There’s an expression that says, “If you can’t tone it, tan it.”
Unfortunately, that strategy really only works in the summer, and summer is going to end before we know it.
We have lots of people who come into Sycamore CrossFit looking to tone up. So what does that mean? What does it take?
Your body fat composition actually doesn’t determine how toned you look. You can see dramatic changes in someone’s physical features without them gaining or losing an ounce of body fat.
This is because your muscle tone comes from, well….your muscles. If you want to be more toned, then you need larger muscles. It’s that simple.
So how do you get larger muscles?
It means you can’t just do cardio! If all you do is bike, run, or use an elliptical, then you aren’t going to get a lot of muscle tone. You will get some, of course. But those aren’t muscle building activities.
You need to lift weights!
At Sycamore CrossFit, we incorporate a lot of weightlifting. We use dumbbells, barbells, and even odd objects to help our clients gain strength and muscle along with building endurance.
But will I get too bulky?
Well, that’s a whole different post. But it’s important to remember that you get to choose the weights you lift.
Are you more interested in toning up? You may want to lift a little lighter.
Are you focused on gaining strength and building muscle? Lift a little heavier.
Either way, if you want to tone up, then you need to lift some weights.