Why can't I get some muscle tone?!
Question: I have worked out 4 times a week for 3 years with weights. I'm not fat, either - trim and fit. Good diet, proper techniques, the whole enchilada. I run every other day, too - and I work stocking shelves, which is fairly physical.
Yet I have no really apparent muscle tone. I have this friend who is so solid looking it's awesome. Her legs are like solid rock, her arms are toned - her biceps are like tennis balls - and her abs look like a road map of a mountain range.
To achieve all this, she does - get this - nothing but sit on the couch and eat potato chips!!!! Sits on her butt at work, never goes out of the house, and would get in the car to check her mailbox.
What's the deal? And, what am I doing wrong? Advice welcome!
Answers: I have worked out 4 times a week for 3 years with weights. I'm not fat, either - trim and fit. Good diet, proper techniques, the whole enchilada. I run every other day, too - and I work stocking shelves, which is fairly physical.
Yet I have no really apparent muscle tone. I have this friend who is so solid looking it's awesome. Her legs are like solid rock, her arms are toned - her biceps are like tennis balls - and her abs look like a road map of a mountain range.
To achieve all this, she does - get this - nothing but sit on the couch and eat potato chips!!!! Sits on her butt at work, never goes out of the house, and would get in the car to check her mailbox.
What's the deal? And, what am I doing wrong? Advice welcome!
When I was younger, I worked out 4 hours a day trying to get in shape to be a body builder. I lifted very heavy weights and it got to the point that I had to have a partner to spot me on almost every upper body set and some of the lower body sets. I did ab muscle exercises that you would not believe and mountain biking and treadmill running and stair machine and swimming. I kept track of my eating like my life depended on it and made sure that I got enough protein by using powdered protein supplements.
You know what happened. I got a nice figure. My butt and underarms just did not wiggle as much when I moved and my stomach was flat.
Muscle definition depends on hormones. Your levels of estrogens and testosterone may be different to your friend's and your metabolism and body fat will be different to her's too.
If you want to body build then know this. It is a dangerous sport and those in it more often than not end up using steroids. If you are looking for definition just because that is your goal then sit down and really journal out why this is important to you.
Do you think that if you have THAT bod you will get THAT man? Trust me if all the guy is after is someone with THAT bod then you and he will not be long together. Real relationships last because there is a mutual appreciation of the mind, spirit and emotions, The body is only important for initial attraction.
After you reach 20 pages in your journal, you will probably come across the real reason for wanting to have a defined body. If the reason is a good one then take some of the money you earn stocking inventory and go see a personal trainer. Have a session with them then go do what they say. Return every once in a while for fine tuning with your personal trainer.
When you see a personal trainer take not only your exercise journal but your nutritional journal as well. It would even be helpful to take your emotional journal on why you want to do this.
Most women are afraid of getting big so they lift weights that are too light. Increase your weight so that on upper body exercises you have to work very hard to get the last reps of 4 sets of 8 reps in. On lower body work difficult sets of 20 reps. You have to lift heavy to gain muscle.
Perhaps a protein supplement?
Helped me.