Toning for a beginner woman?

Hello!

I am looking for a workout that will get me started in toning up my whole body and getting back into shape. I am 21 years, 5' 4" tall and weigh about 110 pounds. I was wondering if there was a good routine or specific workouts that could help me out. I am also a student, so I can not afford to go out and pay for a personal trainer. Any thoughts or advice is appreciated.
 
Aloha & HowZit!
Taking the stats you provided:Age-21/Height-5'-4"/ Wt.-110 Lbs. are you looking at the "health" aspcet of feeling-good or "fitness" aspect of looking-good kind of workout routine.
Most people would reply "BOTH" but the reality is that there must be development before improvement.
There is a healthy-order when "getting back into shape".
Reason for asking is that your stats are good with maybe the thought of letting-go a few pounds.
Overall would you say that you are in good-condition knowing that your general health background is good to go?
If your reply is yes then make the time to educate yourself in reference to physical workouts by reviewing the information on this site and other online sites in regards to your desire of "change"
Take what is useful, work on it and if its all-good, go get a little bit more. This will help with the finacial-buget you live on - no need for personal trainer, no need for specific equipment, no need buy latest fitness-gadgets or workout clothes. For now all you need is a commitment to go the distance.
Your youth is one helpful major factor when change is disired. USe it so that while you are changing you are also "maturing" and that is another concept in regards to "getting-in-shape" ...for life.
I myself can not and usually don't give out routines because not knowing he/she is not advisable.
So on that note, "No Give UP - No Give In and Please NO GIVE EXCUSES!" (oh this saying is TM)
GOOD HEALTH TO YOU and ALOHA for now...mikey
 
Thank you for responding!!

I am definitely looking for the more health aspect of working out. I just quit smoking and I want to find a good way to destress and remind myself why I quit smoking, besides the money aspect. Although, looking better wouldn't hurt. I have good health overall, minus some mild athsma, but that is under control.
 
HowZit Again!
Congrasts on quit-smoking. You on a "healthy-start" by looking/seeking options in helping yourself take better care of your body.
Now when people change and look at physical-exercise as a way to better their health a few things must be realized so to help in staying consisitent.

Exercise requires movements and we talking a lot of movements which is refered to as "repetitions" or to repeat over again. Repetition does not only mean to do over-again but to "remember" why you are doing the exercise and with what it is you are using - your present-bodily-health.
Now, if you are going to learn and practice these many movements to stay healthy shouldn't you pay attention to the two-movements that takes away your health?
The two-movements of what goes in and out of your mouth? Be aware and pay attention that's all.
100 movements of exercise-health versus two-movements that are unhealthy.
Next thing is...
You don't exercise to become healthy - you are healthy while you exercise.
When you decided to quit sucking in smoke, you were at that moment in the presence of "good-health" by doing something right for your life.
Next up is...
It ain't only "what will this exercise do for me?" but
What Will You Bring into the exercise? Wht you should bring is patience, understanding, consitency,emotion and compassion so that all aspect of better-health is attained-sustain-maintain and unhealthy habits are restrained.
As for your asthma - correct breathing is vital to help open/clear/exercise breathing capacity and capability.
To get into this would be long-winded so please do your "homework" so that you will create a safe and healthy workout enviroment for your body of living-giving-life.
Oh, what ever I share with you as well as others is NOT Absolute.
Our realities are different so to is our understanding about the body-human's fuctions and its chemistry.
...And the last things is that you always want to be in control so the best advise is don't take-control but stay-intouch with your health and wellness in being ALIVE to your present-existence.
When you feelgood you will certainly look great!
Aloha for now...mikey
 
Go for a full body workout and lift heavy. Yes, HEAVY. Doing light weights for more reps for 'toning' is a myth.

That's like saying that running can't give you toned legs. Light weights with high reps train muscular endurance, and can certainly increase muscle tone.
 
muscular endurance yes, but it can't help increase tone. If the stimulus you apply is small, the muscles will have no reason to grow.
 
Growth and tone are two separate things... Tone involves the active recruitment of muscle fibers without hypertrophy, which definitely is done through endurance activity.
 
Growth and tone are two separate things... Tone involves the active recruitment of muscle fibers without hypertrophy, which definitely is done through endurance activity.

I think what nicole2 was referring to was toning as in muscle definition, which is essentially lowering body fat percentage and make the muscle more 'defined' which has to be done through heavy weights. Lifting 2kg dumbbells for 30 reps+ isn't going to achieve that 'definition' if it provides no external stimulus.
 
Muscle tone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The tone I'm referring to is the same as definition. The more muscle fibers that are recruited, the more the muscle is partially contracted even when inactive, thus, the defined look of muscle. Yes, you do need to burn fat to make it show in some places, but any kind of weight training, whether low weight/high reps or high weight/fewer reps will help to attain this, as long as the exercises are done to full capacity (near-fatigue). Combine this with some form of cardio to elevate the heart rate and a proper diet, definition and tone can be achieved.
 
I still do not believe in low weight for many reps. I have had countless women come up to me saying they are seeing no progress. You ask them the questions and you get responses such as 'i am doing low weight but lots of reps' etc and it simply doesn't work. Plus, of course, all the bad dieting.
 
i think you should start with light weight but may increase with the passage of time when you body get used to otherwise you may fed up in few days,
 
Hi Nicole! I have extensive experience with both heavy and light training. In my experience, lighter weight (or none-using your own body weight) will best address the goal of toning-this is particularly true considering your financial situation.

The key to getting the most out of a program using little or no weight is to concentrate on using as much muscle as possible for each movement. There are an endless number of videos on you tube describing whole body strength training using a single kettle bell, medicine balls, etc.

There is a great work out that doesn't use any weight called . Here is a video (not me) of the whole routine (if you can't do one of the exercises for the number of repetitions described like 30 push ups for example, just do what you can and try to improve over time) MARSOC is Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command by the way, so this is no wimpy work out.

Doing this work out several times a week and adding a couple of days of cardio only (walking, running, cycling etc) will do the job exercise-wise.

Getting toned is 70% diet 30% exercise--I love the saying "abs are made in the kitchen not the gym"

Good Luck!
 
Aloha & HowZit!
Taking the stats you provided:Age-21/Height-5'-4"/ Wt.-110 Lbs. are you looking at the "health" aspect of feeling-good or "fitness" aspect of looking-good kind of workout routine.
Most people would reply "BOTH" but the reality is that there must be development before improvement.
There is a healthy-order when "getting back into shape".
Reason for asking is that your stats are good with maybe the thought of letting-go a few pounds.
Overall would you say that you are in good-condition knowing that your general health background is good to go?
If your reply is yes then make the time to educate yourself in reference to physical workouts by reviewing the information on this site and other online sites in regards to your desire of "change"
Take what is useful, work on it and if its all-good, go get a little bit more. This will help with the finacial-buget you live on - no need for personal trainer, no need for specific equipment, no need buy latest fitness-gadgets or workout clothes. For now all you need is a commitment to go the distance.
Your youth is one helpful major factor when change is disired. USe it so that while you are changing you are also "maturing" and that is another concept in regards to "getting-in-shape" ...for life.
I myself can not and usually don't give out routines because not knowing he/she is not advisable.
So on that note, "No Give UP - No Give In and Please NO GIVE EXCUSES!" (oh this saying is TM)
GOOD HEALTH TO YOU and ALOHA for now...mikey

yeah! this is really good training plan for you to get the fit and healthy. You must tried these nicole.
 
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