bootcamp type classes, because for me, they really work, and because I'm quite competitive (DH would say very competitive) I like that element of it too. However, the quality does vary. BMF I think is the best one- consistently good instructors, very organised (it starts and finishes when it says it does), and good group size.

I was fairly fit when I started but there were people way way fitter (ie people who can do one arm press ups), and also people who were a lot more unfit (i.e. people who are totally new to exercise). It's for people at all levels.

You are right though- it's not cheap. I did it instead of having a gym membership, not as well as.

Sorry- in answer to your other question. I did lose weight- about a stone. However, at the same time I did take my diet in hand and also started cycling to work most days (6 miles each way).

You are very unlikely to be building new muscle. You will be toning existing muscle which is good. Unless you are actively muscle building including eating a suitable diet etc it's unlikely, and if you are calorie counting it's impossible.

cyclists have some of the loswest BMI's in the spots world - so that tells you something

go back to spin and keep doing it until you are not feeling like you are dying - oh and my spin instructor does 5 spins a day 5 days a week and has tiny thighs - but all muscel! so don't let anyone tell you that your thighs will get big - they don't

then do a bit of distance cycling if you can or running - the spin will improve your legs and make running easier

I'd agree with Eric and IvyK on the muscle building thing- you're unlikely to be "building" a lot of muscle unless you're doing heavy reps or a lot of body weight resistance (eg press ups, chin ups) to failure (i.e. sets of 12/15 performed at a weight whereby you are physically unable to do one more rep by the end of the set).

I used to do a fair but of power lifting/ muscle build focused weight training before I got pregnant (I like the muscled look but I know it's a personal thing)- it's a very different discipline to circuit/ bodypump etc (not that those classes arent useful- but they focus on cardio/ muscle tone rather than building muscle which involves creating tears in the muscle which then heal, creating a larger muscle during the healing process).

Spin is really excellent cardio, but as Ivy says, you gotta push it- I normally feel suicidal about 7 mins in.