Don't want to gain muscle, I want to tone

[Carthonn]

Is it just a waste of time?

Right now my main objective is to get to my goal weight. I have been doing this with a calorie deficit for about a year now with little exercise. I have been recently been doing between 1400 - 1600 calories a day. Some days lower. Never for prolonged periods and rarely going over 1600 though. (I mean SuperBowl how could I not! Go Gmen!)

I have really wanted to use my weight bench and punching bag but I figured it will be useless because of the calorie deficit. Ya know no muscle gain. I have recently been noticing definition in my biceps and forearms because of the fat loss.

What would happen if I started weight training without increased protein and calories? Would it increase definition? I just really want to know if I'd be wasting my time.

I have read the majority of the stickies over the months and never really read anything that touched on this. Thanks in advance.

 

[maleficent]

somewhere in the stickies... it says that toning is the byproduct of fat loss...

and you can't gain muscle unless you're taking in more calories.. (caloric surplus)

I don't think weight training is ever a waste of time... as it helps maintain the muscle that you have... but I doubt (unlike what a lot of the fitness magazines proclaim) you arent going to get "sculpted anything" unless you lose the fat...

 

[LandonsBaby]

a waste of time??? never!!! as mal said, it helps you maintain muscle while you are dieting...and its fun. oh, and it burns calories just like any other activity.

 

[Ankebuzz]

Yep, you can even get cardio out of it

 

[Steve]

Nobody came right out and spelled it for you though it's what they all were implying.

Just in case, I thought I'd mention that there isn't really a such thing as toning in this context. It's more of an adjective than a verb where you're going for that toned look.

That toned look is a function of fat loss and muscle maintenance.

Fat loss comes from the caloric deficit.

Muscle maintenance comes from appropriate weight training and adequate protein intake.