fitness gurus - advise needed- am I too old to tone up??!!

[laurawaterford]

I am in my 40s and have always kept fairly fit. Upto last year anyway when I lost all my motivation! The effect is that now I have gone flabby on my arms and tum, even tho my weight is still the same.

My question is : Can I get back a toned body at my (great) age???

I don't see why not. My sister did at 42/43. Went to the gym very regularly though.

I'm no expert but I would think so, Madonna is in her 40s and look at her, bionic woman. You need to do some resistance work in order to tone your muscles and pilates is great for toning your core muscles which will in turn tone up the tum. It will probably take some time to tone completely but you should see some difference after about 3 months I'd have thought. Before having my LO I used to go to the gym everyday twice a day and do cardio and resistance and it took me the best part of a year to see major improvement and muscle definition. Join a good gym and ask the instructors to put you a programme together, you need to make sure you're getting the correct balance of excersises in order that your body doesn't become unbalanced.

Those were the days, no time any more so I too am flabby around the middle.

Oh my goodness I hope so! I'm 47 and just about to venture b ack to the gym after a shockingly long absence!

I joined a gym in September, I just havent used it consistently enough (of course!!). So,I need to just keep at it then, cos it does sound as tho it is possible - and if it does take a year to see a major difference. WOW! that would still be terrific!!!

Good luck, yes stick at it. Give yourself a target. Doesn't have to be weight can be achieving a run time/ speed etc etc. I'd also recommend a body pump class, it's choreographed weights and is briliant if you've got no experiene with free weights. Just ask the instructor to explain it to you before hand.

I can't wait to get back to the gym. I'll have to wait 'til I go back to work tho as can't afford it at the mo. Yes I know I could pound the streets but I need the comfort of a gym! I imagine it'll be back to square one for me too. Boo, I was fit before having DD

My mum is 60 and she can still tone up - its just that as you get older - it gets flabby again more quickly if you stop going!

well, first week drawing to a close. Went to gym monday, Wed and today and do treadmill and circuit on the weight machine thingies. On the other days I have fast walked and am DETERMINED to get into shape. I read (here was it, or somewhere anyway) that it can take a year to really show muscle tone. Well if I thought a year of doing this would give me a really good shape, definately I'm on for that!! I'm telling myself each day I do something is a day when 'next year' will really happen, and each day I don't just puts off 'next year' (if you are following me.....a bit garbled. Sorry!)