How to Get a Toned Body

Sculpted and defined, we all admire the toned body of a male or female. How much more attractive it is to have muscles instead of flab. When you tone your body, you are simply replacing fat with muscle. Some of us think that lifting weights will automatically result in a toned body. This is a misconception held by many people. You have to combine some type of weight loss plan to lose the fat that covers the muscles. Light or even heavy weight lifting helps, but it does not automatically tone your body. Whether you’re young or old, it is always possible to get a toned body. Due to popular demand we have just appended to the end of this article three expert's top five tips for achieving a toned body. Here are some ways to tighten and tone body parts:

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We summarize tips we have collected over time. Although they’re listed for women, they may be helpful to men, as well. You will also want to read our other exercise reviews and tips.

Maintain a healthy diet – more protein, less fat and sugar. No alcohol.
Daily walks – walking for at least 30 minutes every day does wonders for your metabolism and your goal for a toned body.
Drink water – as much as possible, not only to tone body, but to keep the kidneys and digestive system working properly.
Exercise – at a gym, in a park, at home, or wherever you choose. Equipment and location is not as important as the regular routine you follow to tone your body.
Stretching – essential for flexibility and coordination. Runners and sports figures know the value of stretching or warming up before exercising. It can help you too get a toned body.

Other suggestions to get a toned body include taking yoga classes, kickboxing, rowing, and swimming.

Tone Body Areas

Legs – Jogging is often recommended, however, a brisk walk can be just as effective over time. Step ups and climbing stairs help tone your body.
Butt – Nothing is probably better than doing squats to tone body glutes. Adding some weights while doing squats is even more beneficial.
Thighs - Lunges, leg raises, and squats again. You can stand up, holding on to a chair, and raise first the right and then the left leg out to the side of your body. Try to hold it there for a few seconds.
Abs - You can also tone body areas and tighten up those stomach muscles by lying on the floor, and raising both legs, or one at a time, holding for a few seconds and repeat. (Note: This is great exercise for strengthening your back, as well.)

At the Gym

Of course, going to the gym is great, but don’t let the range of equipment or people around you intimidate you. Some of them won’t have a toned body either, and others may have worked many hours to get one. There should be an attendant to get you started. Some of the most common types of equipment are:

Cross-trainer – good for upper and lower body, as well as cardiovascular.
Bicycles – great to tone body areas such as the legs and stomach.
Treadmills – a mechanized alternative to brisk walking. You can set speed and resistance, and monitor the heart rate at the same time.

Of course, there are many other types of equipment at the gym. You can choose the ones you like to tone your body.

Summary

We have provided some suggestions in this article on how to tone body muscles to make them larger, stronger, and work more effectively. Tone body exercises are great; muscles do burn more calories than fat. It is important to remember, however, that it won’t do you much good to work out day after day, unless you concentrate on getting rid of body fat. Muscles hidden somewhere beneath a layer of fat do not sculpt or define. Having a toned body is much more than just an appearance thing. It will help preserve the muscle tissue that we lose as we age. You don’t have to be trying out for the Olympics to tone your body. Before doing any heavy weight lifting or extreme exercises, talk to your doctor about your overall physical condition. Tone your body – we think you’ll feel and look better if you do.

Updated Information for Toned Body: We asked three independent exercise experts to give us their thoughts on how to achieve a toned body. Each summary below is what they had to say.

First Expert on Five Steps to Toning Your Body

Of course you want a toned body. You can probably imagine it right now. Your ultra-toned thigh muscles softly flexing as you climb out of the pool. Arms firm and smooth as you dry your toned-and-dripping abdominal muscles with a beach towel. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?

The truth is, most of us will never get there. Those infomercials (just strap on Ab Zapper for instant thin!) make us think it's possible to look like that perfect 18-year-old bikini model. But it just doesn't happen for most people. And that's okay. Because even if you can't be perfect, you can be a better toned version of yourself. And that doesn't sound so bad either, does it? So read on for our five simple steps to getting a toned body.

1. Eat Healthy to Lose Fat. Ugh, not dieting again! Can I ever get away from it? Sorry, but you can't. And that's why this is step number one in improving your body tone. You can build muscle tone like crazy, but if it's covered in fat, it'll be impossible to see how you've firmed up.
2. Get Manly. No, you don't want to look like Arnold. But you do want to increase muscle tone. The best way to do this is with weight training-- even with heavy weights. Don't worry you can do manly exercises without getting pumped-up manly results. Women don't have enough testosterone to build giant muscles. We just increase our body tone.
3. Get Busy. Life is hectic. You're always running from place to place and trying to do a thousand things at once. But busy as you are, it's probably hard to get active. So make little extra efforts every day for toning. Climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Then come down and climb them again. Wear small ankle-weights under your pants throughout the day to tone thighs and calves. Little efforts, big results.
4. Do it Daily. Do a couple small toning exercises every day. Even ten minutes --five of squats and five of crunches-- will make a difference if you do it daily. Not every toning workout has to last an hour.
5. Combine Exercises. The best way to get a toned body is to combine losing fat with building muscle. So be efficient and do both at once. Combine cardio with muscle building by including squats and weights into your cardio workout.

