Toning Your Body Without Getting Bulky – How Can You Do It?
When many women think about lifting weights, they instantly think about getting big and bulky. While this is the look that some women want to achieve. Many women don’t like the thought of becoming bulky after lifting weights. As a result, the weights section of the gym is often full of men building muscles and few females. However, lifting weights doesn’t mean that you’ll automatically become big and bulky. No matter what your gender is, you should embrace the weights and add strength training into your workout routine.
What should you do to avoid bulk when toning your body?
Some women have been losing weight for a few months and just want to tone up their bodies rather than build any substantial muscles. Since your skin is elastic, it is able to expand and retract with the changes your body makes, such as gaining or losing weight and changing shape when you are pregnant. Lifting weights is a key part of not only helping your skin to retain its elasticity, but also helping to prevent any loose skin after you have lost weight.
If you’re worried about becoming bulky but you just want to tone up your body, start off by lifting small weights (around 2-3kg). You can even lift smaller than this if you feel it is too heavy for you. The key with toning is to lift smaller weights but do more repetitions. Building big muscles requires fewer reps and heavier weights. That’s why many toning exercises will encourage you to lift 1-2kg weights around 15-20 times, rather than 20kg for 8-10 reps.
What if you don’t want to use weights?
You don’t have to use weights in order to tone your body. They are many exercises which will help you to tone up different body parts. Squats for improving your thighs and bum, and various arm movements to get rid of upper arm fat.
I’m doing toning exercises and not seeing results; what am I doing wrong?
In order to see the results you want from toning your body at the gym, you need to also eat a healthy balanced diet. Drinking plenty of water will help your skin’s elasticity. Hence, try to cut out soda and other sugary drinks and replace them with water.
The most effective ab workouts for women should always include the bicycle crunch. This exercise engages all of the muscles in the abdominal area, particularly the rectus abdominis and the obliques, otherwise known as the “six-pack” muscles and “waist” muscles.
To perform this exercise, you lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor, just like the traditional version. However, with this type of crunch, you will extend your arms over your head and clasp your hands together, keeping the arms tucked in by your ears. Engage your abs, pulling your navel in and elevate your shoulder blades off the floor. Lower this pose and repeat 10-15 times per set and repeat the set three times. Keep your neck steady during this exercise to avoid straining it.