Anyone have any tips!?

Lraebennett

Lraebennett

New member
I have already reached my goal weight, currently a bit over (the last five is constantly an up and down struggle for me), but I really feel the need to tone up.
I hate when people tell me I'm skinny becuase I cant show it off right now when its important (bikini season..yuck)..especially because of my ugly belly button =*(.

recently, I've been jumping on the trampoline for at least 30 minutes a day.
Plus I run after my 4 year old sister all day..but what would be a good exercise to get into that is more of an activity than an actual exercise..(sorry hate crunches and all that..lol)

anyone have anything they really enjoy doing that takes ease off of plain exercising?

also, keep in mind, I dont have much money to spare, so free ideas are best, cheap ideas are good =) haha
 
Well the first thing I'm going to say is that you need to get the concept of "tone up" out of your vocabulary. :) "Tone up" is a myth created by personal trainers who are trying to placate women who don't want to "bulk up".

The fact of the matter is what you want to do is build muscle. That's what gives you that fit, in shape look that most women call "toned". And the only way to do that is to work the muscles - by lifting weights or by doing body resistance exercises or both. Jumping on a trampoline is not going to build muscle to define your body.

You don't have to join a gym or spend a lot of money. There are plenty of body-weight resistance exercises that you can do, and as those get easy, you can add in weights from around the house or buy a set of resistance bands for around $20.

Things that will get you off on the right foot are squats, lunges, pushups, dips, planks, chin-ups/pull-ups, and things like that. All of those can be done without weights - at least to start.
 
I totally agree with KaraCooks, a good bodyweight routine will give you that "tonned look" your are after. Try this routine:

Y-squats ( 15 reps)
Push-up ( 10-12 reps)
Stick-ups (10 reps)
forward lunges ( 10 reps)
Jumping jacks (50 reps)

Perform each exercises one after the other with no rest in between. Rest for 30 seconds after completing all the exercises and repeat the circuit.
Try to complete 3 rounds of the circuit.
Use the first round as a warm-up and perform only half the reps.

Hope this helps!
 
bois323 said:
I totally agree with KaraCooks, a good bodyweight routine will give you that "tonned look" your are after. Try this routine:

Y-squats ( 15 reps)
Push-up ( 10-12 reps)
Stick-ups (10 reps)
forward lunges ( 10 reps)
Jumping jacks (50 reps)

Perform each exercises one after the other with no rest in between. Rest for 30 seconds after completing all the exercises and repeat the circuit.
Try to complete 3 rounds of the circuit.
Use the first round as a warm-up and perform only half the reps.

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...

This might be stupid but whats a stick up? if thats like a pull up i cant do even one.... =/
 
Sorry for kind of hijacking, but I have the same question - what's all that stuff? I read all those fancy names for exercise all over the board, and it's all nice and well that people know what they are talking about - but I don't! *lol*

What's a Y-squat? How does a stick-up look, and what in the world is a 'Jumping Jack' exactly? :confused:

I tried to look exercises up on the internet, but if you look at 10 different websites, they show you 10 different exercises, all with the same name....:(
 
San said:
Sorry for kind of hijacking, but I have the same question - what's all that stuff? I read all those fancy names for exercise all over the board, and it's all nice and well that people know what they are talking about - but I don't! *lol*

What's a Y-squat? How does a stick-up look, and what in the world is a 'Jumping Jack' exactly? :confused:

I tried to look exercises up on the internet, but if you look at 10 different websites, they show you 10 different exercises, all with the same name....:(
Click to expand...

San,
I completely agree with you on the exercises. It is very frustrating. I still have some issues with what exactly some of the exercises are. I guess it is similar to when you started weight loss. You just need to read and read some more. I never knew what BMR was. I beleive a lot of the myths were true.

Try to find instructional videos on the net. Just becareful that you find a qualified source. I am more of a visual learner so i like to see someone else doing it first.

So dont think it is just you. Many people have the same problem.

If you are looking to start weight training, try to find a good routine then learn how to do the exercises properly and you will be fine.

Matt
 
In terms of resources, one piece of advice I would have is go to actual bodybuilding or sports performance based websites for instructional videos on proper techniques. No offense to weight loss sites, but their models/instructors usually aren't training in techniques.. Some videos on youtube teaching the squat for example from weight loss sites inspire laughter, make me cringe, or both. absolutely horrid form.


this is the link to starting strength. The routine itself would be one I would recommend if you're actually game for doing full lifting. (there are other programs, this is a bit intense for girls, but still a good option) but bump the rep range up to about 12-15 to start and work your way down over the next few months to 5.. More importantly however, is the detail in which the post goes into talking about form for the exercises and information resented as to why these are the best exercises for full body muscle development. Lots of good information in here to soak up.
 
A stick is:
Stand with your back against a wall. Your feet should be 6 inches away from the wall and your butt, upper back, and head should all be in contact with the wall at all times in the exercise.

Stick your hands up overhead. Try to keep your shoulders, elbows, and wrists in contact with the wall at all times.

Slide your arms down the wall and tuck your elbows into your sides. This should bring your shoulder blades down and together. You should feel a strong contraction in the muscles between your shoulder blades as well as the shoulder muscles.

From the bottom position, try to slowly slide your arms up until they are straight and in a "stick-em up" position. Again, try to keep everything in contact with the wall.

Try to improve your range of motion in this exercise each week.

The goal is to improve shoulder mobility and postural control

A Y-squate is

Hold your hands over your head in a “Y” formation at all times.

Keep your upper back and shoulders tensed throughout the exercise.

Stand with your feet just greater than shoulder-width apart.

Start the movement at the hip joint. Push your hips backward and “sit back into a chair”. Make your hips go back as far as possible.

Squat as deep as possible, but keep your low back tensed in a neutral position.

Don’t let your lower back become rounded.

Push with your glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps to return to the start position

Hope this helps
 
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