Second Expert on Five Steps to a Toned Body

If you have always dreamed of having a toned body, it is simpler than you may think. If you follow these five steps you may well achieve your dream.

The first step in the Five Steps to a Toned Body is to exercise regularly. In fact this is a golden rule. You will never succeed in achieving and maintaining a toned body if you do not exercise. Aerobic exercise is the best. If you can afford it employ a trainer who will guide you as to the best exercise routine to keep your body toned and your muscles toned.
The second step to achieving a toned body is to eat healthily and regularly. A diet that is high in fats is unhealthy and is the main enemy of a toned body, so make sure that you are eating lots of fruits and vegetables. If you tend to snack in between meals, this should be stopped, comprise a meal plan for each week, and stick to it, when you see the difference in your body tone you won't regret cutting out those unhealthy meals.
The third step is to make sure you drink lots of water. The water will help flush away the toxins in your body which often congregate in areas such as the thighs and stomach. If your body is high in toxins then this will make it harder to achieve and maintain the toned body that you want. A build up of toxins in a women's body can often lead to cellulite, and drinking water will help flush away this unwanted cellulite which can be a barrier to achieving toned muscles and the perfect body.
The fourth step in the Five Steps to a Toned Body is to cut out alcohol in your diet. A diet high in alcohol leads to weight gain and is an obstacle to the toned body that you wish to achieve.
The fifth and final step is to have a positive attitude, achieving the perfect toned body can often take some months rather than days, so approach the task with a positive and enthusiastic attitude and your will be sure to succeed.

Third Expert on 5 Tips to Tone Up Your Body

Most people want to be ready for summer when it eventually comes, by losing weight and toning up their bodies. There are many different ways of getting back into shape and if you follow the five steps outlined below then you soon find yourself with a great, summer ready, body.

Exercise - It may seem a bit like the same old same old, but it is nevertheless true that you are more likely to tone your body if you take some gentle exercise on a regular basis. Something as simple as walking for twenty five minutes during your lunch hour will soon bring some small results. Swimming is also a good way of burning off any excess fat that may have accumulated over the winter months and toning your body.
Eat Sensibly - One of the reasons that most diets don't work is because of an all or nothing approach on behalf of the dieter. Providing you eat sensibly and that means plenty of fruit and vegetables, fish and meat, and you reduce your intake of carbohydrates and cut out junk food, you will lose some weight. Gradual weight loss is more likely to lead to a toned body than drastic weight loss.
Relaxation - Make sure that you are getting sufficient sleep for your body's needs and try to find a method of relaxation that fits with your lifestyle this might be something as simple as closing your eyes and controlling your breathing for ten minutes every morning.
Watch Your Posture - How you sit and stand will eventually have an effect on your body shape. If you stand straight and don't hunch forwards you are more likely to have a nicely toned looking body.
Finally Don't Skip Meals - Skipping meals is not a good way to lose weight, in fact you are more likely to put it on when you do this because it can lead to midnight hunger pangs.

If you follow the five steps outlined above then by the time summer comes along you will have a nicely toned body.

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Chris Watson makes this comment

LetsGetToned

Friday, 11 January 2013

Thanks for these tips, these are such common steps but if people follow them they will see results! It's a shame with all the information out there on the internet about dieting that we are still at such a high rate of obesity in america.
Amanda makes this comment

How to Get a Toned Body

Friday, 21 December 2012

There are many things you can do to get a toned body. The most beneficial for me was kickboxing!!! I also love dancing! Ladies, if you love to dance.. Dance away! it works all areas of your body and it is fun!!!
Ariel Lina makes this comment

How to Get a Toned Body

Saturday, 01 December 2012

i am about 130 pounds. and 5"6. is this okay? or should i lose some...
Anonymous makes this comment

How to Get a Toned Body

Thursday, 21 June 2012

Hi I'm 108 and 5'1'' any sugestions I lift 8 lb weights and try to eat less fat also are pushups a good form of resistance any sugestions are welcome
Kelsey makes this comment

How to Get a Toned Body

Sunday, 15 April 2012

I'm 14the and I'm about 5'3to and 126I pounds..does this make me fat? I plan on running everyday in the summer so I can be toned and loose a couple pounds. do you think it'll w ork?
mathew makes this comment

starting early

Tuesday, 10 April 2012

Im 12 and 100lbs and 5'ft and i would like to be toned and a bit slimmer.Not all crazy muscles just a bit to have somthing when somone asks me to flex.I wont start with the wieght lifting until im about 14 . I think that if you start early youll continue it throuout your life and be more git and active .
Heems Ccash makes this comment

How to Get a Toned Body

Sunday, 12 February 2012

This info REALLY help im going to try this out and by the spring or summer im going to Have SEXY ABS!!! Thankz
josh makes this comment

skinny to muscular

Saturday, 21 January 2012

OK I'm a scrawny 5'10 and 123 pounds how do I gain muscle I love being active but I want to add muscle training any tips?
Abby makes this comment

