How long does it really take?

[ImPeckish]

In real life, not ''it-took-two-minutes'' YouTube or Insta success stories, how long did it take you to get more toned, and increase your strength?

I run about 20-30 km a week, I do 20 mins of yoga every other day and HIIT (with weights) 3x a week. I've been doing this for 3 months (the running I've done for 4 years though).

I'd say I'm average fitness, but definitely not 'seeing' any changes and (maybe vainly) I'd really like to see some improvements! I don't feel stronger and I still look really flabby and not toned at all, my BMI is 22 and I'm a size 10-12.

Did it take you months, years? Thanks!

HelloTerrance fab pics! Ah it's tough isn't it, you work so hard and just want it to show a little, especially when your BMI is healthy! My DH never works out but is so toned, just naturally.

10 years ago I used to be double this size so I'm wondering if it's my skin that's the issue. I know my tummy will never look good but was hoping my arms and legs would improve.

I'll drop more weight and I've upped the HIIT and cardio to 2 hours a day. I will get there! Thanks all.

It may be that you’re doing the wrong exercise for your shape

I have tried everything

I find the one thing that transforms my lower body shape is walking on an incline

It’s reduced me legs and bum by inches within weeks - it’s quite dramatic. Nothing else comes close

It sounds like you are doing a lot already, are you sure there are no changes. Sorry not meaning to sound patronising but we look at ourselves every day its hard to see gradual changes. Have you taken before pictures to compare?

Please can you tell me @mynameiscalypso what is the name of the online Pilates you are doing. I have a terrible c- section overhang and would like to try and improve it.

@TiredMaofTwo It’s called Mamma Method; it’s specifically designed for post natal and they do daily livestream classes plus some free instagram classes too.

Thank you I will check it out.

@PhoneLock you look fab in both of those pictures and I do not doubt that you have looked that way for 6 years, but you are one of 3 things:

1. Genetically very lucky
2. Doing an amount of exercise that is far above what most people are ever going to do, and/or incredibly disciplined about diet
3. A mixture of the above

I am in no way criticising you, but our body shape is mostly determined by our genes and for most people, aiming to try and have a body like yours is unrealistic.

I am in no way criticising you, but our body shape is mostly determined by our genes and for most people, aiming to try and have a body like yours is unrealistic.

This thread isn't about most people. Most people have no interest in getting ‘toned’. The OP does, so she is not most people. She may also be genetically disposed to a toned physique and just needs to remove the padding to let it show through... I have shrunk from a size 12 since leaving university. As for doing an amount of exercise that is far above what most people are ever going to do, my exercise routine is similar to the OP’s. I do pay attention to my diet in as much as most of what I eat is prepared from scratch and I keep an eye on portion size. Living rurally, take-away food is not a temptation.

Thanks for the compliment BTW.

I find this article and infographic really helpful in understanding the topic of what getting lean (or toned) means and how it can be achieved

www.precisionnutrition.com/cost-of-getting-lean

I'll focus on dropping half a stone while I continue, hopefully in another 9-10 months I'll see some strength

I'd be really wary of dropping weight & thinking you'll build strength. You can't really do both - if you want serious strength from heavy weights.

And being strong is fantastic. I'm less bother about my weight because at 61, I have something of a 6-pack, and lift, pull, and squat seriously heavy shit.

That's an interesting article. This bit in particular...

"Bodybuilders only look like that for competition. And achieving that look comes at a high cost; one most people aren’t willing to pay."

I was being encouraged at my gym to enter competitions. One of the other ladies does them. I was initially tempted until I found out exactly what I would need to do and the sacrifices I would need to make to get myself anywhere close to the lowest level of fitness competition standards.

Also, just what weights OP? Before I took up proper weight lifting (with a PT, for learning techniques safely) I did Pump classes, with a max of 10 kg on the bar.

As my trainer says, she has earrings heavier than that.

I now squat almost my body weight, 85kg deadlight, and can pull (in a prowler sled combo) over 300kg. That's after 2 years' training, but I'm probably double your age.

I also do yoga or Pilates, and ballet, and a couple of Pump classes a week (well, none of this at the moment ...) I don't really have to do separate core work because weightlifting really trains your core.

I agree with the PP who says if you're training for an aesthetic 'look' it's not as effective as just wanting to be fit and strong.

I just love being strong AF. I can lift my suitcase up onto the luggage rack, I can carry furniture - I can do so much more.

Agree @YogaFaker I started my weight lifting journey doing body pump and looking back (whilst not knocking it it’s great group exercise IMO) it’s not really ‘doing weights’ as it’s just not heavy enough to achieve strength or muscle growth.

I was almost 2 stone lighter and much ‘smaller’ overall then than I am now, but I am definitely stronger, have more muscle definition and am fitter and healthier these days. If I was going for an aesthetic though, I’d go back to body pump (and turn the clock back 10 years!).

Oh yeah, I love Body Pump - I do at least 1 class a week, and my gym's main Pump instructor is fantastic - gets us singing along to the music, and wen you're in the last 8 of god knows how many lunge pulses, it really helps when she gets us shouting out the numbers on a count down.

And I don't really do any specific bicep/tricep training with my trainer - she focuses on pulldowns for lat strength as I really really want to get an unassisted pull up (it's a faint dream, but I persist) so really overloading myself in Pump in the bicep & tricep exercises is great. I have guns!

Well, we can't turn the clock back - I'm early 60s but can out-move my female undergrads at a third of my age, and as women age, we need to do serious weight bearing stuff. And it sure beats running (although I do go out for a 35 minute 5k a few times a week).

Bodypump changed my body shape.

Running and a good diet with plenty of protein seems to keep the weight off and bodypump gives the definition.

It took me about a year of sensible eating, no boozing and regular HIIT classes to shift 3 stone. I did also hugely reduce my sugar and refined carbs intake (I still eat wholegrain carbs).