How to Get a Toned Body

Sunday, 25 December 2011

Awesome information. Very helpful! I do not have lots of fat but my body does not have a good shape or muscle...I hope these tips realy help!
Greg makes this comment

young and little

Thursday, 18 August 2011

Heyy, all good info but im fourteen at a bording school. i play rugby and a lot of the other kids are bigger and im getting swamped. it would be nice to have some extra muscle on my side. i am also a triathlete and love keeping my body healthy, fit and toned. is there any other specifications to kids.
fitnessfan makes this comment

Warning about Ankle Weights

Tuesday, 10 May 2011

Warning! Expert #1 says to use ankle weights during the day. The expert does NOT mean "walk around in ankle weights" but "if you're sitting during your desk job, put your ankle weights on for a few minutes and do some leg lifts." Walking around in ankle weights can be hazardous to your health.
Justin makes this comment

Tuesday, 18 January 2011

I'm around 150-160 and i'm 20 and 5'10" i'm fine wih my wirhg ti just lost a total of 60 something pounds the beginning of my soph/junior year of high school and i have some leftover belly fat that i wanna tighten but it's so hard for me to be motivated...i would like a personal trainer but i dont think i have the money for that
Jorge makes this comment

Tone

Wednesday, 13 October 2010

I currently wiegh about 173 but my goal is 145. Im 6 foot 1 but i dont have tone. I have muscle but no tone becuase all my muscles are covered by fat. I need help whats the best way to increase the muscle and loose the fat.
Patrick Kallie makes this comment

Weight loss for life

Wednesday, 07 April 2010

I think people get in trouble trying to just work out certain parts of the body. You need to work out your entire body if you want to see major results.
mia makes this comment

Great info!

Wednesday, 07 April 2010

A lot of websites that I look at don't have much info. But when I looked at this website I was amazed, they know what they're talking about!
Gianni makes this comment

P90X

Monday, 01 March 2010

You can probably do a million different things to get toned but why not follow a program like P90x. Some people say well I go to the gym because I cant do the in home workouts! I was at my wifes work party on Saturday night and her co-workers fiance was telling me how he is always at the gym. He looks built but he is fat and has like a 38 waist! Come to find out that his future wife was asking what I did to stay in shape and said that you should get him to do P90x as well. he thinks he is in shape. Im pretty sure he can bench more than me but he will never be as flexible and fit as I am. Try doing 20 pull ups in one shot. I thought it was crazy too until I finished the program and now Im toned and show definition. There is no photo shop here folks! Oh dont eat like crap because you will not win!
Tom Healer makes this comment

Reiki Healer.

Wednesday, 10 February 2010

For anyone who over looked wanting to looze weight, or gain better tone. Get down your local swimming centre. Water acts a great resitance. Also swimming takes pressure off the joints an bones which cause injury from running.. They also water aerobics and I recommend this class, the weights are light so generally aimed at women, but men can also go along, an you will notice the difference combined, with a healty diet. Plenty of water, and if your a big eater, just leave a little bit at each meal, that little bit you leave will add up to big amounts in time. Enjoy.. any more advice needed, buzz me Tom (in training personal trainer)
chris makes this comment

site

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

free fat burning tips, the key to remember is everyone's body is not the same and people will react differently to each fat burning tip. It is very important to be patient and see how your body handles the various ways to burn fat, it make take some time before you see any changes in your body. Drink Lots of Water It sounds silly because it is so simple but drinking lots of water helps to fill up the stomach, especially drinking a glass of water right before a meal will help reduce the hunger and cause you to eat less. Proper water intake is essential for all the body organs to work correctly and organs that are all working in harmony and to optimum state will help to burn fat quickly. Eat Small Meals Through Out the Day We are so accustomed to eating 3 big meals a day that it is difficult to get out of the mindset but cutting down on the sizes of the 3 meals and adding healthy snack in between really helps to burn fat quickly. An ideal day of meals should look like 3 small meals and 2 snacks, a third snack could be added after dinner but no food should be eaten 2 hours before bedtime.
gman makes this comment

Tuesday, 08 December 2009

I would recommend a lot of lunges, in the top right of this website type "lunges" and you can read up on it. The thinner thighs article has good lunges to do.
rachel makes this comment

i have a qestion

Tuesday, 08 December 2009

this isnt a comment but it is a question, my sister and I would like to make are butt more firm, but still keep it big and nice. wat are question is is, how do you get a butt that is really hot looking, but it isnt going to be flat.
matthew L makes this comment

im tryin to lose waight

Sunday, 06 September 2009

hi i was 184 2 weeks ago and i started like watchin wat i eat and started doin crunchs and it seems to be workin im down to 172.5 now 2 weeks later but but i dont have equipment so does anyone else no how i can lose it faster then this takin to darn long?
Mobile Softwares makes this comment

Seems to Have A Great Info

Saturday, 28 March 2009

well great share brother.i will do it regularly thanx for sharing.
How To Get A Toned Body makes this comment

How To Get A Toned Body

Friday, 20 March 2009

Great job mentioning the cutting back of alcohol, not skipping meals, drinking water, and relaxation. Many times, these important factors get overlooked.

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